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It has become increasingly difficult to do, and their presence is everywhere and in many different ways, including on Christian forums, with the internet and social media platforms. The words the wolf needs are readily available at the flick of a finger, as are those of whatever they are opposing or promoting. So Paul's warning in Acts 20:28-31 that the enemy of the gospel would be in our midst, is no longer confined to the visible church, and therefore leaves the door open for any wolf to join the devil's attempt to destroy and deceive. It is not flesh and blood that His church wars against, but spiritual enemies in spiritual places. (Eph 6) But he works through flesh and blood.
There is another reason why these wolves make inroads into the visible churches and preach from our pulpits blatant falsehoods and go unchecked, with thousands upon thousands of followers. Much of the reason has to do with the loss of the doctrinal confessions and the systematic expounding of the word of God to arrive at and teach doctrines that are sound and consistent with the whole counsel of God. If pastors were to do this, the congregants would learn to do it too, though that does not remove their responsibility to do it for themselves. Such has been the case for a vast number of Christians that are alive today and whose parents and grandparents were in that same boat. So neither shepherd or flock are equipped with the knowledge they need to discern a wolf in sheep's clothing. In effect both God and Christianity are treated lightly and casually.
And this also applies to any platform that involves Christianity.
How do we discern what is a wolf in sheep's clothing and what is just disagreement in doctrine, or the voice of an immature Christian, when we cannot see them, or know anything but the words they type and send into the ether? And they are here, these wolves, and in every Christian forum, for a true wolf in sheep's clothing is a predator, seeking out whatever avenue is easiest. They use scripture and a wolf will too. That scripture needed can be found by googling the subject with no knowledge of belief behind it at all. And I would say, that most often we cannot without any doubt make this discernment, and so accusations should never be made. But we can learn to fine tune our antenna, learn when and how to fight against that enemy, and when to let it wear itself out.
But there is only one way to do this, but with the uses of a few things. We pray putting our trust in God and not ourselves. We ask for discernment , not for ourselves lest we boast, but for His glory,and above all we do not think that because we asked for discernment that it will immediately be given to us and therefore whatever we think is discernment from God.
I have found over the years that God answers such prayers by teaching, not just handing out, and it takes place in grace upon grace over a lifetime. And we cannot have discernment without knowledge. All that knowledge He gives us---in His word. He will open things to us through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, in His word. Our foundation for discernment of wolves in sheeps clothing is His word, and that requires us to do our own systematic study (not just reading) of His word, and also through the writings of those He has given the church who have done that work, in order to help us onto the path of carefully established doctrine, that many of us are not equipped to do on our own. But once set on that path, we go to the scriptures ourselves to see it and find it.
There is another reason why these wolves make inroads into the visible churches and preach from our pulpits blatant falsehoods and go unchecked, with thousands upon thousands of followers. Much of the reason has to do with the loss of the doctrinal confessions and the systematic expounding of the word of God to arrive at and teach doctrines that are sound and consistent with the whole counsel of God. If pastors were to do this, the congregants would learn to do it too, though that does not remove their responsibility to do it for themselves. Such has been the case for a vast number of Christians that are alive today and whose parents and grandparents were in that same boat. So neither shepherd or flock are equipped with the knowledge they need to discern a wolf in sheep's clothing. In effect both God and Christianity are treated lightly and casually.
And this also applies to any platform that involves Christianity.
How do we discern what is a wolf in sheep's clothing and what is just disagreement in doctrine, or the voice of an immature Christian, when we cannot see them, or know anything but the words they type and send into the ether? And they are here, these wolves, and in every Christian forum, for a true wolf in sheep's clothing is a predator, seeking out whatever avenue is easiest. They use scripture and a wolf will too. That scripture needed can be found by googling the subject with no knowledge of belief behind it at all. And I would say, that most often we cannot without any doubt make this discernment, and so accusations should never be made. But we can learn to fine tune our antenna, learn when and how to fight against that enemy, and when to let it wear itself out.
But there is only one way to do this, but with the uses of a few things. We pray putting our trust in God and not ourselves. We ask for discernment , not for ourselves lest we boast, but for His glory,and above all we do not think that because we asked for discernment that it will immediately be given to us and therefore whatever we think is discernment from God.
I have found over the years that God answers such prayers by teaching, not just handing out, and it takes place in grace upon grace over a lifetime. And we cannot have discernment without knowledge. All that knowledge He gives us---in His word. He will open things to us through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, in His word. Our foundation for discernment of wolves in sheeps clothing is His word, and that requires us to do our own systematic study (not just reading) of His word, and also through the writings of those He has given the church who have done that work, in order to help us onto the path of carefully established doctrine, that many of us are not equipped to do on our own. But once set on that path, we go to the scriptures ourselves to see it and find it.
