The new religion changing the West

“Watch out that no one deceives you!”

Charles Gardner reviews ‘Cuckoos in the Nest’ by Sam Gordon (2017, Ritchie Christian Media).

Bible teacher and author Sam Gordon is to be congratulated on his excellent new book, Cuckoos in the Nest (Ritchie Christian Media), which should set the cat among the proverbial pigeons!

A commentary on the brief yet much neglected epistle of Jude, it tackles apostasy in the Church – so prevalent these days as Christians increasingly succumb to intimidation from politically-correct secular humanism.

Test the Shepherds

As Sam points out, Jude was a man of great humility, imitating his Master who was actually his half-brother! Instead of pulling rank, he describes himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James”.

Jude had hoped to write about the salvation he shared with his readers, but felt compelled to address the much more urgent issue of how ungodly people had secretly slipped in among them to “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign Lord”.

This is also what has been happening over the past 50 years, especially in light of recent decisions to approve same-sex marriage and deny the Bible’s authority.

As Jesus’ half-brother, Jude doesn’t pull rank but describes himself as a servant of Christ.

With his straightforward yet colourful language, Sam challenges the modern Church to test whether they are being led astray by “shepherds who feed only themselves…clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted – twice dead”.

He emphasises personal responsibility for keeping ourselves in God’s love by building ourselves up in the faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

Jude’s focus was on urging his hearers to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” which means it is important to challenge the accepted norms of society that are increasingly being absorbed by the Church as Christian leaders blend in with their surroundings like frightened chameleons.

Stirred to Renewed Passion

I have already quoted Sam in two recent articles – so that speaks for itself of his potential for stirring our hearts and minds to renewed passion for Jesus.

Although you don’t often hear it read as a lesson, Anglicans familiar with the communion liturgy will often have heard the paean of praise with which Jude ends his letter – one of the most magnificent pieces of literature ever composed: “Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (King James Version).

With straightforward yet colourful language, Sam challenges the modern Church to test whether they are being led astray.

We need to heed Jude’s warnings, Sam concludes, quoting the wise counsel of Bishop JC Ryle, the 19^th Century evangelical leader: “Let us receive nothing, believe nothing, follow nothing which is not in the Bible, nor can be proved by the Bible.”

As Sam puts it: “The truth is, if the church is going to flourish, then the cuckoos in the nest have to go!”

A former CEO of Messianic Testimony, Sam Gordon now heads up his own ministry, Truth for Today (www.truthfortoday.co.uk) as he continues to travel the world encouraging believers. Cuckoos in the Nest (444 pages) is available from the author’s website for £7.99. Also available elsewhere online.