Jump to content
IGNORED

Beware of Broken Wolves


Guest shiloh357

Recommended Posts


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  53
  • Topic Count:  88
  • Topics Per Day:  0.03
  • Content Count:  4,064
  • Content Per Day:  1.37
  • Reputation:   3,748
  • Days Won:  8
  • Joined:  02/23/2016
  • Status:  Offline

6 hours ago, Reinitin said:

I dont like bologna at all.

Lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Group:  Worthy Ministers
  • Followers:  18
  • Topic Count:  940
  • Topics Per Day:  0.35
  • Content Count:  13,416
  • Content Per Day:  5.02
  • Reputation:   8,958
  • Days Won:  6
  • Joined:  12/04/2016
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  03/03/1885

On 4/22/2017 at 6:56 AM, shiloh357 said:

Throughout Scripture the people of God are referred to as sheep and Jesus as the Great Shepherd. The natural enemy of the sheep is the wolf who “snatches them and scatters them” (John 10:12). Our Shepherd even warns us to beware of false prophets, who “come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15).

Echoing this warning, Paul admonished the elders of the church:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert . . .  (Acts 20:28)

Wolves often look like sheep, so to spot a wolf we can often look at what values and qualities are esteemed by a particular religious community. In Jesus’s day outward religiosity was prized, so the wolves looked like legalists. And in the early post-apostolic age, secret knowledge was valued, so wolves took the form of learned Gnostics. 

The values of the evangelical community in America today are diverse, so it’s not surprising we have a broad diversity in the species of wolves we encounter. In our own age, health and wealth are precious, so some wolves take the form of preachers selling a prosperity gospel. We also seek to change the world for the better, so some wolves take the guises of “social justice” or “family values” advocates.

But there is a particularly nasty breed that often goes unnoticed, a type that we might call the “Broken Wolf.”

These are the false teachers who use their own authenticity, pain, and brokenness to attract believers who are also suffering and broken—and then using their “brokenness” to lead the sheep to turn away from God’s Word and embrace sin. They blend into the flock because Christians are not—and should not be—suspicious of broken people. They appear “in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15).

Here are three reasons Broken Wolves are a grave danger to your family and to your local congregation.

1. Broken Wolves Are Authentic

The majority of the Broken Wolves you’ll encounter are truly broken people. They have suffered real pain and hurt—sometimes even at the hands of the church. They are the type of people we should naturally rush to comfort and protect, for they need love and refuge.

But what separates Broken Wolves from Broken Sheep is the former believe their brokenness provides them—like the Gnostics of previous eras—with secret knowledge, such as fresh insights into the human condition. Because they can see more clearly than those who are “whole” (i.e., the average, hypocritical churchgoer), they “re-interpret” Scripture, discarding the musty old understandings of previous generations of Christians for interpretations that just so happen to align with the latest preferences of the secular culture.

2. Broken Wolves Are Beyond Criticism

Your parents probably taught you from an early age not to harm the already hurting (Prov. 22:22). We therefore hesitate to criticize the broken, even if we recognize them as false teachers. No Christian likes to be considered a bully. And the harsh reality is that if you call out a Broken Wolf you will be called a bully. This is inevitable, especially if you’re a man warning the flock against a Broken Wolf who is a woman.

“Wolves look like sheep and talk like sheep but they bite like wolves, especially when the sheep are disagreeing or dissenting,” Leslie Vernick says. “When operating in church or religious settings their methods are often underhanded and cunning in order to appear less aggressive. They don’t want to look like wolves, that’s why they pretend to be sheep.”

Many of us men—including elders called to protect their flock—remain silent hoping that one of our sisters in Christ will speak up before the popular and prominent female Broken Wolves in our midst devours another one of our own. But if not, we probably won’t speak up. The brokenness of Broken Wolves often act as a shield that protects them from any legitimate criticism because we fear being viewed as harsh or unloving towards women. The result is in failing to speak out we leave the women (and men) in our churches vulnerable to be ravaged.

“Wolves have much sharper teeth and stronger jaws than sheep do,” Vernick adds. “A sheep cannot harm a wolf even if he pretends he’s wounded. A wolf kills the sheep.”

3. Broken Wolves Are Appealing

Because we share the concerns of our Great Shepherd, Christians are drawn to people who are broken, hurting, and vulnerable. As the Psalmist says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18). Unfortunately, the Broken Wolves often get there first. They arrive swiftly with the gospel of affirmation: “You’re fine the way you are; it’s the rest of the world that’s screwed up and causing you to suffer.”

The gospel tells brokenhearted sinners to repent (Mark 1:15). The Broken Wolf says, “Don’t worry, God is not so old-fashioned that he still thinks that behavior is a sin.” The gospel says to believe in Jesus to be justified (Rom. 10:10). The Broken Wolf says, “You are justified in believing in yourself.” The gospel says to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:10). The Broken Wolf says, “Jesus doesn’t want to rule over you as King, he only wants to be your non-judgmental friend.” The gospel says be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Rom. 12:2). The Broken Wolf says, “You can’t change. Embrace who you are.”

They offer hopeful words without hope. As Jeremiah says, “They offer only superficial help for the hurt my dear people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right!” (Jer. 8:11, NET). The Broken Wolf offers a broken gospel, one without the power to save.

Like all wolves in the church, the Broken Wolf is leading the sheep into the valley of hell, away from the Good Shepherd. What then will we do? Will we suffer the scorn of “attacking the vulnerable” for the sake of protecting our sheep? Or will we stay silent because we’re too cowardly to cry, “Wolf!”?

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/beware-of-broken-wolves

Sorry, not favorably impressed with the presentation.

Personally I don't think there is need for yet another manner of categorizing people, especially  in a manner that puts them down.

I'd much rather hear of Jesus and His gospel, than to hear of yet another way  to declare who is not good enough to be considered to be of Jesus. 

Seems much like a solution not needed, seeking out a problem not existent.

 

Personally; I do not much appreciate those that  are not churched somewhere spending their time criticising all churches, BUT that does not make them some kind of "broken" wolf in sheep's clothing. It may make them a person in need of a local body of Christ. It may make them a person in need of some friends in Christ Jesus, but a wolf or if one insists on the term, a broken-wolf? No.

More Jesus is in order, and far less criticism of attempts by people to gain Jesus in their lives.

Seems even a bit prideful, to me, to be  inventing additional extra-biblical terminology then declaring others  to be broken-wolves. I think Jesus made his gospel direct, absolute, and a whole lot easier to  receive salvation by than many Christians  want to allow for their brethren to receive.

Nope- I am not a fan of this one. Seems more divisive, than constructive to me.

 I will prefer to trust that  in God there is the awesome ability for Him to use even that which may have been intended for evil, to instead work to  good. 

Praise God.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest shiloh357
7 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Sorry, not favorably impressed with the presentation.

 

I don't really care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Group:  Worthy Ministers
  • Followers:  18
  • Topic Count:  940
  • Topics Per Day:  0.35
  • Content Count:  13,416
  • Content Per Day:  5.02
  • Reputation:   8,958
  • Days Won:  6
  • Joined:  12/04/2016
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  03/03/1885

1 minute ago, Yowm said:

At least I hope you agree with these scriptural admonitions and wish the same for the rest of the flock...

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(Mat 7:15)

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
(Act 20:27-31)


Those that draw us away from God's Word are doing the work of a wolf be they broken or well.

Absolutely!  Thanks for listing them here. And they are why I do not find need of yet additional terms, and ever new "enlightenments". Seems to me  my Bible and yours has been most sufficient.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...