Called, Cherished, and Kept (Jude 1:1)

A How-to Guide for Christian Leadership

Sandwiched between 3rd John and Revelation is a small letter written to an unspecified group of Christian believers. The purpose? Teach them to the difference between godly, Christian teachers and ungodly, false teachers. In the process, this short, 25-verse letter, called Jude in the Christian Scriptures, becomes a how-to guide for Christian leadership.

It's important to define leader correctly. A leader cares about the team members' development, both individually and as a whole. Dr. John Kotter writes that caring leadership shows itself when a leader casts a vision, brings about healthy change, and then empowers the team to accomplish the change and meet the vision. Christian leadership, then, cares but does it through a foundational faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is the foundation for the rest of the letter and thus where the letter starts.

The Need for Identity

As a Christian leader, Jude begins by setting forth a solid, Christian identity, both for himself and for his readers. The importance of this cannot be understated. Society demands we find our identity in many different areas. Advertising claims identity can be found with the right car, clothes, scents, foods, etc. Social media holds up images of perfect influencers with perfect bodies and perfect lives and intimates (if not outright insists) that identity be found in perfection. This milieu is proven to cause mental health issues among those who partake (Gen Z, anyone?). The increase in anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, etc., is directly linked to the constant ingestion of social media (see Dr. Jean Twenge, for instance). Why? Identity, which sits at the core of one's self and answers "Who am I?", must be tied to an immutable idea or person. Too many, however, tie the answer to the shifting sands of societal whims. Jude insists on tying identity to the unchanging attributes of God Himself.

The Leader's Identity

In verse one, Jude introduces himself in two ways. First, he is the "servant" or "slave" of Jesus Christ. Translations are generally unsure of how to translate this word. "Slave" means something very different to those of us from the United States. In fact, in the 19th-century, the Greek word used here was most translated "servant" because of the baggage of 19th-century slavery. Translating the Greek here as "servant" is too soft, as it indicates the ability to switch masters at will. The proper word, but more archaic, is to translate the Greek here as "bondservant." A bondservant would bond himself or herself to the master for life and without any promise of wages. Exodus 21:5-6 describes the process perfectly. The servant binds himself to the master and does not wish freedom. This is Jude's identity. He is bound to his Lord and Master Jesus Christ. He is not tied to a political party or an economic ideal, for instance, but to Jesus Christ Himself. The second introduction is familial in nature. He is the brother of James. In fact, James and Jude are both half-brothers to Jesus, but neither uses that to get ahead in the early Christian Church or to curry any kind of favor. He is connected to James (a prominent leader of the early Christian church), which gives him some credibility and recognition, but mainly because of his topic. When he speaks of Christian doctrine, false teachers, and connection to Christ, he speaks of what he knows because he, like the Apostle John, "speaks of what [he] knows and testifies to what [he] has seen" (John 3:11).

The Follower's Identity

Likewise, Jude sets forth a very concrete identity for his readers, as well. Again, his readers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Master must tie their core selves to the immutable attributes of God Himself. Note what Jude says: "To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ" (NIV). "Those who are called" indicates one called (summoned, invited) by God Himself to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. Think of it this way--much like a wedding invitation or a birthday party invitation  sent out, God invited these people to receive the gift of eternal life through Christ. Not only are these called, but they are loved. Some translate this as beloved; the New English Translation says, "Wrapped up in the love …"; the idea is that God had a preference for these believers. He wishes them well; He has a high regard for them. They are VIPs in His book! The third identifying statement is perhaps the most powerful. They are "kept." Paul explains that nothing can separate us from "the love of God in Jesus Christ" (Rom 8:38-39). The old hymn exclaims, "He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock!" These believers are KEPT by God and they are wholly devoted (given over completely) to Him. I, for instance, am a "kept man." Married to my wife for 31 years, no woman, mental health issues, or other struggles have separated us. In fact, our younger daughter, as a small child, often sought to sit between us. She was almost always swiftly removed because, as her mother said, "I had him first."

The Realized Identity

Identity is key to spiritual fitness and resilience. The faithful Christian leader recognizes the need to operate out of a core of self that is tied to Someone greater. Too often, however, that identity in Christ is forgotten, and the Christian leader then begins to operate out of something much, much less. Now, imagine the impact on the Christian follower who forgets his or her identity as called, cherished, and kept. I see this daily when I speak with Christians. So many are defeated, saddened, and lost because they DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE! When they truly begin to live in the realization that God Himself invited them into His family (John 1:12), God loves them unconditionally (John 3:16), and God keeps them for Himself (Rom 8:38-39), their whole attitude in life changes. They have tied to their selves to the immutable nature of God.

My wife exemplifies the power of this. She struggled with clinical depression for 16 years. During that time, she has told me, she knew three things. One, God loved her. Of that there was no doubt. Two, I loved her. Again, of that there was no doubt. Three, God assured us at the beginning of our relationship that we were to be together. She knew she had been called, cherished, and kept, and that is why she is still alive today.

Life-giving Identity

This is the true impact of a Christian leader. Just as Jude does, the Christian leader cares enough about the flock to live out an identity of a bondservant and to point the flock to their own identity as called, cherished, and kept. The Christian leader points the people to life.

Reflecting on Identity

1. Where is your identity to be found?

2. Are you encouraging your people to bind themselves to the unchanging nature of God?

3. Are you living in Christ or living in self?

4. How easily do you forget whose you are?

5. Do you expect your people to identify themselves with you or to identify themselves with Christ?

6. Who are you following?

7. To whom are you pointing?

8. Do you walk the walk or simply talk the talk?