39 The Good Fight…

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 The Good Fight…

Today’s chapter is. Col. 2

Read the entire section verse refers to’

“Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you in a letter to urge you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in secretly, of whom it was written long ago that they should be condemned: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying our only Lord and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4

I have often wondered why so many Christians in our day constantly protest whenever one of God’s servants stands up for the truth of the gospel—stands in the gap for the church and its teachings.

Whenever important questions are asked and there is an exchange of different views on doctrinal matters, almost always someone steps in to accuse, everyone other than themselves, of - lacking love, being judgmental, etc.

It goes against everything in them that there are now two Christians who have a different view of the teachings of the scriptures - "We are Christians and we must love one another". Love and unity are equated...

But is it unloving and judgmental to do what Jude here exhorts us to do? ".. to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

What about Paul? Was it a lack of love for his brothers and sisters that drove him to go against the teachers of the law of his day? Or does he warn against those who blew trumpets for themselves and were puffed up by all their visions, revelations and angelic visits? (Col. 2:16-23).

More could be mentioned, what about Jesus? Was he driven by an unloving, critical and condemnatory spirit when he rebuked the Pharisees, the scribes and the priests?

What about all the church fathers who throughout history have stood guard over the Word of God and fought and kept the doctrine in the congregation pure, standing up against Gnosticism and other false teachings? Were they simply driven by a fierce urge to criticize? Were they just contentious men?

Or was it simply because they took God’s Word seriously and had a love for the truth? (2 Thess. 2:10).

On the contrary, this, not taking a position on anything – this politically correct and intolerant tolerance of everything that comes along one’s way is more in line with the spirit of this world than the love that the Bible speaks of.

amen