Read Matthew 7:15-23 and Acts 7:28-31Lately there has been something laying heavily on my heart, and that's the issue of false teachers within our churches. Warnings against false teaching are all over the New Testament, so we really shouldn't be surprised when we encounter this. I want to focus specifically on the people whom Jesus calls wolves in sheep's clothing. I believe that the wolves' disguises will be a lot more convincing than the one shown in this picture! Let's look at 2 key texts, Matthew 7:15-23, and Acts 20:28-31, and find out how we can combat the false teachers whom we will inevitably encounter within Christianity.
In Matthew 7:15, Jesus says, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." The thing that is significant about these wolves (false teachers), is that they will look like sheep (Christians). This means that they will use the same kind of lingo as sheep, they will wear sheep t-shirts, they will listen to sheep music, they will have sheep bumper stickers on their cars, etc. Verses 21-22 tell us that they will even be doing sheep ministry work within the community. They will have everyone fooled, even themselves (notice their surprise when they get to heaven and are turned away at the pearly gates!).
While they will look just like faithful believers on the outside, they are inwardly ravenous. The Greek word for "ravenous" in verse 15 is "harpax," which means "ravenous, extortioners, robbers." They come with an all-consuming appetite to tear apart the flock and take the truth from the churches. Paul describes these wolves in more detail in Acts 20:29-30 when he says, "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Wolves will emerge from among the church and distort the truth presented in the Scriptures in order to lead Christians astray. Oftentimes I've found that these false teachings will have some truth embedded in them, which will lead people to accept the whole teaching as true. They will use phrases that sound very good to the ear but have no scriptural worth (examples: "be your best you," "live your best life," "follow your heart," "love yourself," etc).
If you are thinking that I'm being a little extreme about this whole wolf thing, and that there couldn't possibly we any impostors within today's church, think again! This is not my own philosophy but teaching straight from the Word. Ignoring the real threat of false teaching within the church is foolish, and turning a blind eye to this issue will put you in the vulnerable position of becoming victim to this type of twisted teaching. Paul's warning is just as necessary and relevant to us today as it was 2000 years ago: "Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears" (Acts 20:32). We must be on our guard.
I believe there are 3 ways to guard against wolves in sheep's clothing.
(1) Know the Word. You can only know it by reading it and studying it on a daily basis. If you don't know what the truth says, you will not be able to tell when the truth is being twisted. You are not going to be knowledgeable in the Scriptures by accident. It comes from hours and hours of copious study.
(2)Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray daily that you will be able to clearly discern false teaching from the truth. James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it, and He'll give it to us. We must be daily dependant on God for discretion and guidance if we are going to be able to detect wolves.
(3) When you are listening to anyone in the church teaching, be alert and on your guard. Make sure that the things the teacher is saying are backed up by Scripture. Don't just blindly accept whatever is being said without thinking. If something sounds odd to you, don't ignore it. Research the teaching that seems suspicious, and see if there is anything in Scripture that supports it. Ask people who are older and wiser than you in the church what they think about it, or read what well-educated and well-respected biblical scholars have to say on the subject.
Be on the alert! We are in the end times, and false teaching is rampant. I beg you not to ignore this warning~
