Beware of Schism, of making a rent in the Church of Christ. The inward disunion, the members ceasing to have a reciprocal love “one for another” (1 Cor. 12:25) is the very root of all contention and every outward separation.”
“Cautions and Directions Given to the Greatest Professors in the Methodist Societies,” 1762, by John Wesley
Have we, as American Christians, become complacent?
Like a warm sweatshirt fresh out of the dryer on a cold winter morning, my desire to find comfort while reading the cautionary stories of the Bible is found in wanting them to be “just stories” from long ago.
Who among us could think that the examples given in the historical records of Scripture could recur in our modern and educated Churches today?
What events can unfold to tear into churches, families, and friends? What schisms and divisions has the devil dreamed up to infect the body of Christ and leave his Church broken, sickly, and defeated?
Where’s my warm sweatshirt?
Jude’s Warning
Consider that the Church has endured for somewhere in the realm of two thousand years of highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, exaltation and embarrassments.
The early church found itself battered by influences both internally and externally. The more subtle, and perhaps the more dangerous of the two, was the threat of ungodly men gaining power and authority from within the congregation. These men, who had the appearance of godliness while denying its power, had crept into the church while most of the congregation was unaware of the threat.
I fear that many, if not most, Churches in America today suffer from such men and women in their ranks even now.
Listen to this warning once again from Jude.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Jude 1:3-4)
A little farther along in the text, in verses 10 and 11, three of these ungodly men are mentioned. We covered Cain in two previous articles; we’ll look at Balaam here, and we’ll consider the example of Core soon.
“But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”
(Jude 1:10-11)
Balaam
Jude reminds us that part of contending for the faith involves safeguarding ourselves, our families, and our Churches from ungodly individuals who infiltrate congregations by masquerading as strong, godly figures.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
In his 1905 work, “The Life of Reason,” Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Jude gave us three markers to remember when we consider Cain, Balaam, and Core.
I. Rash Words - they speak hastily and without consideration.
“But these speak evil of those things which they know not”
II. Reprobate by Nature
“but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”
III. Rushing to Reward
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”
Cain sought to gain acceptance outside of righteousness.
“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.” (Gen 4:7)
Balaam sought the honor and wealth of the world while denying the word of the LORD.
Core was the first ecumenical. He proclaimed that “everyone is holy” and “God is among us all”
Where Did Balaam Err?
Let’s look at Balaam in light of these three markers.
Numbers 22 reveals that Balaam was considered a soothsayer practicing divination, and that the ones he blessed would be blessed, and those he cursed would be cursed.
He communicated with God, and God spoke to him. He gave prophetic utterances and spoke words that God gave him for Balak.
If we use the example of Balaam in determining who should lead our churches, he appears to be a prime candidate. There’s just one glaring problem.
Balaam is an ungodly man.
To be continued in Part Two - Contending for the Faith
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