Gentleness in Jude

Modular on Isaiah next week. Plus 3 hour Monday night class. Plus Hebrew on Tue/Thur lunch. Earning my keep next week. Prayers very very appreciated.

Something helpful in Jude this morning: most of the letter (if not its main point) has to do with people in the church who are perverting God's grace (v. 4), who seem so devoted to their own appetites that they can't be reasoned with (vv. 10-12). V. 9 is most interesting: in contrast to the ludicrous attacks of these people, blaspheming what they don't understand (vv. 8, 10), not even Michael attacked Satan - he "referred" him to God. I take the point to be, even when no less than an archangel had a completely valid reason to judge a fallen angel - even in that situation, he didn't. Gentleness goes all the way to the top.

So what are Jude's hearers to do? He doesn't say anything about arguing with these people or convincing them or proving them wrong or excommunication or whatever. The bar is actually (in one sense) set pretty low: build yourself up in the faith (keep doing all the normal things to be built up), pray in the Spirit, keep yourself in God's love, show mercy to others (vv. 20-24). That divine gentleness is to be reflected to other defiled people. So helpful to me.