{"id":972,"date":"2023-09-11T17:50:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T17:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chapelhillbiblechurch.org\/?p=972"},"modified":"2024-01-14T18:28:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T18:28:44","slug":"marks-of-a-wolf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chapelhillbiblechurch.org\/?p=972","title":{"rendered":"Marks of a Wolf"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

\u201cTherefore be alert.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Acts 20:31<\/em><\/p>\n

All Scripture from ESV unless otherwise noted.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tl; dr If you prefer to start with a summary: jump to summary<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a minute and ask yourself: What does Scripture teach about the characteristics of a dangerous spiritual leader? How well-equipped are you to recognize a wolf? How likely is it that you’d be fooled?<\/p>\n

For many evangelicals, what first comes to mind is whether the leader preaches orthodox doctrine. Aside from sexual sin, that may be the only issue that comes to mind. \u00a0Orthodox doctrine is certainly of critical importance: being able to accurately teach is a requirement for an elder or overseer in the church (Titus 1:9<\/em>) and warnings against false teaching can be found in passages such as Gal. 1:6-9<\/em> and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Orthodox teaching is a necessary mark of a trustworthy spiritual leader, but it is not sufficient to rule out a dangerous one.<\/h3>\n

As Paul warns the Ephesian elders, wolves can arise even from among the elders of a church. After the warning, he issues a command: \u201cTherefore be alert.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Most evangelicals are indeed \u201calert\u201d to the need for good teaching. But Scripture is clear: orthodox words are not enough<\/em>.<\/p>\n

All believers, not just elders, are commanded to \u201dbeware\u201d of or \u201cwatch out\u201d for the behavior patterns of dangerous spiritual leaders (Matt 7:15-20; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:1; Col 2:8)\u00a0 But elders or leaders of a church have an even greater duty to be alert in order to protect their flock.\u00a0 (Acts 20:28-31: 1 Peter 5:1-3)<\/p>\n

If orthodox teaching is not enough to ensure that a leader is not dangerous, what else should I be alert to?<\/p>\n

\u201cBeware\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matt.7:15-23; Luke 12:1<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus said that patterns<\/u> of deeds that do not match words are characteristic of false spiritual leaders.<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe scribes and the Pharisees\u00a0sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you,\u00a0but not the works they do.\u00a0For they preach, but do not practice. Matt 23: 2-3 ESV or \u201cThey do not practice what they preach.\u201d NIV<\/em><\/p>\n

Notice that it is not\u00a0 the content of their preaching\u00a0 that Jesus condemns here, but rather, the content of their character<\/strong>: their practiced patterns<\/strong> of behavior and motivations.<\/p>\n

Likewise, in Matthew 7, Jesus says that you will be able to identify false teachers not through outward \u201cspiritual\u201d activities, but by their \u201cfruits.\u201d<\/p>\n

1 Cor 13:1-2 makes it clear that a person can speak or preach with the tongues of men and angels, but without a habitual practice of love, all those beautiful words amount to nothing more than noise.<\/p>\n

Although you can discern the orthodoxy of a leader\u2019s teaching by listening to that teaching, you cannot discern a leader\u2019s character by how he appears from the pulpit.\u00a0 You don\u2019t know whether the speaker\u2019s relationships with people are characterized by love or what the \u201cfruit\u201d of his life shows. You don\u2019t know if he has another \u201cface\u201d that is not shown from the pulpit, although you may catch quick glimpses of that other face if it is present.<\/p>\n

False leaders will outwardly<\/em> appear \u201cbeautiful\u201d and \u201crighteous\u201d Matt 23:27-28<\/em> ; 2 Cor 11:13-15.\u00a0 To \u201cbe alert\u201d or to \u201cbeware\u201d requires not only that you keep your ears open to false teaching but also that you keep your eyes open to patterns of behavior that reveal character and that you look beneath the surface.<\/p>\n

What are the\u00a0 particular patterns of sin that the Bible flags as \u201cwolf behavior?\u201d<\/h3>\n

On the outside wolves will appear very spiritual, even beautiful, and will be regarded as righteous by other people.<\/h4>\n

Matt 23:25-28 (also Luke 12:1; Matt 7:15-23)<\/em><\/p>\n

This “mark of a wolf” may be the most important one to remember, and the easiest to forget!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wolves don’t look like wolves. They dress in sheep’s clothing, or even shepherd’s clothing. Your\u00a0 impression of a person who is a wolf will most likely be that they are a good and righteous person. It could be hard to even entertain the notion that this person who has always seemed like a good person to you is actually a wolf, even when evidence emerges. Your mind will fight against the thought.<\/p>\n

Your own experience of a person as \u201cgood\u201d does not rule out that they are a wolf. So listen if someone else tells you they have seen the bared teeth or speaks of the wounds that mark interaction with a wolf. \u00a0Don\u2019t dismiss the\u00a0 experience of another person just because it doesn\u2019t match your own.<\/p>\n

But on the inside, there is hypocrisy, greed, self-indulgence, and lawlessness<\/h4>\n

Matt 23:25-28 (also Luke 12:1; Matt 7:15-23)<\/em><\/p>\n

Hypocrisy\u00a0(Matt 23:13,15,23,25,27) Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.\u00a0 Luke 12:1<\/h5>\n

Hypocrisy requires habitual deceit<\/strong> of others so they will be fooled as to the false leader\u2019s true nature and character. A pattern of hypocrisy enables a wolf to sustain his position of power because he will be careful to show only the sheep\u2019s clothing and the shepherd\u2019s costume to the people whose support he needs in order to stay in power. His skill at deceit makes it hard for those same people to believe a sheep who comes to them to say that it has been savaged by the wolf\u2019s teeth. Most people will believe the wolf instead–because he has deceived them. \u201cHe\u2019s never behaved that way in front of me!\u201d or \u201cBut his teaching is so good!\u201d<\/p>\n

As we’ll see later, hypocrisy frequently involves deceit of self as well as deceit of others. (James 1:22-25)<\/p>\n

Greed<\/h5>\n

Greed can encompass more than money. A wolf is often greedy for status, power, and acclaim\u00a0 (Matt 23:5-12)\u00a0 Greed is linked with hypocrisy (Matt 23:25)<\/p>\n

Self-indulgence<\/h5>\n

Self-indulgence doesn\u2019t have to be a type of bodily self-indulgence (such as described in 2 Peter 2). Self-indulgence can manifest as excusing one\u2019s own behavior (instead of owning and confessing it) or even playing the victim rather than\u00a0 accepting responsibility for harm done to others.<\/p>\n

Lawlessness<\/h5>\n

A dangerous leader can become a law unto himself, with his focus on the rules for others, not necessarily for himself. This lawlessness is linked with hypocrisy. (Matt.23:28)<\/p>\n

\u201cRules for thee but not for me\u201d is a red flag of a wolf.\u00a0 Their double standards can trump even principles and clear commands of Scripture (Matt 23:16ff and Mark 7:1-13).\u00a0 For instance, wolves seem prone to apply Matt 18:15-18 and Matt 5:23-24 legalistically — but only to other people — as a way of guarding their own power.<\/p>\n

Blindness<\/h5>\n

Matt 23:16-24; Matt 15:1-14<\/em><\/p>\n

Think about what it means to be blind. Ask yourself, “What can false leaders not see?”<\/p>\n

They are blind both to the character of God and to who they are themselves. The religious leaders Jesus confronted were blind to the actual character of God as revealed in Jesus, a blindness that was reflected in their teaching.<\/p>\n

They are blind because they don\u2019t emphasize what Scripture emphasizes. Scripture emphasizes the character of God:<\/strong> (Matt 23:16-25<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For\u00a0you tithe mint and dill and\u00a0cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.\u00a0These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. \u00a0You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! (Matt 23:23-24)<\/em><\/p>\n

Their teaching on the application of Scripture may not be wrong in itself, but becomes wrong when it majors on minor aspects outside of\u00a0 the context of\u00a0 God\u2019s character and His justice, mercy, and faithfulness. That wrong emphasis can totally distort the message resulting in teaching that is misleading. In their teaching, they may put forth “rules” that sound biblical, while contradicting the very essence of the broader themes of Scripture. (See Luke 6:1-11; Mark 7:1-13)<\/p>\n

Being in charge of the \u201crules\u201d\u00a0 is also an effective way of maintaining power over other people.<\/p>\n

They are blind because their character (what is inside them) doesn\u2019t match the outside. The outside looks really good to others and fools many people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For\u00a0you clean the outside of\u00a0the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of\u00a0greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of\u00a0the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Matt 23:25-28<\/em><\/p>\n

Missing the fact that the character of God is to be reflected in his people, wolves seize on words and actions that are readily be seen by others as “religious”, but which don\u2019t involve becoming more like Jesus.<\/p>\n

Hypocrisy leads to actual spiritual blindness when we live in such a way that we do not practice what we preach, when our character is hidden by the deceit of whitewash and our hearts are filled with a desire for power, status, & praise even as we outwardly praise God\u00a0 and speak of His power.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The role of self-deceit<\/h5>\n

Though some people may be wolves by deliberate and conscious choice, others\u00a0 gradually become wolves through constant self-deception about who they are and what the nature of their true character is. They have first conned themselves.<\/p>\n

But be\u00a0doers of the word<\/em><\/strong>, and not hearers only<\/em>, deceiving yourselves<\/strong>. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law,\u00a0the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25<\/p>\n

Compare to Matt 23:2-3 [Wolves, faithless shepherds, false teachers] \u201cdo not practice what they preach.\u201d NIV<\/em>\u00a0 They\u2019ve become cleaners of the outside of the cup only \u2014 doing what they do to be seen by men. But God sees the heart.<\/p>\n

One of the most frightening passages of Scripture teaches that our consciences can actually become seared in the course of insincerity and lying. (1 Tim 4:2)<\/p>\n

One reason that wolves can so easily deceive others may be that they have thoroughly deceived themselves.<\/p>\n

The self-deception of the leader will infect other leaders and followers.<\/h5>\n

If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Matt 15:14<\/em><\/p>\n

The self-deceit of a leader is frequently reinforced by both his followers and fellow leaders who are deceived by and impressed with the whitewash. When others fall for his deceit, they are rendered incapable of helping him.<\/p>\n

In C.S. Lewis\u2019s Voyage of the Dawn Treader<\/em>, Eustace, who has become encased in dragon hide, submits himself to the painful process of Aslan cutting through the layers of the hide to free the repentant boy within.<\/p>\n

When a leader is exposed as a wolf, what is needed is for other church leaders to stand resolute in cutting through the deceit until the actual man encased in layers of\u00a0whitewash is revealed and can be set free of it.<\/p>\n

What happens much more frequently is fellow leaders reinforce the deception. They circle the wagons around the wolf. They support him as a \u201cgodly\u201d leader who has made \u201cmistakes\u201d. They minimize the wrongdoing, ignore the disqualification, and instead say, \u201cAll have sinned\u201d and apply a few new coats of whitewash.\u00a0 In the process, they both reinforce the wolf\u2019s self-deception and become more deceived themselves. It is a horrifying and hellish feedback loop.<\/p>\n

Truth and light become the enemy of both the wolf and his defenders. The wolf is not rescued and set free, injured sheep lay abandoned by their shepherds, and truth-tellers are driven out.<\/p>\n

A wolf will treat truth-tellers as a threat and persecute them<\/h4>\n

Matt 23:29-36<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The light of the truth is a threat because it could break through the blindness of both the false leader and his followers. False leaders will persecute those who speak the truth because the light of truth exposes them and threatens their status and power. (see also 3 John 9-10)<\/li>\n
  • Experience shows that even those who come alongside them to \u201cspeak the truth in love\u201d will be perceived as enemies and threats. Persecution in the church often comes through the false teacher lying about the truth-teller to others (3 John 9-11)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The false leader is then perceived as the victim of the truth-teller. In turn, the truth-teller is perceived as the trouble-maker by others, who, being deceived themselves, rise up to defend the false leader and push the truth-teller out of the church.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Avoidance of truth-tellers and driving out truth-tellers may be one reason for the blindness Jesus says repeatedly characterizes false spiritual leaders (Matt 23:16-26)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      A wolf seeks external status: A wolf loves to be first, will seek to put himself first, will seek preeminence in the social hierarchy<\/h4>\n

      3 John 9 (see\u00a0NIV, ESV, NKJ versions)<\/em><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Everything they do is done for people to see<\/em><\/strong>. A dangerous leader will be very aware of, and habitually practice what we now call \u201cimage management.\u201d<\/strong> (This is one of the reasons that makes it hard to spot a wolf from the pulpit; it\u2019s quite easy to manage your image from the stage.) Matt 23:5<\/em><\/li>\n
      • They love the \u201cplace of honor\u201d Matt 23:5<\/em><\/li>\n
      • They like being distinguished from others by the way they are greeted Matt 23:6<\/em><\/li>\n
      • They may be blind, but that doesn\u2019t keep them from seeking to lead others. \u201c\u2026They are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into a pit. (Matt 23:16,24; Matt 15:10-20<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        A wolf lacks true empathy and love for others, and does not view caring for sheep as part of the job of a shepherd<\/h4>\n

        Ez. 34:2-4,20-22; Matt. 23:4,23; 1 Cor. 13:1-2<\/em><\/p>\n

        God rebukes the so-called \u201cshepherds\u201d of Israel for neglect of sheep-care: The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought Ez. 34:4<\/em><\/p>\n

        They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.<\/em> 23:4 This passage may refer to spiritual burdens, but don\u2019t ignore the more practical implications such as a leader who attends a staff potluck, but never pitches in to help the rest of the staff clean up.<\/p>\n

        A wolf scatters the sheep of his flock<\/h4>\n

        Jesus, the true Good Shepherd<\/em><\/strong>, says of himself that he has \u201cguarded\u201d (ESV)<\/em> and \u201ckept safe and protected\u201d (NIV)<\/em> those whom God placed under his care, and has lost none<\/em><\/strong>, except Judas.\u00a0 John 17:12<\/em><\/p>\n

        In contrast to the Good Shepherd, false shepherds scatter sheep by their behavior.<\/strong> We are all aware of sheep who leave for what they perceive as \u201cgreener pastures\u201d over changes in music style or other changes. The pastor may have been involved in such decisions, but that is not the \u201cscattering\u201d that is a mark of a false shepherd.<\/p>\n

        In contrast, true leaders are to \u201cbe an example\u201d (1 Peter 5:3) and take the posture of \u00a0the \u201cyoungest\u201d or a \u201cservant\u201d or even a \u201cslave\u201d (Matt 20).<\/p>\n

        Sheep are scattered in the absence of good shepherding<\/strong>. Poor shepherding can be neglect and\/or exploitive and abusive behavior.<\/p>\n

        A wolf or false shepherd scatters sheep by neglecting their duties of care for their sheep<\/h5>\n

        \u2026You do not feed the sheep. \u00a0The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed,\u00a0the injured you have not bound up,\u00a0the strayed you have not brought back,\u00a0the lost you have not sought<\/em>.\u00a0 Ezekiel 34:3-4<\/p>\n

        (Note: evangelicals typically associate \u201cfeeding sheep\u201d only with \u201cgood teaching.\u201d In contrast, Scripture uses the phrase more broadly.)<\/p>\n

        A wolf or false shepherd scatters sheep by mistreating sheep<\/h5>\n

        Exploiting or using sheep for personal gain <\/strong> (Ez. 34:2-3; 2 Peter 2)<\/p>\n

        This can be — but is not limited to — financial gain; false shepherds can also use sheep to gain power, status, and praise. They can exploit sheep for their own sensual desires.<\/p>\n

        Leading harshly and with force, cruelty, severity, dominance<\/strong> those who are weak Ez. 34: 4<\/p>\n

        with force and\u00a0harshness you have ruled them. \u00a0(ESV, RSV, & others) <\/em><\/p>\n

        with force and with cruelty<\/em> you have ruled them (21KJV &others) <\/em><\/p>\n

        with force and with\u00a0severity you have dominated them. (1995NASB)<\/em><\/p>\n

        The New Testament reinforces these descriptions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        In contrast to the requirement that an elder be \u201cgentle\u201d , Scripture indicates that it is disqualifying for an elder to use bullying <\/strong>(sometimes translated violence) \u00a0in interpersonal interactions. (Titus 1:7<\/em>) (NASB translates the Greek as \u201cbullying\u201d)<\/p>\n

        Other New Testament passages use words such as dominating<\/strong> or lording it over<\/strong> or exercising authority over<\/strong> those entrusted to their care (1 Peter 5:3; Matt 20:20-28; Luke 22:24-30)\u00a0Matt 20:26\u00a0 Jesus declares: It shall not be so among you<\/em><\/strong>. Those are not the marks of a leader of God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n

        Wolves may actively harm people under their leadership. <\/strong>Ez. 34:4 & 21<\/em><\/p>\n

        \u2026you push with side and shoulder, and\u00a0thrust at all the\u00a0weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad.<\/em><\/p>\n

        A wolf or false shepherd\u00a0 actively seeks to get rid of sheep who are perceived as a threat to his status<\/h5>\n

        Evangelicals tend to be familiar with the first epistle of John 2:19<\/em> \u201cThey went out from us but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0However, in John’s 3rd<\/sup> epistle, vs. 9-10, he says that one of the offences of the leader of the church\u00a0 is that the leader there \u201cputs people out of the church.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

        But why are they put out? Is it because of their doctrine? No, the false leader won\u2019t receive the apostles themselves, so guarding doctrine isn\u2019t the issue. Are people put out because of unrepentant behavior? There is no hint of that.<\/p>\n

        Instead, the first clue to the problem is the description of the false leader as one who is concerned with maintaining his status at the top. He\u00a0 \u201cloves to be first\u201d (NIV) \u201cseeks to put himself first\u201d (ESV), \u201c \u201cloves to have preeminence\u201d among [the people of the church there]\u201d (NKJ ) The clear implication is that the presence of these \u201cothers\u201d somehow works against his desire to be \u201cfirst\u201d or \u201cpreeminent.\u201d<\/p>\n

        Wolves and false shepherds will lie to scatter any sheep who are perceived as a threat to his status<\/strong><\/p>\n

        A second clue in the passage is that one of his strategies to maintain his preeminence is to spread lies about those whom he apparently perceives as a potential challenge to his desire to be at the pinnacle of power.\u00a0 A crafty wolf will do this subtly, possibly just dropping hints here or there.<\/p>\n

        A wolf or false shepherd may rename his compulsion to dominate with biblical sounding words:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Jesus points out a form of whitewashing used by their Roman rulers that is also used by false leaders in churches: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors<\/strong>. \u00a026\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. Luke 22:25-26<\/em><\/p>\n

        A wolf\u2019s behavior hinders people who are seeking God<\/h4>\n

        Jesus names the character of the false leaders as an obstacle to others coming to faith.<\/strong><\/p>\n