Jude uses strong language to condemn the presumptuous of the churches a condemnation that reaches out to denounce the pride and self-centeredness of the Lord's congregations of our own time:

We see this today as both secular society and Christian society seek to pull down their leaders to a level where everyone is on a first name basis. "All the Lord's people are holy." The leaders are no different from anyone else (it is maintained) and are to be followed only when it pleases the group to do so. What appears to be so "democratic," so good for people, actually is satanic.

Rulership comes from God. When the civil or religious rulers are wicked, confusion and sin abound. God-fearing people cannot always determine when the government has become so evil its laws must be resisted. Resistance to authority is a matter of the utmost seriousness.

The true saint, the believer who has been taught of the Lord, is ready to obey authority. He knows that in doing so he is obeying Christ and showing proper reverence toward God. This is not to say we are to disobey the laws of God when wicked rulers command us to do so, as confused, nominal Christians in Germany did in cooperation with Adolf Hitler. But it is to say we are to honor all government, as much as possible, as being established by the Lord for the execution of His purposes in the earth.

The doctrine that people should be free to do as they please has been developing over the past few hundred years. This doctrine will lead directly to Antichrist, to the lawless one. God always works in terms of government, of law, of order. The person who resists those who have the rule over him (except in the unusual situations we mentioned previously) is resisting God (Romans 13:2).

The Catholic Church historically has kept its members under obedience. As the pendulum has swung (in Protestantism) away from ecclesiastical authority there has arisen a disregard and, in some instances, a contempt for spiritual authority. This is true not only in secular society but also among the believers. It appears today each believer (especially in many Christian assemblies) feels free to do what is right in his own eyes. There is little fear of God or of His leaders.

Because of the presumption in the churches of his day (and in ours), Jude reminds us of the manner in which God dealt with Korah:

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11)

"The gainsaying of Core (Korah)"!

Korah was a Kohathite Levite, the branch of the Levites from which the priests were taken. So it is that those who are the closest to the Lord need to be careful they do not become presumptuous in the things of God. If they do, God will bring them down in humiliation. Those who are exalted in spiritual matters always are in danger of resisting the Lord's will, of "crucifying" the Lord as did the Pharisees.

To be continued.