Err on the Side of Mercy

I am ready with Sunday's message, from Jude 20-23, entitled, "How to Guard Against the Wolf".  One of the lessons I learned in the preparation of it, is that Christians should always err on the side of mercy.

Jude harshly addresses churches about the dangers of the many false teachers and their teachings.  These 'wolves in sheep's clothing' are great at subliminally infiltration the thinking of Christians' to the point of causing many to even question the great doctrines of faith.  They teach a convincing message of self-improvement in the wholeness of self: body, mind, and spirit; that it is hard to distinguish what is truth and what is not.

Jude cautions churches to beware of these false teachers lest they be led astray.  There is only one absolute truth and it is in God through Jesus Christ.  He also states that these wolves will receive their due when Jesus comes again to judge the world of its sin.

How should the church deal with these false teachers?  The Bible says "to judge not lest you be judged".  Jude alludes to this when he states to "be merciful to those who doubt."

Christians have no right to judge these false teachers and the people they cause to doubt.  We can discern for ourselves if their teachings are false or not - but we cannot say to them or of them, you are condemned to hell.  Their is only one who is entrusted by God to sit in that judgment seat, and it is Jesus Christ.

Jude actually encourages churches, instead of judging, to guard themselves against such false teachings in three different ways.  I will be talking about these ways in my message on Sunday.  They are: 1. Build yourselves up (verse 20). 2. Remain in God's love (verse 21), and err on the side of mercy (verse 22-23).  Mercy is the unstoppable power of almighty God and will fulfill God's greater desire in the long run, that none should "perish".  There is nothing that will stop the great Commission cold than a group of judgmental Christians.

One other interesting note: Jude is speaking to churches as units.  His letter is addressed to local bodies of believers whom individually and collectively are united as one.  So when he talks about 'building yourselves up', he doesn't mean the individual person; he means as a body of believers.  In other words, stand firm on the sacred doctrines of the church.  Use God's word and the leading of the Holy Spirit to be your guide to all understanding.  If what is being taught does not agree with scriptures, and doctrines and the leading of the Holy Spirit - then reject it as false teaching.

Praise God for the Book of Jude.  I like his firm approach in addressing the churches on a very prominent problem that faces Christian Churches worldwide even today.  Hope you can make it to worship on Sunday.  Blessings.

-Leo