Wolf Character

Wolf Character
By David Cox

This is a commentary on an article I found here
http://www.christianforums.com/threads/signs-of-wolves-in-sheeps-clothing.7512748/

The article is short, but the author does make some good points about wolves.

1. Wolves gossip.

They go around talking about people they are offended with and don’t actually talk to the person they are offended by. This may involve lies and slander. Always beware of those who gossip. They are bad news. (2 Tim 3:1-5; 2 Pet 2:3; 1 John 4:20)

Gossip is simply the use of knowledge about somebody else such that it hurts, slanders, or just informs others of things that are not the gossiper’s business to tell. Many unscrupulous leaders use gossip to destroy people who offend them, stand in their way, or do not endorse and energetically pursue their wishes.

2. Wolves are easily offended. (Prov 18:19; 2 Tim 3:1-5; 1 John 4:20)

Basically wolves are worse than spiritual children, they are not even saved as a rule. They have their emotions on their shoulders, and they are emotionally insecure and need to have others adulate (worship) them. This is their personality. They are in leadership to be seen, to be great, to be recognized, and they step on others to get what they want. Anybody that opposes them, typically is accused of opposing God and his work.

3. Wolves misuse the scriptures. (2 Tim 4:3; 2 Pet 2:1-2, 12)

All preachers use Scripture. Well except for the most extreme wayward ones.  But false prophets are notorious for using Scripture in one of two ways: 1) to get what they want. 2) to nullify real exhortations. Their preaching is not directed towards spiritual application but rather towards puffing up the spiritual pride of their people (just like he is).

4. Wolves speak against the spiritual authority God has placed over the church.

This applies to speaking against the elders, but primarily against the pastor. (2 Pet 2:10; 1 John 4:20)

Here they assume that they are the only spiritual authority, and to be truthful, the Pope and Roman Catholic are extremely false prophets. They set themselves up as the “Vicar of Christ” or the substitute for Christ on earth. (This is actually an antiChrist). But there are a great many Protestant pastors that take the same attitude of being the authority of God on earth for their people, and God cannot communicate except through them, and nobody can challenge them in any matter.

5. Wolves are always right. They have the attitude: “it is my way or the high way.” (2 Tim 3:1-5; 2 Pet 2:14)

Again we see the above point repeated. They are not gracious with people that differ from them on the main issues and decisions of the church. False prophets usually never admit they were wrong, but look for scape goats to chastise instead. When they rarely do admit to wrong doing, it is a pride show of how humble they are. They want to impress their people.

6. Wolves are argumentative. It is as if they look for fights. (Prov 18:19; 1 John 4:20)

The man of God is not naturally contencious. We are to earnest contend for the faith, but we are not commanded to be contencious.

Good men are always reasonable, and seek peace and tranquillity instead of fighting and constant irritation.

7. Wolves do not seek all the information needed to make a decision.

They will only listen to what supports their opinion. (2 Tim 4:3; 1 John 4:20)

A false prophet commonly thinks he knows all, and he does not seek God’s direction, just how to get what he has already decided in the best form possible.

8. Wolves vie for power. (2 Pet 2:14, 19)

False prophets cannot tolerate others in authority like they are. They will make up condemnations and reasoning so that other pastors (good men or bad) are despised in their people’s eyes. They are striving for a “we are alone in the world” mindset.

9. Wolves undermine the work of the church…

as commanded by Jesus, to make disciples through discipleship and evangelism. (Matt 28:19-20; 2 Pet 2:1-2, 12)

False prophets will typically have many programs and activities, but in the end, new people are rarely saved through them, and Christlikeness is seldom formed in them. They don’t want people repenting, because their people might turn on them when they see sin in the false prophet’s ministry.

10. Wolves are unwilling to admit when they are wrong and never apologize or ask for forgiveness. (2 Tim 3:1-5; 1 John 4:20)

Wolves are sinless and perfect basically, and this is the attitude that most have.

11. Wolves are proud. (2 Tim 3:1-5)

I came to an observation many years ago in the beginning of my ministry. When “men of God” are proud, boastful, bragging about them and their ministries, God has nothing to do with them. Christ had the ministry to boast about, and he didn’t. We should imitate Christ.

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