"They said to you (the apostles), ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit." (Jude 18-19 ESV)
This may seem at the outset to be a "political" lesson but don’t be alarmed, it isn’t. It’s just that "politics" provides such an abundance of inspiring material for an editorial lesson that I sometimes just have to dip into its vast reservoir of examples to make points in my lessons. As an example, you may have seen the results of a recent poll that shows that 71% of Americans think our federal government is a major problem.
I’m surprised that it’s not higher because I think that more and more Americans are becoming more and more distrustful of their government leaders. I wonder why? It can’t be because of the behavior of many of them, can it? And not because of actions said and done, both in ignorance and intentional deceit, could it?
I cited verses 18-19 of Jude to you and I think that you’ll have to agree that (1) we’re living in the "last time" and (2) that we’re witnessing the behavior that Jude is referring to. And I realize that Jude is talking about everyone, not just government, but it’s our government leaders that standout, publicity-wise, therefor serve well as examples.
I also know that there must be some in government that are honest and truthful, but they are blocked from view by the large crowd of liars and other leaders "void of the Spirit." It has gotten to the point that one has trouble believing anything that is said by our government.
When I think about our governmental situation I recall a couple of skits performed by a great comedy act of the late ‘60's - the Smothers Brothers. In one of them, Dick is explaining to Tom that you can tell who’s running the country by the amount of clothes that they’re wearing. When Tom asks him how this works, he replies that the "ordinary people" are the "less-ons." Tom asks, "So who are the ones running the country?" and Dick replies, "The more-ons."
Perhaps that one is a comical example of those who operate in ignorance, but the next skit addresses the intentional actions. In this one, Tom and Dick are being interviewed and Dick is telling the interviewer that he flew them to the interview in a private airplane. He describes their flight and what they flew over in getting there and Tom interrupts and says to Dick, "That’s not true. You’re not even a pilot and none of what you just said happened."
Of course, if you’re old enough to remember them, Dick just stands there with a dumb look on his face and then Tom then asks him, "Why did you deliberately lie about all of that?" Dick replied, "Well (long pause)... it’s national policy."
The skits were funny, but the underlying implications aren’t. They’re sad. 1 Tim. 4:2 provides me with a phrase I see very fitting to what is transpiring today as regards people’s veracity and why this lying seems to be so prevalent. That phrase is: "...through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared..."
It just seems to me that it doesn’t bother a lot of people to intentionally lie to others in order to deliberately deceive people. That we have an over-abundance of conscience-seared people today with a lot of them serving in various government capacities. Just recently, a highly-placed government official admittedly lied to Congress but, absolved himself of any wrongdoing by claiming it was done for the sake of national security. It’s like he’s saying, yeah I lied, but it’s OK because of the circumstances - the situation.
This brings to mind a book published in 1966 and written by a man named Joseph Fletcher entitled "Situation Ethics." He espoused a philosophy that, depending upon the situation, the violation of moral or ethical codes, especially the ones found in the Bible, are acceptable. Rest assured that he might have written the book, but his philosophy was preceded by the real originator of "Situation Ethics" - Satan.
In Genesis 3:4-6 we find the account of Eve being mislead by the "Serpent" using the philosophical strategy of Situation Ethics. He convinces her that she will be justified in willfully disobeying God’s command because when you eat the forbidden fruit, "you’ll be a god yourself." Because of her falling for Satan’s lie and her deliberate violation of God’s law, death came into the world (4:19).
One might ask, what is basically wrong with Situation Ethics? What’s wrong with the various behaviors that fall into the category of things "void of the Spirit?" The answer is easy and simple: it violates the two laws on which Christ said "hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:37-40) The first: the love for God, and second: the love for our fellow man. Those two are the lowest common-denominator of all the statutes and commandments of God.
In closing our thoughts here today, let me say as plainly as possible, convenient lies, ignorant or deliberate, or any other actions "void of the Spirit" are not acceptable behavior for Christians. I believe that any who do so will, in the words of the apostle Paul, "depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of devils." (1Tim. 4:1 ESV)
Our "faith" demands that we are to "provide things honest in the sight of all men." (Rom. 12:17) I further believe that the things "void of the Spirit" are precisely the things Paul warns us about in 1 Tim. 4:1, to wit: "deceitful spirits and teachings of devils." The words of Paul in Philippians 4:8 will be the final thought of this lesson and serve to tell us what the things "of the Spirit" are.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence; if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (ESV)
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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