JudeSample

Abusive Religion   

Remember that our essential (as in "essence") definition of gnosticism has been "self-centred and self-referencing religion." This kind of faith will often involve intricate interpretations of obscure passages taken in isolation to justify a selective application of subjective "truth" which often sounds very authoritative, but is often self-serving, hypocritical and selectively applied.

Jude is so frustrated by these people who bully and bamboozle people with their intellect and/or authority that he really ramps up in his tirade against them.

Let's highlight his main points:

• They're like Cain who gave second best and then eliminated Abel who showed him up. They're like Baalam who was willing to curse people for money. They're like Korah who wanted a share in the limelight with Moses.
• Then he uses several images to illustrate the threat they pose:
          1. Blemishes at love feasts - abusing hospitality.
          2. Shepherds who feed themselves.
          3. Clouds without rain.
          4. Blown by the wind (don't stand firm).
          5. Fruitless trees without roots.
          6. Frothy waves just producing flotsam.
          7. Aimless stars (maybe shooting stars) impressive but heading nowhere.
• The book of Enoch was a Jewish apocryphal book, but even Enoch (a very old text) warns about these people and warns about their fate.
• They're gamblers, who are often good at manipulating people, and faultfinders (faultfinding in others draws attention away from themselves) who serve their own appetites, inflate themselves and flatter people to get what they want. 
• They're scoffers who use their intellect/charisma/authority to squash others and who follow their own desires.
• Divisive people who follow their own whims and do not have the Spirit.

I can think of a number of examples of "gnostics" on both the liberal and the conservative ends of the theological spectrum who have used their knowledge/charisma to hurt the church.

Jude has given us a number of characteristics to watch for. While this isn't particularly "inspiring" it is very relevant in these times where the church has lost a lot of credibility precisely because these kinds of people have done us damage.

It is good to have our eyes opened to this danger.