This is not a review of a recent movie. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us about the dangers of fellowshipping those with whom He called wolves.
Matt 7:15-16 (NASB)
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. {16} You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?"
Jesus also recoginized the nature of man when He sent out the twelve apostles.
Matt 10:16 (NASB)
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves."
A similar account happened when Jesus sent out seventy others. The statement was very similar.
Luke 10:3 (NASB)
"Go your ways; behold I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves."
The apostle Paul also warned the Ephesian elders about this danger, even exposing some in their own midst.
Acts 20:28-30
"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. {29} I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; {30} and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Paul described these as being wolves. He is also describing the characteristics of false prophets or teachers. You have heard of the expression "wolves in sheeps clothing". This is what happens when these false teachers disguise themselves. Paul told the Corinthian church about these people.
2 Cor 11:13-15 (NASB)
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds."
They look innocent enough, but they have a way to destroy the flock of God's people. Therefore all of God's people are to watch out for the welfare of each other. This means that if there is a wolf in their midst, then they need to announce it to the rest.
Some people do not think that watching is necessary or even scriptural. They say that since we are autonomous, then nobody has the right to comdemn the way others teach or practice their doctrine. When we learn of someone teaching error, we must expose it. By doing so, we subject ourselves to criticism. Those who warn the flock and expose the false teachers are called watchdogs, police, alarmist, or troublers. We should not wait for some prominent preacher to expose this error. Everyone has this responsibility. The church is to remain pure. The church is to be guided by and be supported by and maintained by the truth.
How To Identify The Wolves
Everyone knows how little red riding hood identified a wolf. "Why grandma, what big ears, eyes, teeth you have". If a fairy tale character can figure out a false person, then why can't we Christians learn who the false teachers are among us, and then expose them. Even turn them over to the lumberjacks axe (leave them over to face their judgement).
We can identify them by their fruits. They might appear to be doing good works. But appearances are deceiving. If you remember what Samuel was thinking when he was told to annoint one of the sons of Jesse. God told him that man sees appearances, but God sees the heart (1 Sam 16:7). When we see some of these people who are doing marvelous works, we must also be careful of their intentions. Even our closest friends and brethren need to be watched to some degree. We find, that if one does not honor God's laws, then they are not likely to honor and respect the true servants of Christ.
Eph 5:11 (NKJV)
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Rom 16:17-18 (NASB)
Now I urge you, brethren, keep you eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. {18} For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
The word of God is the Bible. It is the standard to follow in order to have salvation. The Bible also instructs us how to identify false teachers. When we learn the truth, we will know what error is, and expose those who teach error.
John 17:17 (NKJV)
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth".
2 Tim 3:16-17 (NASB)
All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17} that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
We are not to have fellowship with error or sin. We must identify false teachers and expose them. We cannot give them aid or show them partiality. When we determine that a brother is wrong in his teaching (even if only in one subject area), then he must be admonished. If he does not repent, then he is to be marked out for warning. Instead of dancing with these wolves, we should be exposing them for what they really are. False Teachers!
Those who choose to dance with wolves now, will certainly be dancing with them in Hell.
John 12:43 (NKJV)
for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Gal 1:10 (NKJV)
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
What happens when one is exposed?
Since our Lord described these individuals as being wolves. We will look to see what would happen if you trapped a real wolf. If you ever had an opportunity to corner a wild animal you would know that you made a big mistake. These animals, though small, become vicious. They will use any tool available to them for their own defense. They will bite, claw, scratch, kick, and charge their enemies.
These people try to hide their false doctrine as much as possible, but eventually it comes out. When that does, they become very defensive. They start to use any means at their disposal to protect themselves. It is usually those who trapped them that get hurt the most.
We cannot fellowship these people. We should not even call them brothers (unless you call them digressive, liberal, sinning, false teachers, unrepentant, etc). If we accept any part of their false teaching, then we have accepted the truth with the error.
James 2:10 (NASB)
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
2 John 10-11
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; {11} for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."
Let us not be so stupid to think that we are exempt from these rules. Let us be aware that false teachers can even come from our own midst. The scriptures teach us they will approve false doctrine.
1 Tim 4:1-2
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, {2} by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a hot iron,
We must be aware that there are thousands if not millions of false teachers. Most are easily identified. But some come close to home and disguise themselves in order to deceive us.
2 Tim. 3:1-5 (NASB)
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come {2} For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, {3} unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, {4} treacherous, reckless conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; {5} holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.
And it will only get worse.
2 Tim 3:13 (NKJV)
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Peter 2:1 (NASB)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
It will get worse because of ignorance on the part of the people of God. Because they do not love the truth, they will desire the lies and God will let them believe them. Therefore they will have to get teachers who teach what they want. They will not want teachers who teach the truth.
2 Tim 4:3-4 (NASB)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; {4} and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
2 Pet 2:2 (NKJV)
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
Let us all sound a warning to the brotherhood that there are false teachers among us. Friends that we have known for years have denied the true faith of the doctrine of Christ. If we choose to fellowship them here on earth, then we will be spending eternity with them. In the same place that all false teachers go.
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