Are Churches The Home Of Wolves?
by Van Robison
Many wolves (Matthew 7:15) have made
their home in the world of churchianity. They prey
upon the unsuspecting, the naive and the undiscerning.
They devour their prey on the pretense that they are
"ministers" of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:5). They don't
prance around as if they are wolves, but on the other
hand, they come in sheep's clothing. Wolves come in
many different disguises using flattering titles to
make their prey think they are legitimate. Some wolves
are pastors, some are senior pastors, some are pastors
of megachurches, some are youth pastors, some are
pastors of cults, some are pastors of whatever group
they supposedly have power over; while others are
so-called prophets (Matthew 7:15), and some call
themselves "apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:13), while
others are book authors, some are musicians and
singers, and others are in different categories. Some
wolves are infiltrators for political cause or other
reasons. Some wolves are money hungry, power hungry,
control hungry and love the praise of men. Some wolves
are even classified as "scholars" and "translate" the
Bible into their own biased version. Wolves in
churchianity have different ministries and they are
often very persuasive public speakers.
Many wolves love to be called "Doctor" (of theology)
because that title gives them credibility. Jesus said of
false prophets in Matthew 7:16 "You shall know them by
their fruits." And again in verse 20, "Wherefore by their
fruits you shall know them." The teachings and life of
every leader of men must be weighed against the teachings
of Jesus Christ. Christians have to be fruit detectors,
discerning (1 John 4:1), prove all things (1 Thessalonians
5:21), take nothing for granted, and search the scriptures
as did the Bereans to see if what is spoken is scripturally
accurate and truthful (Acts 17:11).
A great key way to know if a leader is a wolf, is if they
seek personal followers instead of pointing people to Jesus
Christ, or if they are money oriented as many are, or if
they focus your attention on anything other than Jesus
Christ and His Lordship. Wolves love to focus your
attention on their supposed "authority" over your life.
Wolves love to make you think that by sowing seed money
into their ministries, you will be blessed by God. No where
did Jesus Christ ever say to "take up your cross and follow
human pastors or church denominations." Wolves come as
"angels of light" (2 Corinthians 11:13-14), but are in
fact--deceivers. No wolf calls himself a wolf, instead they
proclaim they are "ministers" of Jesus Christ--2
Corinthians 11:15 "Therefore it is no great thing if his
ministers (that is, Satan--verse 14) also be transformed as
the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works."
Discernment is a vital necessity in a world of great
deception and propaganda. There is a great deal of
propaganda in the world of churchianity, and in fact so
much so that the church world is drowning in an ocean of
deceptions from many sources. Hearing the voice of Jesus
Christ through His teachings in Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John, and also through the Holy Spirit is vital to not
being deceived. Great signs and wonders are not a key to
truth as Jesus Himself stated at Matthew 24:24: "For there
shall arise FALSE Christs, and FALSE prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Have you been
looking for a rapture? Here is what Jesus said in His own
words at John 17:15 "I PRAY NOT that you should take them
OUT OF THE WORLD, but that you should keep them from the
evil." Did Jesus Christ appoint us to "escape" the world,
or to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)?
What is it about wolves that cause people to believe that
wolves represent Jesus Christ? Here are some clues:
- Wolves come as innocent sheep.
- Wolves come as angels of light.
- Wolves seem friendly.
- Wolves smile.
- Wolves often have flattering titles.
- Wolves focus on their "authority."
- Wolves focus on giving them money.
- Wolves use the name of Jesus Christ falsely.
- Wolves often are obsessed with issues other than Jesus Christ.
- Wolves take scriptures out of context.
- Wolves twist scriptures to fit their purpose.
- Wolves sometimes are very strong personalities.
- Wolves sometimes claim to be healers.
- Wolves sometimes claim to be apostles.
- Wolves sometimes claim to be prophets.
- Wolves sometimes claim to be pastors.
- Wolves love control and power over your life.
- Wolves are sometimes obsessed with your pocketbook.
- Wolves are often legalistic.
- Wolves cause people to live in fear of their authority.
- Wolves cause people to fear for their salvation if they don't yield to their authority and teachings.
- Wolves sometimes act as if they are infallible in spiritual knowledge.
- Wolves lead astray and away from the truth in Jesus Christ.
- Wolves (at least some of them) focus on the Old Testament, instead of Jesus Christ.
- Wolves sometimes focus on issues in the Old Testament that have long been fulfilled in Christ.
- Wolves love the praise of men.
- Wolves often brag about their charitable deeds (Jesus said to do your alms in secret--Matthew 6:1-4).
- Wolves love to build great temples, cathedrals, church buildings and monuments that glorify themselves (God does not dwell in temples made with hands--Acts 17:24).
- Wolves deceive even themselves as well as others.
- Wolves are often very forceful in their personality.
- Wolves do your thinking for you and expect you to follow them.
- Wolves tell you that they represent the will of Jesus Christ.
- Wolves often tell you they have a special anointing.
- Wolves are obsessed with themselves and their self importance.
- Wolves will tell you that you are obeying God if you sow "seed" money into their ministry.
- Wolves promise you healing, financial blessings, and spiritual rewards that they have no power to give.
- Wolves may be spiritually abusive.
- Wolves are often very defensive when others point out their false teachings.
- Wolves never cease to prey upon others.
True representatives of Jesus Christ only POINT others to Jesus Christ and not to themselves. True representatives of Jesus Christ do not seek personal followers, nor are they obsessed with your pocketbook, nor do they control your life, or pretend that they have "authority" over you as if they are your Lord and Master. There is ONLY ONE MASTER--JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 23:8-10), and any human leader who proclaims that they are your "head or master or spiritual father" is a liar and a wolf--1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST... ."
