Defending The Faith At Home - Jude

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.

Jude 1:3

At some point, most fathers have had to stand up, “lay down the law,” and say no to dangerous things that could harm the spiritual lives of their loved ones. If you’ve ever had to stand up in this way, then you have followed the example (and the command!) of the New Testament author of the epistle of Jude, who challenged believers to “defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”

In Jude’s day, challenges to the Christian faith came from all directions. While outsiders opposed and persecuted the church, false teachers infiltrated its ranks, spreading poisonous ideas about the relationship between sin and God’s grace.

Jude was no wimp. He recognized these things, understood the danger they posed to the church, and stood ready to confront them head-on. He challenged his fellow believers to do the same.

What voices in your own day attempt to drown out sound biblical teaching concerning godliness and morality? You needn’t look any further than your local television listings. Like Jude, you have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to stand against those things, beginning at home. Though no confrontation feels pleasant, even on behalf of your faith, it sometimes becomes as much a necessity in today’s world as it did in Jude’s.

How can you best prepare for the challenge?

God calls you to stand firm and defend your faith against its many modern-day enemies. Do you recognize those enemies? Do you know their tactics? Do you know how to oppose and defeat them? What stand do you believe God is calling you to take in your own home right now?