Earnestly Contend . . .

Jude 1:3 (NIV) says, "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Contend? Is Jude actually promoting contentiousness?

Definition:
con·ten·tious (kən ten′s̸həs) adjective = always ready to argue; quarrelsome; of or marked by contention; provoking or likely to provoke controversey; militant

I heard a good teaching today at church about our attitudes and not being quarrelsome. And I agree. We should suffer default (I Corinthians 6:5-8) rather than participate in PETTY arguments and issues. Yet, in keeping the doctrine of grace uncorrupted, and the purity of the Good News, we are also called to contention. We are called to expose the toxic leaven that kills our joy and renders us powerless and offends the Spirit of Grace. We are accountable one to another "not to turn traitor to Him Who has called us by the Grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God," (Gal. 1:6 -- The Message).

Galatians 1:6-9 (LBV) says: "I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed."

Paul says that we are not to be fooled by anyone, no matter who it is, even if it were an angel, that promotes any other way of salvation other than by the Grace and Gift of God. This is a legitamate cause for contention.

Matthew Henry's Commentary:
1:6-9 Those who would establish any other way to heaven than what the gospel of Christ reveals, will find themselves wretchedly mistaken. The apostle presses upon the Galatians a due sense of their guilt in forsaking the gospel way of justification; yet he reproves with tenderness, and represents them as drawn into it by the arts of some that troubled them. In reproving others, we should be faithful, and yet endeavour to restore them in the spirit of meekness.(I want this, Lord.) Some would set up the works of the law in the place of Christ's righteousness, and thus they corrupted Christianity. The apostle solemnly denounces, as accursed, every one who attempts to lay so false a foundation. All other gospels than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to self-righteous pride, or more favourable to worldly lusts, are devices of Satan. And while we declare that to reject the moral law as a rule of life, tends to dishonour Christ, and destroy true religion, we must also declare, that all dependence for justification on good works, whether real or supposed, is as fatal to those who persist in it. While we are zealous for good works, let us be careful not to put them in the place of Christ's righteousness, and not to advance any thing which may betray others into so dreadful a delusion."

We need to have the freedom to "revelate" with one another, to debate in a normal dialogue if we disagree or have any questions regarding doctrine. Fellow believers should never question loyalty, respect, spirituality, maturity, because we contend for the Good News. Our questions or statements, what a good friend of mine calls "revelating," is actually healthy and can be used for an interdependant system of checks and balances. It takes secure people, whose identities are not tied up in anything but Christ. In fact, this would be a sign of a healthy, non-abusive church . . .the ability to disagree respectfully and encourage dialogue that would support an uncorrupted Gospel.

I love Martin Luther and his contention for the Gospel of Grace. He nailed his objections soundly to the door of his mother church. HE PROTESTED! I think of Acts 15:1, which says, "It wasn't long before some Jews showed up from Judea insisting that everyone be circumcised: "If you're not circumcised in the Mosaic fashion, you can't be saved. Paul and Barnabas were up on their feet at once in fierce protest." What's that? FIERCE PROTEST? In other versions, it says, "no small disputation." (Oh, they must have been "wounded, or carrying baggage -- or some other 'write-off') And Jesus Himself, confronted this poison, calling men "vipers!" When it comes to the truth, the Truth Himself, contended. In fact, this is the very cause for persecution -- preaching Christ Crucified alone. The natural man hates it. The Spirit of Anti-Christ campaigns against it daily. . . in the world and . . in our churches.

So I say, if you get a "red flag" concerning doctrine, please don't come under any "no talk rule." Don't come under any control, but be compelled for His Glory and His Truth and His Good News! We must earnestly contend for the Good News Gospel concerning which we read in the New Testament, the only gospel that has the power to save (Rom. 1: 16).