Take a moment to read the book of Jude in your Bible.
Image by James Best, (C) 2020, https://www.behance.net/gallery/90621713/Sermon-Illustrations-2020
Last Sunday we looked at Four Guys who were present in a church under the authority of the Apostle John. One of them was a bad actor, a church bully named Diotrephes. I was a little surprised to find that the very next book, Jude, gives us instruction on how to deal with such people.
Before we look at Jude, I want to borrow an example from an internet article I found on this subject. On January 21, 2015 Joe McKeever posted an article to his blog entitled “How to Bring Down a Church Bully.”
“American history provides a near-perfect example of how to bring down a bully [is the case of] Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. In his speeches, he would wave papers which he said contained the names of [hundreds of] known Communists working for this or that agency. More than one person with a questionable affiliation in his past committed suicide rather than endure a public lynching at the hands of McCarthy’s team.
“When he accused the Army of harboring Communists, the fight was on. As the namecalling and mudslinging intensified, the Senate decided to hold hearings and settle the matter.
“ABC-TV decided to do something unheard of in 1954. They aired the senate hearing from gavel to gavel. (Bear in mind, television was still in its infancy, there was no C-Span, and most network news programs at the supper hour ran for 15 minutes.) This is how the American people got to see Senator McCarthy exposed as the bully and tyrant that he was.
“Boston lawyer Joseph Welch was hired to represent the Army in the hearings. He was a class act, a distinguished man, in high contrast to McCarthy’s approach was always to attack, attack, and then attack again. On this day, he accused Attorney Welch of having a young lawyer with ties to a Communist organization working for his firm back in Boston.
“With millions of Americans watching, Welch spoke the immortal lines that would ultimately end McCarthy’s career.
‘Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.’ Welch was soft-spoken and gracious. His words were like knives.
“When McCarthy tried to interrupt and continue the attack, Welch softly but angrily continued: ‘Let us not assassinate the lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?’
“Historians tell us that overnight McCarthy’s popularity plummeted. Not long after, the Senate voted to censure McCarthy and strip him of his chairmanship.
Ostracized by his party, ignored by the press, and abandoned by his supporters, McCarthy died 3 years later, a broken man, only 48 years old. [America’s most feared bully was] brought down by public exposure and relentless, though gentle, questioning.
“That’s how church bullies are to be dealt with. ‘Harmless as doves, wise as serpents,’ [Jesus said]. That says it all.
Jude promised better days lie beyond the bad actors.
1. Bring about better days by contending for the faith. (3-16)
A. Know the faith that saves you.
1) THE SALVATION WE SHARE. (3)
2) ONCE FOR ALL ENTRUSTED TO THE SAINTS. (3)
B. Identify and oppose those who want to promote a different faith. (4-13)
1) WHOSE CONDEMNATION WAS WRITTEN ABOUT LONG AGO. (4)
2) They had SECRETLY SLIPPED into the church. (4)
3) They were GODLESS. (4)
4) Their false teaching was characterized by two things. (4)
a) They changed THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO A LICENSE FOR IMMORALITY.
b) They denied JESUS CHRIST OUR ONLY SOVEREIGN AND LORD.
5) They will SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT OF ETERNAL FIRE
a) As have other enemies of God. (5-7, 11)
– Egypt = oppressors.
– Fallen angels = demons.
– Sodom & Gomorrah = sinful.
– Cain = religion w/out love.
– Balaam= perverts faith to gain.
– Korah = incites rebellion.
b) They are guilty of the same sins. (8-10)
– They POLLUTE THEIR OWN BODIES.
– They REJECT AUTHORITY.
– They SLANDER CELESTIAL BEINGS.
– They SPEAK ABUSIVELY ABOUT THINGS THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND.
– They behave abusively regarding what they do understand.
6) They act immorally, even at church. (12-13)
a) They were BLEMISHES AT their LOVE FEASTS.
b) They were worse than useless, making no disciples.
– SHEPHERDS WHO FEED ONLY THEMSELVES.
– CLOUDS WITHOUT RAIN, BLOWN ALONG BY THE WIND.
– AUTUMN TREES, WITHOUT FRUIT AND UPROOTED – TWICE DEAD.
– WILD WAVES OF THE SEA, FOAMING UP THEIR SHAME.
– WANDERING STARS, FOR WHOM BLACKEST DARKNESS AS BEEN RESERVED FOREVER.
C. Know that Judgment Day is coming; God will deal with them in justice. (14-16)
1) A long time ago, Enoch prophesied their downfall. (14-15)
2) Jude prophesied what Judgment Day would reveal about the false teachers. (16)
a) They were GRUMBLERS AND FAULT-FINDERS.
b) They would FOLLOW THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRES.
c) They would BOAST ABOUT THEMSELVES AND FLATTER OTHERS TO THEIR OWN ADVANTAGE: occasions for lying.
2. Bring about better days by building up the brethren. (17-23).
A. Know the difference between people in the faith and SCOFFERS. (17-19)
1) This is part of the true faith: WHAT THE APOSTLES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FORETOLD.
2) Their evil nature was predicted.
a) They would FOLLOW THEIR OWN UNGODLY DESIRES.
b) They would have a divisive effect on the fellowship.
c) They are characterized by following MERE NATURAL INSTINCTS because they DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT.
B. How people in the faith build each other up IN THE MOST HOLY FAITH. (20-23)
1) PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
2) KEEP yourself IN GOD’S LOVE.
3) WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BRING us TO ETERNAL LIFE.
4) Be MERCIFUL TO THOSE WHO DOUBT.
5) SNATCH OTHERS FROM THE FIRE AND SAVE THEM.
6) SHOW MERCY MIXED WITH FEAR of the corrupting effect of sin.
Church life expert Thomas Rainer published an article entitled “NINE WAYS TO DEAL WITH CHURCH BULLIES” on April 1, 2015. Even though it appeared on April Fools Day, this is a “no fooling” look on how to deal with bullies in the church.
“Fight bullying with the power of prayer. Especially for the most common targets of church bullies are the pastor and church staff.
Seek to have an Acts 6 group in the church. Referring to the manner in which the Jerusalem church dealt with complaining.
Have a high expectation church. High expectation churches don’t offer an environment conducive to bullying.
Encourage members to speak and stand up to church bullies. Bullies tend to back down when confronted by strong people in the church.
Make certain the polity of the church does not become a useful instrument to church bullies. Bullies take advantage of ambiguity and interpret things according to their agenda.
Be willing to exercise church discipline. Bullies need to know there are consequences for their actions.
Have a healthy process to put the best-qualified persons in positions of leadership in the church. There should be a spiritual and strategic process to choose and recruit people for leadership.
Have a healthy process to hire church staff. A unified church staff is a major roadblock for a church bully.
Encourage a celebratory environment in the church. Joyous churches deter bullies. They like somber and divided churches.”
RESOURCES:
wouldbbest 
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