Many remember the 1991 Academy Awards and the surprising Best Picture win for a film with an unusual title: Dances With Wolves. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War in 1863, this historical epic tells the story of Lieutenant John Dunbar, a man seeking solitude on the Western Frontier. His initial, awkward encounter with a wolf, marked by clumsy attempts to scare it away that the wolf playfully mirrors, leads to the Sioux observing this peculiar man who appeared to be, quite literally, dancing with wolves. This charming scene, however, masks a more profound reality. While the movie magic involved trained animals, real life encounters with wolves are far from whimsical. In fact, the idea of “dancing with wolves” can be a dangerous proposition, especially when considering the spiritual realm. Just as Jesus warned of false teachers as “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” the concept of dancing with wolves serves as a powerful metaphor for the subtle dangers of deception within faith. Drawing from the biblical book of Jude, we can explore how failing to recognize spiritual wolves can lead believers down a perilous path.
Last time, we explored Jude’s warnings against the distorted worship promoted by false teachers. Today, we delve deeper into Jude’s message to uncover further signs to help identify those who are not true shepherds but rather, wolves disguised as such.
Identifying Wolves in Shepherds’ Clothing: Three Key Signs
Jude provides a stark and insightful description of false teachers, highlighting their deceptive nature and the dangers they pose to genuine faith. He uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of their true character and the emptiness of their promises. Let’s examine three critical ways to recognize these “wolves dressed as shepherds.”
1. The Illusion of Empty Promises
Jude 12-13 powerfully illustrates the deceptive nature of false teachers through a series of compelling metaphors: “These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”
This passage is rich with imagery of disappointment and deception. Jude presents six distinct pictures, each revealing the hollowness of the promises offered by these false teachers:
- Hidden Reefs at Love Feasts: Love feasts, akin to communion, are meant to be times of fellowship and spiritual nourishment. However, false teachers are like hidden reefs – unseen dangers lurking beneath the surface. They create a false sense of security, only to lead believers to spiritual shipwreck when their deceptions are encountered. Just as a ship confidently sailing can be suddenly destroyed by an unseen reef, so too can a believer’s faith be undermined by the subtle dangers of false teaching within a seemingly safe community.
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Shepherds Feeding Themselves: True shepherds are called to care for their flock, nourishing them spiritually. In stark contrast, false teachers are “shepherds feeding themselves.” Their ministry is self-serving, focused on personal gain rather than the well-being of those they are meant to guide. They exploit the flock for their own benefit, “fleecing” them instead of feeding them with genuine spiritual truth.
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Waterless Clouds: In arid lands, clouds bring the promise of life-giving rain. Waterless clouds, however, are a cruel disappointment, raising hopes only to dash them. False teachers are likened to these clouds, promising spiritual refreshment or worldly blessings like “health, wealth, and prosperity,” yet delivering nothing of substance. They create an illusion of abundance while leaving followers spiritually parched and unfulfilled.
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Fruitless Trees in Late Autumn: Autumn is the season of harvest, the time when fruit trees should bear their bounty. Fruitless trees in late autumn are doubly disappointing – they have failed to produce in their season and offer no future promise. Described as “twice dead, uprooted,” they are beyond hope of bearing fruit. False teachers, similarly, are spiritually barren. They promise spiritual fruitfulness but produce nothing of lasting value, leaving followers empty and disillusioned.
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Wild Waves Casting Up Foam: Violent waves churn up foam and spray, creating a spectacle of motion and noise. However, this foam is insubstantial and quickly dissipates. False teachers are like these wild waves – full of impressive words and grand pronouncements, but lacking in genuine substance. Their teachings are often characterized by empty rhetoric and emotional appeals, leaving behind nothing but “the foam of their own shame” when their lack of depth is exposed.
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Wandering Stars: In ancient times, sailors navigated by the fixed stars, reliable guides in the night sky. Wandering stars, or comets, however, are unpredictable and lead astray. False teachers are like wandering stars, appearing to offer direction but ultimately leading followers off course. Their teachings deviate from true biblical doctrine, guiding people away from the intended destination of genuine faith and towards spiritual uncertainty and danger.
These six metaphors paint a powerful picture of the deception inherent in false teaching. People are drawn to false teachers because of the alluring promises they make – promises of health, wealth, easy salvation, and a comfortable, sin-accommodating faith. However, these promises are ultimately empty and lead to disappointment and spiritual ruin. Recognizing these “pictures of failed promises” is the first crucial step in identifying wolves in shepherds’ clothing.
2. The Inevitable Prophecy of Judgment
Jude doesn’t only highlight the emptiness of false promises; he also emphasizes the certainty of divine judgment awaiting these deceivers. Jude 14-15 states: “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’”
Jude references Enoch, a figure from Genesis known for his righteousness and unique departure from earth – God took him to heaven. Jude quotes a prophecy attributed to Enoch, a prophecy widely known in Jude’s time, even outside of canonical scripture. This prophecy speaks of the Lord’s coming with his holy ones to execute judgment on the ungodly. Even secular or non-canonical sources recognized the concept of a coming judgment. This reinforces the universality and inevitability of divine justice.
Whether this prophecy was directly from Enoch or a well-known saying attributed to him, Jude uses it to underscore the point: judgment is coming for the ungodly, and particularly for those who lead others astray through false teaching. While false teachers may promise escape from consequences or downplay the seriousness of sin, Jude reminds us of the ultimate reality – a day of reckoning when all ungodliness will be judged. This prophecy serves as a stark warning against being deceived by those who minimize sin and ignore the coming judgment.
3. The Identifying Traits of Deceptive Personalities
Finally, Jude provides insight into the very character of false teachers, revealing their underlying attitudes and motivations. Jude 16 describes them as: “These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”
This verse exposes the inner disposition of false teachers. They are not simply mistaken or misguided; they are characterized by negative and self-serving traits:
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Grumblers and Malcontents: False teachers are often discontented and critical. They complain and find fault, often sowing discord and division within the community of faith. Their negativity stems from a lack of genuine humility and a dissatisfaction with God’s provision and plan.
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Following Their Own Sinful Desires: At the heart of false teaching is often a desire to justify or indulge in sin. False teachers tailor their message to accommodate their own sinful desires and the desires of their followers. They prioritize personal gratification over biblical truth and righteousness.
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Loud-mouthed Boasters: Despite the emptiness of their promises, false teachers are often arrogant and boastful. They speak with exaggerated confidence and self-importance, seeking to impress and dominate others. This boastfulness masks a lack of genuine spiritual depth and a reliance on self-promotion rather than God’s power.
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Showing Favoritism to Gain Advantage: False teachers are manipulative and opportunistic. They show favoritism, flattering and elevating certain individuals to gain influence and personal advantage. Their motives are not pure; they seek to exploit relationships for their own benefit, demonstrating a lack of genuine care for all members of the flock.
These personality traits serve as red flags. Jesus himself warned in Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits… Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Ungodly behavior and attitudes are the “fruit” that reveals the true nature of these spiritual wolves. It is crucial not to excuse or ignore such behavior in spiritual leaders.
It’s important to differentiate between genuine disagreement and outright deception. Disagreements on secondary theological matters are different from teachings that undermine core doctrines of salvation. The warning against wolves is not a call to reject those who simply hold differing views on certain biblical interpretations. Rather, it is a call to be discerning about those who present teachings that contradict fundamental truths of Scripture, particularly those related to salvation. Those who promote salvation through works, deny hell, or suggest that sincerity alone is sufficient for salvation, even without faith in Jesus Christ, are the dangerous “wolves” Jude warns against. These are the “hidden reefs, clouds without water, fruitless trees, and wandering stars” that lead to devastating disappointment on judgment day.
The teachings of false teachers may sound appealing and popular, but they ultimately erode the very foundation of the Gospel. Just as dancing with a real wolf would be a deadly mistake, so too is embracing false teaching. Next time, we will explore how to safeguard ourselves from these prowling spiritual wolves.
