The First Side-Door Seduction
“who turned the grace of God into licentiousness” Jude 4
Licentiousness – Even in English we stumble over this word. Bible publishers have done their best to accommodate our standard third grade reading vocabulary (one of the reasons why I find it so difficult to get a publisher) by offering “license for immorality” or “sheer license” or something like that. My personal favorite is Da Jesus Book translation: “go buckaloose an make any kine how dey like”.
The Greek brings us back to a deeper reality. Aselgeia covers a wider range of meanings than simply sexual immorality. I need to see this wider range. Otherwise I would be tempted to push aside Jude’s warning as something that doesn’t apply to me and my congregation. I might look around and say to myself, “But my church doesn’t have adulterers or perverts or sexually promiscuous members. We are all good people.” Of course we are! That’s why the divorce rate is the same in the church as outside the church. That’s why a very large percentage of adult males, including pastors, struggle with pornography. That’s why teenage children of faithful members just do “what’s normal”. But that’s them, not me! Until I look at the wider meaning.
Aselgeia in Classical Greek is a word that also covers arrogant violence and lawless indifference. Aselgeia is a word about soul debauchery. “Go buckaloose”. This is the inner character of a man who does whatever he wants. Our culture today places extraordinary value on aselgeia. We live in a world where personal “freedoms” take precedent over every expectation of moral responsibility. We worship license in politically correct form.
Jude tells us that side-door seducers turn the grace of God into aselgeia. If aselgeia is excess, unrestrained behavior and arrogance, then grace must be quite the opposite. Grace must be discipline, humility and modesty. If grace is the center of the room, then every time I move off center and away from discipline, humility and modesty, I move toward a side-door.
It’s “buckaloose” or surrender to the Spirit’s control. Not a little of each. Not a bit of shadow and a bit of light. Suddenly Jude’s warning doesn’t feel quite so comfortable. When was the last time I said to myself, “I have a right to do what I want.” That’s aselgeia trying to pry its way into my soul.
