A Pilgrim Blog

After my chapel sermon on February 22, several people have asked follow-up questions. The following comments may help to answer some of these questions.

Someone asked about following your parents’ lifestyle and personal preferences. In the case of the Rechabites the practices in question were commanded by Jonadab. When I say, “your parents are strict,” I mean they are strict in the guidelines they try to enforce on you and ask you to follow. Your parents may have personal practices that they do not expect you to follow. You may have their blessing to be less strict in some areas. The application was not intended to mean that you should exactly copy your parents lifestyle. However, where your parents expect you to follow their example, then you need to think seriously about how best to honor them.

Some people have asked about the limits of parental obedience. This can be a difficult question, but there is an interesting answer in the story itself, in Jeremiah 35:11. The command was to live in tents. However, at the time of this meeting with Jeremiah the Rechabites are apparently not actually living in tents. They explain almost apologetically that the Babylonian invasion has forced them to temporarily move to Jerusalem for safety. Nevertheless in verse 10 they say, “we have obeyed.” Jeremiah agrees in verse 18 when he says, “you have obeyed.” This temporary move in time of war is not considered to be disobedience. It acknowledges that there may be legitimate exceptions in special cases. But be careful about our tendency often to think our situation is an exception when it really isn’t.

Finally some have pointed out that the main point of Jeremiah’s sermon was not about honoring your parents. This is true. If you ask, “Why is Jeremiah 35 in the Bible,” I don’t think the primary reason is, “to encourage you to obey and honor your parents.” But the Rechabite illustration is longer than the recorded sermon, and when the sermon is over Jeremiah adds the post-script of verses 18-19 commending the Rechabites for their obedience. So why is the Rechabite illustration itself recorded in the Bible and what do we learn from it? I think verses 18-19 in particular mean that we should reflect on and take as a positive example the Rechabites themselves. We should not limit the application of this chapter merely to national disobedience to God. These things were recorded “for examples,” not just for historical record.

Jude said it. Jude who thought his brother Jesus was out of his mind, but apparently had a change of mind and heart after His death and resurrection.

Jude wanted to talk about the gospel, “our common salvation” (v. 3). It’s all about the gospel, right? But no, sometimes it is necessary to defend the gospel, to “contend for the faith.”

Why does the gospel need defended? Because there are these people (v. 4). People “in” the church. but they don’t really belong there. They are described as ungodly. They have this startling, very un-godlike characteristic: they “turn the grace of our God into licentiousness [sensuality].” We expect the world to be confused about this, to promote sensuality. How can someone do this in the name of God? How can a minster of the grace of God be confused about this?

I don’t know how it happens, but it does happen today. I mean literally today, when I tuned into an online service at a contemporary church. An announcement about the current sermon series used as a background the country song “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean. Curious, I looked up the lyrics. Here a few excerpts: “sexy swinging’ walk… a hell raisin’ sugar when the sun goes down, mama taught her how to rip up a town… crazy mother trucker, undercover lover.” Any hints of sensuality there? Anything seem out of place at church?

Not out of place at this church. A fan of the church told me recently, “some of the most godly people I know listen to Lady Gaga.” Lady Gaga? Bisexual, erotic, poster child for sensuality Gaga? With her recent release of “Judas” you can add blasphemy to the list as well. If you want a pop icon to illustrate “not like God,” she would be it.

And grace teaches us that we have the liberty to listen to her? No, grace teaches us to deny ungodly lusts. Grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly. (Titus 2:11-12). To be blunt, grace and Gaga are opposites. If you make yourself a friend of the world, you will find yourself an enemy of God. That’s James, Jude’s brother, writing in James 4:4.

The pastor at this church said, “teach your young people to love Jesus and they will stay pure.” Teach your young people to love Lady Gaga and they won’t, I contend. Try to teach them both, and Jude says you need to be contended with. Our very faith is at stake.

They didn’t have Facebook in Jude’s day, but “I love Jesus” and “I love Gaga” on someone’s wall seems very much what Jude had in mind when he spoke of turning the grace of our God into sensuality. Do that, and you will find Jude contending with you. And James. And everyone that truly understands and loves the gospel.

This is my personal application and illustration of Mark Minnick’s three-part series on Jude 1:3-4.