Jude 3 - Faith-based Contentiousness

"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" Jude 3.

Nobody enjoys the company of a contentious person. In this world there is no one more irritating than someone who is argumentative. Indeed, Proverbs teaches that it's "better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman" (Pr. 25:24, NASB). There is however, one time when it is not only acceptable, but quite necessary to be contentious: whenever the gospel is in question. If the historical facts of the gospel or the teaching of Scripture that relate to the gospel (Titus 2:1) are ever threatened with denial, misunderstanding, redefinition, disregard or minimization, then faithful Christians must be anything but agreeable. When the gospel comes under attack, whether from the outside by the pagan culture around us, or from within by the legalistic or cheap-grace Christian subculture, gospel-centered Christians should not smile and nod. We should fight and contend.

There are two enemies to faith-based contentiousness: cowardice and distractedness. My heart is a coward. I don't want to fight and contend for the faith because I might hurt somebody's feelings, disappoint some 'entitled' individual who still believes the culture's lie that they have a right not to be offended by me. If I offend too many unbelievers, legalists or cheap-grace folks, then my life will become much more difficult in the short term than it would have been had I kept false peace with all men.

There is another more insidious enemy, however. Not only do I shrink back from confronting the enemies of the gospel, but I am an enemy of the gospel. My heart is just as capable of self-righteousness as any Pharisee I may know. And I am just as prone to deny the cost of discipleship and daily vigilance in the mortification of sin as any easy believer whose genuine conversation I've ever questioned.

My heart is so distracted. There is only one hope for me if I am ever going to be as contentious for my faith as I am supposed to be. Jesus Christ, my Savior, died on the cross to purchase me for himself, and his Spirit is a fighter. God is at war against my sin. That reality makes me want to fight. "So," I say to my wicked heart, "You're going down." Then I contend for the faith, starting with me.