Heed my warning: Beware of Wolves

Those with a twisted sense of humor will probably find this real-life event amusing, while others will almost certainly find it quite repulsive. Nonetheless, here is the unsavory story as it was originally told. Chuck Swindoll, a well-known pastor and respected Bible teacher, tells how he was once invited to a large party at an expensive home near Miami. The daughter of the family hosting the gathering had recently graduated from one of the most prestigious chef schools in America. Wanting to put her recently acquired expert culinary skills to the test, the young graduate wondered if she could trick the partygoers into eating something they’d never normally consume. And fool them she did!

The cunning culinarian opened several cans of dog food and put a small dollop on expensive thin crackers. She then carefully adorned each hors d’oeuvre with slivers of pimento, carved olives and bacon crumbles. She then placed them on a sterling silver serving platter and stood back to see how the guests reacted. With a sly grin, the young chef watched as her “Alpo appetizers” quickly disappeared. Though Swindoll claims he never sampled one, he stated that one of his close friends at the party simply couldn’t get enough, and kept coming back for more!

Once the tasty treats had all been eaten, the unseemly secret was shared. This was obviously a pretty laid-back group, because Swindoll said quite surprisingly, everyone simply had a good laugh when the young lady told them what they’d actually been eating.

I share this story with you – not with the intentions of turning your stomachs, but to illustrate a sad, but undeniable spiritual truth. Regrettably, and quite disturbingly, week after week, something similar happens, but in a very different setting. Not at some party, but at places of worship. On any given Sunday, unsuspecting guests are served, that which they should find hideous, except tricksters have decorated their distasteful doctrine in such a way, people don’t realize what they’re actually consuming. Highly skilled, professional false prophets adorn the detestable with orthodox words and religious clichés. They disguise their disgusting dogma by sprinkling in a few random Bible verses or using the name Jesus. These charlatans then serve their unscriptural scraps on a silver platter, where an unsuspecting audience, who is completely unaware of the foul nature of what they are being fed, eagerly consumes it.

You may think I am exaggerating, but I assure you, I am not. Week after week in pulpits all across the world (and even right here in our community) masses of humanity are being fed rubbish and don’t even realize it. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus cautions His hearers not to be deceived by false prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ emphatically warns those on that Galilean hillside (and us as well) these pseudo prophets can easily fool you! They may look good and even sound good, but they are not good and sound. These prophetic pretenders appear to be godly individuals. In fact, Jesus says they cover themselves in sheep’s clothing. However, don’t let their thin woolen veneer fool you! They are dangerous predators who are out to steal, kill and destroy.

Think on this, readers … these shifty charlatans don’t claw their way through the church doors growling with blood dripping from their fangs. No, instead they appear meek and harmless like any other sheep. Nor, do these purveyors of soul-damming doctrine have warning signs around their neck with the word “heretic” engraved thereon. Rather, they sound orthodox and (sometimes) even carry a Bible.

Jesus says, beware of them. The Greek word translated as “beware” in this text, carries the idea of being on guard or cautiously vigilant. Christians should be an observant discerning people who use Scripture as their sole standard for who and what is right. When that is done, it soon becomes evident, not everyone who claims to be called of God, truly is. Thankfully, there are many good, godly pastors and elders who work hard to protect the sheep, and care deeply for the souls of men. However, there is no shortage of false prophets who are out merely to fleece the flock. Sadly, it is not always easy to tell which is which. Yet, the Lord gave simple instructions on how Christians can discern between true and false prophets. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.”

That is, we are to note how those in the ministry live and what they teach. This is their fruit. Having said that, and I cannot emphasize this strongly enough … just as important as what these individuals say, is what they don’t say! Confessing Christian, I warn you against preachers who never use words like: sin, hell, judgment, repentance and wrath. Just because someone may sprinkle some Scripture in their sermon, doesn’t mean they aren’t a false prophet. Even Satan can quote Scripture. Furthermore, just because someone is standing behind a pulpit, waving a Bible doesn’t mean God called them. The Bible says, wicked fallen angels can masquerade as ministers of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Don’t be deceived!

Don’t judge someone’s faithfulness to Christ by their seeming successes or popularity. But by whether or not they live and preach the whole counsel of God. Jesus said, beware of false prophets. Whether on TV, social media or at your place of worship; be on the lookout for wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Folks, if a preacher can go an entire sermon without actually explaining to you the God-intended meaning of a passage, he is at best serving scraps. Even if it is adorned with palatable words and served in a shiny fashion. Further still, if your pastor can go even one week without calling sinners to repentance and faith in the finished work of the Risen Messiah – I guarantee, you’re being fed a steady diet of Alpo hors d’oeuvres … even if you don’t realize it.

Beware of wolves.

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