Michael, Satan, and Submission: What Jude Teaches Us About Spiritual Rebellion
By Adam Groza
Jude is an intriguing book. In only 25 verses, the once unbelieving brother of Jesus turned apostle offers an illustrative lesson in the certainty of judgment for those who reject Jesus as Master and Lord (4). God has effectually called some into the church, and the power of the Gospel is evident in their perseverance of faith and obedience (1). Others have crept into the church (4). Lacking the Spirit (19), these rebels disregard God’s Word and created order (8) and indulge their flesh (16). Jude borrows masterfully from non-canonical works such as the Assumption of Moses and 1 Enoch to construct a simple yet potent message: Jesus is coming to judge (14). Those who persist in disobedience willingly place themselves in the crosshairs of divine judgment (4).
Will God really judge? Satan continues to whisper “you will surely not die” (Genesis 3:4) despite Jude’s impressive historical evidence to the contrary. God judged unbelieving Israel (5), the angels that had sexual relations with women (6-7), and the men of Sodom (7). God judges those who walk in the rebellion of Cain, who like Korah reject his will, and who scheme for money like Balaam (11). Coupled with an apocalyptic vision of pending judgment on all ungodly people and all ungodly ways, Jude commands the church to contend for the faith which was handed to the apostles (3) and to encourage one another in the most holy faith (20).
Amid this penetrating argument for certain judgment is the story of Michael the archangel. Presumably taken from The Assumption of Moses, Jude offers Michael as an example of righteousness (9). The fallen angels of Genesis 6 rebelled against God by rejecting His created order and having relations with women. So too the men of Sodom, in a similar way (7), dishonored God when they pursued homosexual desires in violation of God’s created order (and of course, His revealed will as seen in the Genesis story and throughout Scripture). In contrast, Michael is seen to be reverent before God in that when he disputes with Satan over the body of Moses, he does not pronounce a word of judgment against Satan (9) but instead entrusts Satan to the judgment of the Lord.
I am fascinated with this story. I take the point to be that Michael respects God’s order and authority to give and take away. Whatever power, dominion, and glory (albeit fallen) Satan possesses, it is given by God. Satan is powerful because God has made him thus, and Michael so fears God that he entrusts Satan to His sovereignty.
Michael stands in distinction to those who flippantly “bind Satan”. Yet worse, criticism has become an evangelical pastime. Christians who profess to submit to the Lordship of God routinely revile leaders in their church, the workplace, government, denomination, or family! Michael acted in respect because he knew that God is sovereign over who rules when and where, and our submission to leaders (or those in positions of power) is an act of reverence to God. Scripture teaches that the Lord is the “ruler of mankind, and bestows it on whom he wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel 4:17 in the NASB, see also 4:32).
Is your reverence for God expressed in your willing submission to those God has put over you? When we graciously submit to human institutions (1 Peter 2:13) we display our trust in God and in His right to promote whomever He chooses. When we tear down those God has established over us, gossip against them, blog against them, or otherwise undermine their God-given authority, we show ourselves to be rebels like Korah. In thinking he was wiser than God, Korah rebelled against the very leader God had chosen and for this reason was destroyed.
Michael shows us a better way.
- Read Jude for yourself
Ummm, the last paragraph you have written hear is dangerous — the Bible also warns against FALSE PROPHETS — if one were to take your advice literally — we have no right to question ANTICHRIST when he takes authority over the world? That makes NO SENSE. Also, Jesus warns many times that “MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME” — and they are FALSE PROPHETS. New York Governor SPITZER is a fine example of one to follow - and Pope Boniface (in 1301) purchased the position of Pope in the Catholic Church and ADMITS to MAFIOSO CRIMES — how can you say to blindly follow ANYONE just because they have a position of power? That is dangerous - UNBIBLICAL and unwise.
PG,
Two comments to address your objection. First, the key phrase here is “those God has put over you”. The Bible says God establishes kings. I don’t see where God establishes false prophets (the whole point with false prophets of course being they *arent* from God). I think that much is uncontroversial and may entirely address your concern. Second, submitting doesnt mean either sinning or approving. Michael didn’t approve of Satan, nor do we have to approve of the anti-Christ. Nor do my statements (despite the picture) imply you have to obey legitimate governing authority in all circumstances, but you do have to honor and respect, which means you dont slander and gossip about people like Spitzer. So in the case of Daniel, he respected King Darius (as was evident in his work and faultless charecter) but refused to cease praying to God. Our loyalty to God is always our highest priority. I specifically say “tear-down, gossip, blog, or slander” which doesnt imply that we must obey a law if it went directly against Christ, such as, worship the anti-Christ. Christians can (and should)refuse to sin (again, see Daniel). However, my comments are against acts of rebellion that are themselves sinful (again, I quote) such as when people “revile leaders in their church, the workplace, government, denomination, or family”.
I forgive you for your straw-man fallacy: Of course, I never said blindly follow anyone. As you say, *that* would be dangerous, unbiblical, and unwise.