Weak. Uncommitted. Lazy. These are some of the descriptions I have heard over the years from other Christians (and admittedly used a time or two myself) concerning their backslidden brethren. Should these people be written off?
Jude, most likely the Lord’s brother, knew doubting and unbelief. John 7:5 records the fact that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him. Yet later in life, Jude changed and wrote these words encouraging Christians to seek out the wayward.
And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. -Jude 22-23
Jude admonishes faithful believers to “have mercy on” and “snatch [these worldly-minded] out of the fire.” Like him, these people are precious to the Lord. Having forgotten their Savior, they have gotten enticed and entangled in the world’s glitz and glamour. Jude, like the shepherd in Luke 15, is holding out hope of finding the lost sheep before it is too late.
However, Jude warns these potential rescuers to be careful. Search and rescue mission are dangerous and much can go awry. Christians must prepare themselves properly.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. -Jude 20-21
Just as a physically hobbled person is not the best choice to lead a search party because they would potentially need to be rescued themselves, a Christian who is not devoted to prayer and study is in danger of needing to be rescued as well. A person not constantly “building [themselves] up in the most holy faith” is in danger of traveling the same path as the one Jude says need to be saved.
Jude closes his short letter by once again reminding his readers that Jesus is the answer to remaining faithful while seeking the lost.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with greatly, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. -Jude 24-25
Let us seek to remain dedicatedly praying in the Holy Spirit , actively searching the Scriptures and faithfully serving our Lord every day. By doing so, we guard ourselves from needing to be rescued from Satan’s clutches. By doing so, we may have the opportunity and privilege of helping to save someone from certain spiritual death. By not “writing these people off”, we are glorifying our Savior by searching for his lost sheep.