You know, it’s funny growing up how you get so involved in
something, so much so, that you would even fight for it.
Don’t you remember when you were in high school, and someone
talked about your mascot, or colors, or building, you’d almost
go to blows about it because it was your school? I remember
how we almost got into a fight with kids from another high school
BECAUSE they were at our school, and we DIDN’T LIKE their school.
That’s really funny, now!
But what I portray as something, seemingly, childish must be taken,
completely, serious when it comes to the Christian faith. So, I
ask you: what are you contending for in Christianity?
Jude writes in Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto
you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.” This scripture presupposes
a myriad of logical rational. Now, I won’t bore you with my exegesis,
but can we look at the obvious nuggets to extract from this scripture?
First, what I want to note is that our salvation is supposed to be
common among us all; not ordinary or plain, but that all of us who
believe in Christ Jesus share the same belief system, same doctrine,
same understanding, else the salvation can’t be common or shared or
participated in, equally, by us all. Thus, it should be understood
(to the Christians Jude was writing to) that he was talking about a
very specific salvation that is shared by all converts of Christianity
that did not require him to begin his message to them explaining
what/which salvation he was referring to.
For instance, in America we speak an altered form of English;
without the British accent, and convoluted with many words, if not using
the same word to mean different things, only to be interpreted by our
tone and expressions as we use our words. It’s not a problem when you’re
in America because it’s what we’ve learn as a people, culture, society.
The problem rears itself when foreigners come to this land, or when you
travel abroad, and don’t know the culture, language, or traditions of the
country that you visit. Therefore, you are no longer on common ground,
or have a shared way to express yourself without great difficulty. So,
then Christian salvation should be, rightly, understood amongst all believers,
and have a fundamental meaning that we share, so that the sinner and
unbeliever can hear the same message, the gospel of deliverance, no matter
where she goes, and no matter to which church they visit, Jesus Christ is
the same, yesterday, today, and forever; and if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him
from the dead you shall be saved. Salvation through Christ Jesus should be
the common message.
But then Jude says that you should earnestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints. So, then there is a faith that was,
originally, delivered (spoken, preached, given) to the saints earlier that
was, possibly, not being preached at the time that he was writing to the
church. Because if this wasn’t the case, then there would not have been a
need to tell them to fight to remember or contain or remain in a certain faith,
would you agree? He would not have had a need to express that they should,
seriously, oppose all other faiths that weren’t once giving to the saints.
He goes on to tell them why they should do this, but my question to you is
what are you contending for?
Do you really understand that there are men, crept in unawares to destroy, not
only you, but the complete body of Christ to a dangerously, and eternally wicked
end? Do you not understand that your family, children, parents, friends,
neighbors, and co-workers lives are at stake, at risk, and in harms way if you
do not fight for the common salvation that is to bring forth fruit in your life,
and be the light for men to see, and glorify God who is in heaven? As Christians,
are we only in it for the fishes and the loaves, or have we really made up in our
minds, for God I live and for God I die?
What are you saved for? What have you been set free to do? Why do you live this
life? What are you really fighting for? I’m not questioning your faith, belief,
doctrine, or church affiliation. I want you to take the reflective approach, and
question your motives, reason, and intentions. I want you to understand what’s at
stake if we don’t fight against the common enemy.
I see Christians fighting Christians over doctrine. Don’t get me wrong. I know
wrong doctrine exists, and agnosticism is as strong as ever. It’s a ploy to
destroy the church from within. It’s an attempt to make the church weak.
I completely understand. A house divided against itself cannot stand. The church
world is divided. Everybody is talking to God, but there are a million interpretations.
But saints we have to preach the gospel of Deliverance. People must be told about
the love of God, and that his will is that all men would repent and be saved. God has
created a way for man to escape the coming destruction, and he’s placed the answer in
his son, Jesus the Christ. (It’s a shame that doctrine is already divided here in the
basic fact that in the Godhead there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But
I’m not trying to go there in this post).
Is the salvation that you believe worth fighting for? Is it even true? Do you really
believe in it? If you do, then strive for it’s truth to be reveled, fully, in your life,
as well as, in the lives of us all. Let’s contend together, commonly, in this
salvation, and not separately, as individual militia groups. How much could we
accomplish, change, or create if we were one united front; one opposing body against
the forces of darkness? If one could put a thousand to flight, and two, ten thousand…well
you do the math if we were all on one accord!
