Study of Judas: being near to God

Peter and Judas were two of Jesus’ disciples during His ministry on earth. Both followed Him through fame and persecution. But we know how this story ends, Judas betrayed Jesus. But so did Peter - by denying Him three times.

Judas loved the idea of God, but He didn’t really love Him. When the right opportunity arose, He chose a bribe over the life of Jesus. Guilt-ridden, he ended his life afterwards. Peter, on the other hand, had a much different ending to his story. His betrayal led him to godly repentance and he lived the rest of His life telling people about Jesus. 

What made their walks so different? While Judas appeared to be a devoted Christian, his heart was far away from God. Similarly, there are many today who would walk, talk and act like a Christian, but in reality don’t know or love God at all.

Judas gave us a perfect example of the life of one in the lukewarm church. Lukewarm, being those who appear as Christians and often believe themselves to be, but lack a relationship with Him. They love His stuff, His church, His love, His people. But they don’t love Him. 

Through the Lukewarm Church blog series, I’ll analyze the differences between the life of Peter and Judas and what their respective betrayals revealed about their true love for God.

A little on how this 10-part blog series will work: 

• 1st half: Aspects of the life Judas which we typically associate with a Christian

• 2nd half: Christian qualities embodied through the life of Peter

Beginning with the first aspect of Judas’ life: how close to God he was and yet his heart was far away.

If you grew up in the South like me, just about everyone “goes to church”. There are many things that draw people into the idea of God and going to church.

Loving the idea of God

On the surface, Judas seemed more devoted to Christ than many Christians today. He left his profession, his family, his friends, all to pursue a life of ministry with Jesus.

His commitment to Christ seemed so evident that his own peers were perplexed when Jesus told the disciples one of them would betray Him (Luke 22:21-23). No one suspected Judas, he seemed as dedicated and virtuous as the rest.

Eleven of Jesus’ closest friends couldn’t recognize someone who wasn’t actually a Christian. 

Which begs the question, why was Judas in ministry with Jesus? Most likely, he believed that he loved Him. Liking the idea of God, but only up to a certain point.

Many of us are drawn into church and the idea of God, but we can’t get behind all of Him. We are aligned with 30%, 50% or even 95% of God, but we keep control over the rest. 

Why? Our perception of God is limited to our own pre-fixed ideas of what it means to be a “good God”. And the moment God doesn’t fit within those guidelines we’ve created, we’re disinterested. 

Even though many in the church can’t get behind everything about God, they remain in church. One reason that keeps them active in the church is the appeal of being a part of a community. 

Enjoying the comforts of Christian community 

Jesus was very likeable in those days. He performed many miracles and attracted crowds by the thousands. To be one of Jesus’ closest friends must have been invigorating and a high honor initially.

The moment Judas was chosen by Jesus to be His disciple was likely a beautiful feeling. “This powerful man chose me to have a front-seat view of His life and ministry?” he must have thought. 

You can be around those who love God, without truly knowing Him yourself. Even Judas couldn't have been more close-knit to the best community.  

The modern church has changed tremendously and reasons for entering and staying have grown some nuances. In a cultural setting where there’s little to no social drawbacks or consequences in being labeled a Christian (in Western society), it’s often considered an attractive trait or symbolic of possessing some sort of moral goodness.

Depending on where you live, it may be more comfortable to be associated with the church than not to be. 

Apart from appearances, there’s also a sense of security being near people you’re familiar with, perhaps grown up with or grown close to over time. It feels safe to find a consistent fellowship with other people who think, act and maybe even look like you.

There’s a safety in numbers and even more comforting when your world is confined to only this Christian circle, a safe bubble away from the worries and woes of the “world”.

Many choose God based on the association with the church, not God Himself. When the church inevitably fails them in some way, they may fail the church. Or at least have serious doubts and concerns which they may or may not ever confront. 

This usually happens when the church or God doesn’t measure up to the moral standard of goodness.

Wanting to be good without wanting God

We all want to be good. No doubt Judas could feel the difference in how Jesus loved others. Perhaps he desired to be like Him.

If we desire God’s goodness but not Himself, we fool ourselves into thinking we’re becoming more like Him. If we wish to fly a plane in the air, we can’t simply sit in the plane and will it to go. It needs power, to be filled with gas to make it lift off. Similarly, our imitations of Christ will be sedentary until we understand the God who owns these traits. Otherwise, we’ll end up hurting ourselves and others. 

Apart from God, our minds will - to the best of our ability - conjure up what it means to be “good”. But our knowledge only goes so far. Not far at all, actually. We’re thinking through our human lens, which only has visibility to a very small, zoomed in piece of the frame. God’s view sees everything. He has knowledge of everything. So when we try to make sense of His traits, we won’t be able to accurately do it with our small scope.

We must know Him first for Him to slowly expand our view.

But when we separate His goodness from His character, we put ourselves in the driver's seat. We believe that we get to decide what His traits are. The Potter’s clay screams from the table to her Creator, “you’re doing it wrong!”

As with Judas and many of the Jews in that day, when you decide who God is and don’t allow Him to define Himself, you’ve put yourself in a dangerous place. You’ve created your own god. Which the Bible describes as an idol. 

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So, why are you going to church? Why do you believe you have a relationship with God? 

Many who consider themselves to be a Christian haven’t asked themselves this question with much sincerity. As Judas invested years of his life to Jesus’ ministry, maybe you’ve invested more. Or maybe you’ve invested the bare minimum.

In any case, what motivates you to do so? Is it out of a love for God?