Out on the Ledge

“And have mercy on those who doubt” (v22).

You see them standing there. They hesitate. They can’t decide. They don’t know whether to go left or right. They don’t know whether to stay or go. They don’t know whether to say “yes” or “no.” They just can’t make up their mind. Jude lets us know how to deal with folks who stand at the crossroads of faith. You don’t make the decision for them. You don’t shove them in toward Jesus. Instead, show them compassion. Do you try and help them make their decision? Absolutely. But people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. That’s how we should deal with doubters.

This is especially important considering the damage done by a team of false teachers. These con artists are traveling from town to town, weaseling their way into local churches. Their perverted message tears these congregations apart from the inside out (Jude 4). They’ve injected confusion among God’s people. The result is a slew of doubters. Folks who don’t know what to do with Jesus. They face the musical question asked by those great philosophers of The Clash. “Should I stay or should I go now?” Show them compassion. Show them how much you care.

Jude uses the Greek word eleao, which means to show kindness, express compassion and concern, and feel pity. But as Boston sings, “It’s more than a feeling.” (Sorry to go to the musical references twice so quickly, but that’s just how my brain works.) Don’t just feel compassion, be compassionate. Don’t just feel kindness, be kind. A warm, fuzzy feeling doesn’t do anybody any good. The Apostle Paul tells his Roman friends that we shouldn’t show mercy just because we have to. We should do it willingly and cheerfully (Rom 12:8).

We show compassion because God has shown it to us. “‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends on God, who has mercy” (Rom 9:15-16). One desperate woman knew that Jesus was the only One to turn to when her daughter was under satanic attack. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). We’re to have mercy because God has shown us mercy. God doesn’t just have a few bucks in His mercy account that He might toss our way. Nope. Quite the contrary. He’s loaded. He’s got plenty to share. And He’s ready to share! “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5). We show kindness because God has shown us kindness. Our omniscient God didn’t just show us how much He knows. He showed us how much He cares. And He hasn’t stopped.

Jude tells us who specifically who should be the targets of our compassion. “Those who doubt” (v22). He uses a Greek word (Gr. diakrino) that means to evaluate, discern, doubt, dispute, hesitate, waver, debate, or take issue. Because of the false teachers, these folks are now having second thoughts. They’re not so sure what they believe. Jude’s other brother describes spiritual doubters like wind-driven waves. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting (Gr. diakrino), for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). You know the old saying, “He who hesitates is lost.” Well, that’s why we need to get out on the ledge with them. Try to talk them down. Don’t shove them. Show compassion. Stand with them. Be there for them. 

Our author knows all about doubt. And he knows all about being shown compassion. He had serious doubts about his big Brother’s claim to be Messiah. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ whole family thought He was crazy, not Christ (Mk 3:21; 7:5). But Jesus turned out to be exactly who He said He was. And He showed His kid brother compassion. He showed him kindness. He gave him room to make his own decision. He showed Jude mercy when he doubted. And now Jude encourages us to do the same. Show them compassion. Show them how much you care.

When folks are on the ledge, go out there with them. Show them how much you care. Show them how much Jesus cares.