What Is "Clothing Stained by Corrupted Flesh"?

All highlighted words are links to Scriptures and additional resources.

Dear Christians, it's important that we carefully examine anything that presents itself as Christian, making sure it's scriptural (Acts 17:11). We should listen to legitimate concerns about an author, teacher, book, movie, or ministry.(1) 

Jude warns about false teachers who “slip in” among God's people, and he commands us to help those who are deceived, showing “mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 1:23)

What does it mean to hate “the clothing stained by corrupted flesh”?

Old Testament cleansing laws considered a person “unclean” if they touched cloth that had any trace of mold, body fluids, or disease on it (Leviticus 13:52; Leviticus 15).(2)  Jude uses this analogy to warn against accepting anything even slightly soiled by false teachings. 

We should carefully examine the lives, partnerships, beliefs, and content of things presented as “Christian” (Matthew 7:15-17; 1 John 4:1). This is the only way to maintain our discernment.

We should be concerned when books or movies misrepresent God’s character or His Word. (The Shack; Boundaries).

We shouldn't try to combine Christianity with pagan practices. (Yoga)

If an author or teacher holds false beliefs, we should use special caution in using their materials, even if their content seems biblical (The Chosen; Jesus Calling).

Many Christians are accepting, excusing, and defending unsound doctrine, but Scripture says, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17

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See also: 

⮞Are You Defending Errors About Christianity? 

⮞3 Ways of Looking at Popular Pagan Practice

Footnotes:

(1) We should be offended when God's Word is misused or distorted. We should be offended when God's character is misrepresented. And we should be extremely careful when an author or teacher lacks discernment or claims they are called to speak for God. If we refuse to objectively examine the influences in our lives, we will lose our discernment.

(2) These Old Testament laws emphasized our sinful human nature, our “uncleanness” which separated us from God. When Christ came, He made us “clean” by the shedding of His blood. Jude uses this Old Testament analogy in a way that applies to Christians: we are cleansed from the corruption of sin that separated us from God, but we must be careful to maintain the health and purity of our beliefs. We find similar analogies in 2 Corinthians 6:17 and Revelation 3:4.

Bible Love Notes