Marks of false teachers

Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. – Jude 1v8

I find this an interesting passage, especially in light of something that has become the norm among Christians today. Of the three marks of false teachers mentioned here, two of them deal with the same basic problem. False teachers, in addition to defiling the flesh, reject authority and speak evil of dignitaries.

It would be simple enough to say something like, ‘This is only speaking of God and godly authority,’ but there is no support for this idea. False teachers are those who reject authority of all kinds and speak evil of all sorts of dignitaries be they spiritual or earthly. The whole of God’s word stresses respect for all those in authority.

Authority is important. All authority is important. God’s word tells us to pray for those in authority. It tells us to speak evil of no man. It tells us to honour the king. It never tells us to rant and rave and rail against those in authority. The next verse in Jude tells us that even Michael the archangel would not bring a ‘reviling accusation’ against Satan himself, but simply said – ‘The Lord rebuke you.’ I don’t really understand how all of this works out when the truly wicked are in authority, but there you have it.

Do we really trust God enough to let Him deal with those in authority? Or do we think that somehow our attacks, rejection of leadership and speaking evil is going to accomplish anything? Is this kind of action a mark of truly trusting God, or is it trusting in our own power and wisdom to deal with the situation?