Have you Seen this Creature Lurking Around Your churchg?

[righteousdude2]

A wolf in sheep''s clothing? If you spot it, cast it out and do not approach it. It is dangersous and nothing to fool around with!

So sorry the photo wouldn't come through

 

[saturneptune]

Good thread. I have always thought of Proverbs 6:16-19 as a good basis for detecting "wolves in sheep's clothing" within a local church.

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD HATES, seven that are DETESTABLE to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Usually, these will be church members that are troublemakers, always picking a fight in the local church, or starting one between two parties then slipping into the background. Also, usually, they promote non sins as a judgement of others, such as dancing and gambling, that no Biblical case can be made for either to be a sin. They do anything to deflect the fact that they themselves are the core of the problem. In modern terms, this is called the church gossip.

While they are worried about dancing, lottery tickets and movies, they practice exactly what these verses say. Again, in modern terms, the Lord hates the arrogant and proud, a liar, those favoring abortion, a person that plays games with fellow believers, do not walk but run to spread gossip, the gossip itself, and doing everything he or she can to cause disunity and harm the work of the Holy Spirit through the local church for Jesus Christ.

One can spot them a mile away. When someone comes to me with a tale to tell, I figure it is either to inform me so I can pray for them and help to restore them, or as is usually the case, to exercise their warped enjoyment of gossip at the expense of others. When I conclude it is number two, its hit the road Jack.

Another group that falls right into these verses are cliques of people or pockets of power within a local church that exceed their Biblical authority. It can take the form of out of control deacons, or maybe a group of members that are in the upper income class for the community. They usually try and control the decisions of a pastor or other church leader. If congregations would stand up, and disfellowship such individuals, including the gossips, it would stop.

 

[Arbo]

RD, Saturn- Good posts.:thumbsup:

 

[Jedi Knight]

a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

We even find them floating around here on the board too.

 

[IAMWEAK_2007]

A wolf in sheep''s clothing? If you spot it, cast it out and do not approach it. It is dangersous and nothing to fool around with!

So sorry the photo wouldn't come through

Even a professing pastor, or church leaders, I can tell because it happened.

 

[righteousdude2]

Those are the worst kind...

Even a professing pastor, or church leaders, I can tell because it happened.

....and I've been there too! My deepest hurts have come at the hand of pastors who stab you in the back. :tear:

 

[Luke2427]

Good thread. I have always thought of Proverbs 6:16-19 as a good basis for detecting "wolves in sheep's clothing" within a local church.

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD HATES, seven that are DETESTABLE to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Usually, these will be church members that are troublemakers, always picking a fight in the local church, or starting one between two parties then slipping into the background. Also, usually, they promote non sins as a judgement of others, such as dancing and gambling, that no Biblical case can be made for either to be a sin. They do anything to deflect the fact that they themselves are the core of the problem. In modern terms, this is called the church gossip.

While they are worried about dancing, lottery tickets and movies, they practice exactly what these verses say. Again, in modern terms, the Lord hates the arrogant and proud, a liar, those favoring abortion, a person that plays games with fellow believers, do not walk but run to spread gossip, the gossip itself, and doing everything he or she can to cause disunity and harm the work of the Holy Spirit through the local church for Jesus Christ.

One can spot them a mile away. When someone comes to me with a tale to tell, I figure it is either to inform me so I can pray for them and help to restore them, or as is usually the case, to exercise their warped enjoyment of gossip at the expense of others. When I conclude it is number two, its hit the road Jack.

Another group that falls right into these verses are cliques of people or pockets of power within a local church that exceed their Biblical authority. It can take the form of out of control deacons, or maybe a group of members that are in the upper income class for the community. They usually try and control the decisions of a pastor or other church leader. If congregations would stand up, and disfellowship such individuals, including the gossips, it would stop.

Truth and well said.

 

[convicted1]

Good thread. I have always thought of Proverbs 6:16-19 as a good basis for detecting "wolves in sheep's clothing" within a local church.

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD HATES, seven that are DETESTABLE to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Usually, these will be church members that are troublemakers, always picking a fight in the local church, or starting one between two parties then slipping into the background. Also, usually, they promote non sins as a judgement of others, such as dancing and gambling, that no Biblical case can be made for either to be a sin. They do anything to deflect the fact that they themselves are the core of the problem. In modern terms, this is called the church gossip.

While they are worried about dancing, lottery tickets and movies, they practice exactly what these verses say. Again, in modern terms, the Lord hates the arrogant and proud, a liar, those favoring abortion, a person that plays games with fellow believers, do not walk but run to spread gossip, the gossip itself, and doing everything he or she can to cause disunity and harm the work of the Holy Spirit through the local church for Jesus Christ.

One can spot them a mile away. When someone comes to me with a tale to tell, I figure it is either to inform me so I can pray for them and help to restore them, or as is usually the case, to exercise their warped enjoyment of gossip at the expense of others. When I conclude it is number two, its hit the road Jack.

Another group that falls right into these verses are cliques of people or pockets of power within a local church that exceed their Biblical authority. It can take the form of out of control deacons, or maybe a group of members that are in the upper income class for the community. They usually try and control the decisions of a pastor or other church leader. If congregations would stand up, and disfellowship such individuals, including the gossips, it would stop.

Now, if only you and Brother Tom would quit having those secret meetings in the back alleys, trying to devise ways of cutting line at those church dinners, then, and only then, will I appreciate this most wonderful post....:laugh:

 

[SolaSaint]

A wolf in sheep''s clothing? If you spot it, cast it out and do not approach it. It is dangersous and nothing to fool around with!

So sorry the photo wouldn't come through

And sadly these days we are in the sheep's clothing isn't always worn.

 

[Tom Butler]

Now, if only you and Brother Tom would quit having those secret meetings in the back alleys, trying to devise ways of cutting line at those church dinners, then, and only then, will I appreciate this most wonderful post....:laugh:

Sorry, SN, we've been outed.

Actually, we do talk with each other regularly outside of our church activities. But a lot of those discussions are about something posted on the Baptist Board.
About those church dinners, now you've quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'.

 

[Yeshua1]

We even find them floating around here on the board too.

Well, even the Lord said He came to stir up division even among our own household, didn't He?

And the word of God does tend to cause some to "divide based upon sound doctrine!"

 

[Oldtimer]

A wolf in sheep''s clothing? If you spot it, cast it out and do not approach it. It is dangersous and nothing to fool around with!

So sorry the photo wouldn't come through

RD, IMO, there'd be something seriously wrong with a church if there weren't packs of wolves circling it, with or without being covered with a lamb's skin.

Satan doesn't attack those he has firmly in his grasp. He will send wolves to try to devour anyone who opposes him.

Both the Lord's Prayer and the Armour of God come to mind as I :type:

 

[convicted1]

Sorry, SN, we've been outed.

Actually, we do talk with each other regularly outside of our church activities. But a lot of those discussions are about something posted on the Baptist Board.
About those church dinners, now you've quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'.

I've heard you two get edgy when the preacher called to preach the day you have a dinner after church, is a "biggun". You two know that he'll eat more, and you'll get less. I also heard that y'all want in the "selection process" of who to call for those meetings. I heard you two want the skinny preachers only...:laugh: