Jellyfish are invertebrates; they don’t have a backbone. Nor do they have a brain or heart. They are 95% water.
Sadly, there are many jellyfish Christians and theologians today. If we are not careful, we can subtly become one too. This happens when we begin to compromise, shift our positions, or hide our biblical beliefs in embarrassment. Beware if you lean toward political correctness or have a fear of man. We should not compromise our views regarding biblical teachings on abortion (Isaiah 49:15, Isaiah 45:9-11, Psalm 139:13-16) , LGBT rights (Genesis 1:27), premarital sex (Hebrews 13:4,1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Corinthians 1:18-20) , gay lifestyle/marriage (Jude 1:7, 1 John 4:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9), or any of the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are not supposed to fit in. We are aliens in this world! Our citizenship is in heaven and we are supposed to stand out! We were set apart and we need to let our lights shine!
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19 (NKJV)
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:14-18 (NIV)
It’s not hard to spot a jellyfish Christian or theologian. They care more about what others think about their beliefs than the truth of their beliefs. They fear man. They don’t want to be called prejudiced, homophobic, judgmental haters, or ignorant. Jellyfish Christians don’t stand by Christian doctrine because they are not willing to pay the cost for them. They profess to follow Christ, but when called upon to pay the price, they compromise, either redefining the Christian faith or denying it altogether.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26 (NKJV)
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
“But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:33 (NKJV)
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Like actual jellyfish, jellyfish Christians seem to have lost their brain and heart. They have forgotten the incredible sacrifice Jesus made when He stepped down from heaven and lived amongst men. By dying, He took our sins and nailed them to the cross. Through His resurrection, our relationship with God was restored.
Believers have the promise of eternal life, but we must obey His living Word. We were created for worship and obedience is worship. We were not made to simply follow our own desires and lusts of the flesh. We have been called to serve one another and set self aside because this is sacrificial love. As servants of the living God, our commission is to point the lost to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the very definition of love but those caught up in sin will deny His love and call true believers out as haters. Jellyfish Christians don’t want to be labeled haters, so they tolerate sin and find ways to excuse homosexuality, premarital sex, and late term abortion. They stammer, “Jesus is love. He understands why you are doing this or that.” Yes, Jesus is love but that does not mean He will tolerate sin. Sin separates us from God and Jesus wants a personal relationship with us. The Bible is very clear that He hates child sacrifice (Jer. 7:31, Deut. 12:31), adultery (Exodus 20:14, Heb. 13:4), and homosexuality (Lev. 20:13). There is no sugar coating it. Sin is sin.
Jesus was no jellyfish nor did He produce jellyfish followers. His disciples literally picked up their crosses and died for their faith. I pray we all stand firm in our Christian walks and forgo the way of jellyfish Christianity.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39 ESV)