June 28, 2013

The Blog According To Saint Jude - Bruce Atchison

If the first-century saints had our technology and posted blogs, I'd follow Jude's. Why? Because he warned believers about the clear and present danger of false shepherds.

While I acknowledge the writings of Paul, Peter, John, James, and the author of Hebrews as important, Jude's short epistle magnifies the need for vigilance. Talking about our "common salvation" is all very well but Satan ever seeks ways to thwart the work of God in believers.

In addition to warning about the ones who creep into congregations secretly, Jude reminds his readers of the need to hold onto the truth. Citing God's destruction of those Israelites who constantly murmured against him in the desert, as well as wicked gentiles and fallen angels, he reminds believers to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints."

Furthermore, Jude warns of the eternal destruction awaiting these false shepherds. In graphic terms, he demonstrates how vile and deceptive these people are. Not only that but they also contaminate anybody who follows them.

Though Jude did use harsh language in his epistle, he also wrote one of the most beautiful benedictions in the Bible. We can see in this that his attitude wasn't judgmental or gloating but he had a deep concern for his readers that they hold on to their holy faith in Christ.

Some might assume that it's wrong to admonish sinners and errant Christians but it's actually an act of love. We wouldn't consider a person hateful if he or she warned somebody about a dangerous situation or activity. We receive news all the time from friends about recalls of products, diseases going around, and similar warnings. Why not give straying Christians and sinners warnings of a far more important nature, namely eternal damnation?

I was once a wandering lamb, deceived by a false teacher at a house church. In How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity, I wrote about how the Lord providentially guided me to his awesome truth. I now apprehend the true nature of the Trinity and especially the sovereignty of God. My hope is that he will use my memoir to guide other lost souls out of the deception they're under and into his loving truth.


Bio: Bruce Atchison is a legally-blind Canadian freelance writer with articles published in a variety of magazines. He has also authored three paperbacks. When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living with Bunnies is a memoir of the surprising facts he discovered about house rabbits.Deliverance from Jericho: Six Years in a Blind School is his recollection of being sent five hundred miles from home for months at a stretch. How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity shows how God led Atchison out of a legalistic house church. Contact him at batchison@mcsnet.ca or via Facebook or Twitter. He also posts regularly on his Blogspot and Wordpress blogs. Atchison lives in a tiny Alberta hamlet with his house rabbit, Deborah.


3 comments:

  1. Bruce, I was reading Jude recently and was thinking his would be an interesting perspective for a blog post. Nice to see you've taken on that challenge today!

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  2. Thanks for your insights, Bruce

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  3. You've reminded me that I haven't read the book of Jude for some time. Considering your experience with a cult and false teachers, I can see how much the book of Jude would say to you and how much it can say to all of us. Thanks.

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