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Wolves among the flock

Loyal
Matt 7:15; "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Acts 20:29; "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Both Jesus and Paul warned about the wolves. In a way, TalkJesus is a church, whether we like it or not... this is a body of believers, so we qualify.
I'm not moderator, and I don't think I would make a good one. I am thankful for the moderators we do have. I have spoken to all of them individually a few times over the years.
But I do consider myself an "overseer" of sorts on here of sorts. I'm not the only one, I recognize a few others, even though they may not view themselves that way.

Acts 20:28; "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

If you've posted more than,... oh.. I don't know say 50 messages on here in the last 10 years. I probably know who you are. The moderators know who you are. I suspect Chad knows who you are.

That goes for both "the flock" and... "the wolves". In case you didn't know it, the wolves are here. I could easily call out a few of them by name.

Matt 10:16; "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

I usually see two different kinds of wolves on here. The "nice" kind, and the "mean" kind. Aren't all wolves mean? Not necessarily.
It seems Eve saw the serpent as a friend with good advice. Not everyone who looks like a friend, really is.

Lately I see some people on here preaching about who is and who isn't saved. That isn't always a bad thing, but some of them seem to think no one but themselves are saved.
The next best thing is.. "unless you believe exactly how I believe" you aren't saved. It seems often these are newer accounts that I don't recognize from more than a week or two ago.
I don't know how they could possibly know what we all believe, but whatever it is we believe.. it's wrong, and they are right. They will freely tell you so.
Because we don't believe exactly how they do... we're all going straight to hell. I've heard some of these teachers say the rest of us are too "dumb or stupid" to understand the Bible anyway.
No wonder God wants to throw all us dummies in hell.

The other kind of wolf, tells us God is love, everyone is saved, no one will go to hell, God won't send anyone to the lake of fire. We have a few of those wolves around here also.
Live however you want to live, sin as much as you like, God doesn't care. Grace, grace, grace, Love, love love, God loves you is the only message they care about.

In a way the "nice" wolves are worse than the mean wolves, more people like that message and they start buying it.

I heard an old preacher friend of mine once say, when you have a wolf problem, you buy a gun. I'm beginning to think he was right. Not that we should literally shoot anyone, but
we do need to keep these people from "eating the sheep". If you're an elder, overseer, or moderator on here.... you're responsible for the flock, like it or not, you will be held accountable. (myself also)

So how do we protect ourselves from wolves? The obvious answer is know the Bible. All of it. Yes, it's a big book. Yes, some of it is hard to understand.
But once you know the Bible.. (start small, learn a little, then a little more, etc...) before you know it, you know a lot more than you think you do.
If you're a seasoned Christian, I'm not speaking to you here. You know who you are. I'm talking to the babies, the new Christians, the young Christians. Maybe not young in age,
but young in their walk and beliefs. Wolves like to go after the young, easy prey.

Wolves often use use half truths, much like the serpent in the garden. The quote half verses, they say parts of the Bible don't apply to them, or sometimes they mix two half verses to make a new verse.
(A LOT of Christian music does this today, I would even say the majority)

Us shepherds need to recognize each other, help each other. Fight off the wolves together. Sometimes the shepherds are bickering between themselves (and there is a time for that, we don't have to agree
on everything) but when the wolves come, let us band together, protect the flock... and then we can go back to our petty debates, once the threat is gone.
This has happened a number of times, and it's great when it does. We have "chased off" more than a few wolves on here over the years.

In the meantime, I don't always try to chase the wolves away... I simply try to put up a sign that says "Danger: wolf". I don't recall ever saying those exact words here in TalkJesus... but I have said
things like.. "that is Mormon doctrine" or "that is Jehovah's witness doctrine" or antimonists, or universalist, or whatever the case might be... the new sheep need to be looking for these warning signs.

I don't have a monopoly on the truth, I don't know it all... but I know the bible fairly well (as I said, I'm not the only one) and I know a wolf when I see one.

Luke 10:3; "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
 
Loyal
I would term the position you speak of as a "watcher on the wall", standing on the parapets looking down and out, looking for the enemy and warning others, "the enemy is here, the enemy is here, gird your loins, and prepare for battle", and as you say, not those specific words, but that ideal. Its also like a watchdog, watching over the sheep, but asking the Shepherd for help with our barks when we see the wolves. I am definately one of these, and all christians who do so, are also spiritual warriors, some less effective than others, but every bark counts, every growl at the enemy adds to the voice of those protecting the sheep. I know from being a moderator on another christian forum in the past, that it can be tiresome to read all the whines, this person is such and such, and you know that the person reporting it, has been barking loudly while hiding behind the legs of the shepherd, when that dog goes after the wolves, far away from the sheep, wanting to clear the lands of all those they see as wolves, but when the wolves charge at the sheep dog, they go running behind the shepherds legs, saying "Do something Shepherd!". So I am glad that these wonderful moderators are there to help out when the barking and the howling starts, with their staffs that end discussions that are unprofitable, give some wolves a chance to see the error of thier ways, or to send some wolves packing out of the area.
 
Loyal
Ezek 3:17; "Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.

Ezek 33:6; 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'
 
Loyal
Ezek 3:17; "Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.

Ezek 33:6; 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

You know this is good stuff, I have recently learned a valuable lesson, just because the church and pastor is biblical, does not mean they are good watcheman. In todays world being biblical is not enough for a pastor,, he must be a good watchman also. These quotes hit that home.
 
Loyal
You know this is good stuff, I have recently learned a valuable lesson, just because the church and pastor is biblical, does not mean they are good watcheman. In todays world being biblical is not enough for a pastor,, he must be a good watchman also. These quotes hit that home.
I am not sure this applies, but just as the body of Christ has many members doing different things for the well being of the church, I think some are "more" called to be the warriors, the watchers on the wall, because most are sheep, fearful and/or meek, and thats not necessarily bad, because sheep have good purpose also, and not to be looked down upon by those who are strong, for we are all weak in our own ways. But it can be tough to be a good watcher on the wall, because part of that job entails being speaking of subjects people are hesitant to hear or take to heart. And this isnt the days of knowing someone first hand, whether they are trustworthy or not, separated relationships are becoming the norm, and even those you like, you may not trust enough to be a God called watcher on the wall. People trust more so in accepted norms, things that are told to us over and over as the way things are, and if you tell them otherwise, even if you say its from God, they hesitate to believe you. And so you know now why Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. So few listened to him as being valid in his warnings, and it broke his heart to see the people in general so unaware of their downfall due to their pride in the norms never changing. And in the last days....

Luke 17: 22-37


22 And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. 24 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37 And answering they *said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”

And today, they prefer to think things will be the same as ever, that the Lord wont let things get out of hand, because like the jews felt, they were blessed by God no matter the dark things thats done in the land for generations upon generations. Blind eyes.... surely not I Lord's.... I just want a good life... those like pastors are supposed to do that stuff (throwing their burdens on the pastor, and never helping with others burdens). Like Jeremiah, we have reason to weep, us watchers on the wall.
 
Active
Wolves are very easy to spot. They can say all the right things, be biblical on the doctrine level, even have behavior that are the pretense of righteousness, but at the root of their actions and words is the drive to promote themselves (status), their own interests (material wealth) and agendas (selfish ambition). This self centeredness is at the heart of all deceivers.

The most deceptive wolves are those who will appear selfless on the surface but slowly and surely you will see that ultimately they are putting themselves in a place of self elevation and benefit.

The stark contrast is Jesus’ apostles, who neither had wealth nor status nor self promotion, but were among the most persecuted of believers. They practically sacrificed everything in their lives to do what they were commissioned to do and ultimately even died for the faith. Most modern day preachers tutored by the false religion brought forth by corrupt Roman Catholic Church under Constantine don’t even know the concept of sacrifice.
 
Loyal
The most deceptive wolves are those who will appear selfless on the surface but slowly and surely you will see that ultimately they are putting themselves in a place of self elevation and benefit.


I agree, I do wonder if they themselves even realize it, I think they are blind to it
 
Active
I agree, I do wonder if they themselves even realize it, I think they are blind to it

They are, not because they could never see it, but at one point in their walk, they gave into temptation and went on to rationalise it. I’ve seen this done by so many church leaders years back on the matter of sin itself. They say it’s ok to sin because we are under God’s Grace, so they turned God’s Grace into license for immorality just as the Gospel mentioned. Then they do this over and over until they don’t feel convicted about their self centeredness or inner corruption anymore. Paul called it searing of the conscience.

1 Timothy 4:2 (LEB): the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience,
 
Loyal
at one point in their walk, they gave into temptation and went on to rationalise it.

I agree, it isn't really the fact that they sinned. They just got comfortable in it, rationalized it. "God's OK with it". Continue to do it, and never repent.

they turned God’s Grace into license for immorality

Jude 1:4; For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The entire chapter of Jude 1 is really about "wolves"

Jude 1:8; Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Jude 1:9; But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 1:10; But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.
Jude 1:11; Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Jude 1:12; These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;
Jude 1:13; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude 1:14; It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
Jude 1:15; to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Jude 1:16; These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

2Peter 2 is another good chapter on these "wolves".
 
Active
The Apostle Paul had problems in real life.

2 Corinthians 11:12 -13: But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:26 - I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

Galatians 4:17 - Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.
 
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