[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fcontending-for-the-faith":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcontending-for-the-faith-surround":87},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":10,"columnName":69,"date":70,"description":16,"extension":71,"image":72,"meta":73,"minRead":74,"navigation":75,"path":76,"postType":77,"publication":78,"publicationUrl":72,"seo":79,"stem":80,"topics":81,"__hash__":86},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fcontending-for-the-faith.md","Contending for the Faith",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9],"Proverbs",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":65},"minimark",[13,17,20,27,30,33,39,45,55,62],[14,15,16],"p",{},"Jude’s 25-verse letter is one of the shortest books in the Bible, but it’s fiery and hard-hitting—an alarm clock to awake a sleeping church.",[14,18,19],{},"Originally Jude intended to write a more general letter. He says, “I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share” (v. 3)—perhaps a positive, encouraging letter like First Peter. Instead, alarmed by the rising threat of false teaching, he wrote a passionate warning more in the style of Second Peter. He explains, “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude v. 3).",[14,21,22,26],{},[23,24,25],"em",{},"Contend"," translates the Greek word epagonizesthai, which suggests that defending the faith may be costly and agonizing. To contend for our faith means fighting for it, standing up for it, vigorously protecting it—even if doing so is unfashionable or puts us out of step with our culture.",[14,28,29],{},"What Hangs in the Balance?",[14,31,32],{},"There are several reasons we should take Jude’s warning to heart.",[14,34,35,38],{},[23,36,37],{},"For our own sake."," Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth and do not sell it.” Anything we exchange for truth is a bad deal. Jesus referred to the kingdom of God as a pearl of great price. What could be more valuable than our relationship with God?",[14,40,41,44],{},[23,42,43],{},"For the sake of our forerunners in the faith",". We stand on the shoulders of faithful Christians from past generations, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who led us to Christ and taught us his Word. In my office hangs an ordination certificate signed by godly leaders who laid their hands on me and prayed for my ministry nearly 40 years ago. They were ordinary men—farmers, schoolteachers, businessmen, laborers, ministers—but they loved God, loved me, and trusted me to carry on the Lord’s work. Their signatures motivate me to be faithful. I don’t want to let them down.",[14,46,47,50,51,54],{},[23,48,49],{},"For the sake of the next generation."," In his eye-opening book, ",[23,52,53],{},"The Great Evangelical Recession"," (Baker, 2013), John S. Dickerson warns that Bible-believing churches are losing ground at an alarming rate. He notes, “The fastest growing subcultures in the United States express a militant antagonism against Christians who take the Bible seriously,” and “what’s left of a smaller, shrinking, strapped church is also splintering and splitting itself over politics and postmodern views of God and the Bible.” The spiritual wellbeing of our young people hangs in the balance. Jude says, “Be merciful to those who doubt” (v. 22). We must prepare the next generation for the tough questions and spiritual challenges ahead of them. Jeff Vines at Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas, California, urges every member of his congregation to take an Apologetics 101 course dealing with basic truths like the existence of God and the resurrection of Christ. Jeff personally devotes two or three days each year to a retreat with the church’s high school seniors to strengthen their faith before they leave home to pursue careers and college degrees.",[14,56,57,58,61],{},"Most of all, we must contend for our faith ",[23,59,60],{},"for the Lord’s sake",". Jude starts with a warning but ends with a doxology. God “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (v. 24). We give him glory when we speak the truth in love and contend earnestly for the faith.",[14,63,64],{},"QUESTIONS:",{"title":66,"searchDepth":67,"depth":67,"links":68},"",2,[],"Revealed and Relevant","2014-11-30","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcontending-for-the-faith","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":16},"articles\u002Fcontending-for-the-faith",[82,83,84,85],"Biblical Theology","Church Leadership","Intergenerational Ministry","Spiritual Formation","nVCH7P8G6XPzgS0-Mu8RBrrpODYXRS_Ct0Nrz6NuNSc",[88,93],{"title":89,"path":90,"stem":91,"description":92,"children":-1},"Finding Joy When Life Isn’t Enjoyable","\u002Farticles\u002Fconsider-this-fruit-of-the-spirit-joy","articles\u002Fconsider-this-fruit-of-the-spirit-joy","In 2002, I accepted the invitation of the board of trustees to become president of Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary. During my first year in that role, well-meaning friends asked, “Are you enjoying the job?”",{"title":94,"path":95,"stem":96,"description":97,"children":-1},"Costly Connections","\u002Farticles\u002Fcostly-connections","articles\u002Fcostly-connections","As I settled into my seat on a plane the other day, the flight attendants performed their usual safety demonstration prior to takeoff. If this were my first time to fly, their warnings would have sounded alarming: \"Please note the location of the exit rows. In the event of an emergency . . .\" But my fellow travelers paid little attention."]