Men read the Letter of Jude and think they have been given a divine license to go to war. They see it as the official handbook for a spiritual witch-hunt, a call to arms to "contend for the faith" by attacking and condemning anyone who holds a different doctrine. They appoint themselves judge, jury, and executioner, fueled by the very spirit Jude warns against.
The Letter of Jude is not a declaration of war on other people. It is a spiritual field manual for internal security. It is a brutal, high-stakes warning about the enemy that doesn't knock on your door, but "slips in among you unnoticed." And that enemy is your own untamed ego.
1. The "Godless Men" Are Your Own Thoughts
Jude describes these infiltrators as "grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." (Jude 1:16).
Who is this describing? It is the perfect portrait of the human ego. The voice in your head is the ultimate grumbler and faultfinder. It is constantly judging, complaining, and comparing. It boasts and seeks advantage. These "godless men" are not just people out there; they are the thoughts that slip into your consciousness, promising you things while leading you into division and misery. They are the agents of the ego.
2. The Archetypes of Egoic Rebellion
Jude uses three Old Testament figures as case studies of the ego's path to destruction. These are not just historical warnings; they are mirrors for your own inner state.
The Way of Cain: Cain represents the religious ego. He performed the external ritual, but his heart was full of jealousy and anger. When his offering was rejected, he descended into rage and murder. This is the path of any man whose religion is a source of pride and anger, not peace.
The Error of Balaam: Balaam represents the spiritual ego for hire. He had a genuine spiritual gift, but he was willing to sell it out for profit and status. This is the path of any man who uses spirituality to get something, money, fame, or power over others.
The Rebellion of Korah: Korah represents the arrogant ego that rejects true spiritual authority. He saw himself as just as holy as Moses and rebelled, seeking a position of leadership. This is the path of the ego that cannot submit to the silent authority of the Spirit within, and instead seeks to establish its own noisy kingdom.
3. The Ultimate Instruction in Spiritual Warfare
The most critical and misunderstood verse in the entire letter is the key to everything. "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’" (Jude 1:9).
Michael, a being of immense spiritual power, confronts the ultimate accuser, Satan. And he does not engage. He does not get angry. He does not enter into a reactive, slanderous argument. He does not try to fight the battle himself. He turns it over to a higher authority.
This is the entire path. This is what it means to "ignore evil." When the accusatory, angry, fearful thoughts of the ego (the devil) rise up in your mind, you do not argue with them. You do not condemn them. You do not get angry at them. To do so is to give them power and descend to their level. You simply step back, recognize them for what they are, and say in your spirit, "The Lord rebuke you." You let God handle it. You remain in the peace of the Spirit while the ego's storm rages against itself.
4. The Only Defense
Jude's final instruction is not to go out and fight. It is to go inward. "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love." (Jude 1:20-21).
"Building yourself up" is reinforcing your state of conscious awareness. "Praying in the Holy Spirit" is not reciting words; it is abiding in the silent presence of God. This is the only way to "keep yourself" safe. Your defense is not to attack the darkness, but to stay in the light.
Jude is a command to become the security guard of your own mind. It is a call to recognize the ego's seductive, divisive thoughts when they appear, to refuse to engage them, and to remain steadfastly in the peace of the Spirit. It is the hardest work there is.