How do you recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing?

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[Janet Easson Martin]

"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God,  which He purchased with His own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  And men from among yourselves will rise up with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them".

 _{Acts 20:28-30}

My Pastor who also has had personal experience with spiritually abusive leaders and churches as a young christian recently told me about this passage in Acts.  He said that spiritual abuse is so widespread that Paul with tears warned the church leaders to be on guard for it.  He said he knew that people would come from the outside and the inside with malformed teaching to gain followers after themselves pulling them away to isolation.  That it can be a strong temptation for a leader to use people to exult himself in this way.

What is so perverse is that these were the scriptures Jim McCotter and his under-leaders used to keep the people in GCx away from healthy leaders, churches, and christian influences.  Those that were trying to rescue the sheep were twistedly labeled as these wolves, when all the time the real wolf was this leader himself (of this self-labeled "super-church") declaring their wickedness.  

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.  

   _{Matthew 7:15}

Now I know that some might defend GCx saying "But that was long ago and Jim McCotter is far away."  Yes, but he was never identified as a wolf, as a false teacher.  His deviant "doctrine" was never denounced.  The truth about his control of the sheep was NEVER truthfully admitted!  Because of that his malformed controlling "doctrine" still goes on in the GCx churches today.  This website is documentation and proof of that. "A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough."  

And then some might lightly pass off their mistreatment of the sheep with "The weakness paper".  It should have been called "The Weak Excuses Paper".  It was a slap in the face to those who were TRAGICALLY SPIRITUALLY WOUNDED and some almost left for dead, spiritually and otherwise speaking.  It came across as a fake apology.  No passionate concern or remorse was apparent.  It would be one thing if this "super christian" group/church/movement had ceased existence long ago, but they are STILL WOUNDING and RAVAGING THE SHEEP - with the errant doctrine that was never truthfully denounced and prohibited.  

Today I heard an intersting study on wolves in sheep's clothing.  How do we recognize them?  Not by their appearance or their words, but by their results, what they produce, their actual fruit.  Without going into all the detail (you can read about it on your own googling) Jim McCotters life has turned out to be a series of deceptions and falsehoods that have hurt many.  What do the leaders in GCx really produce?  Not what do they say they do, but what do they really?  I mean after all the fakeness is stripped away, and all the conditional friendships are discounted.  Matthew 7:15-16 (below) says good sheperds are sacrificial and giving toward the flock.  Grapes and figs provide nourishment, they meet needs, they can bring healing, and they bring no harm.  But wolves produce thorns and thistles.  Thorns and thistles are damaging and self-protecting, they wound and leave scars, they entrap.  Think about and pay attention to these things God may be warning you of.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.  
You'll recognize them by their fruit.  
Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

[Janet Easson Martin]

Theologically trained author and group leader at Wellspring Retreat Center, Stephen Martin, published an article, “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing - Luring the Unsuspecting”,1997-2016, on this very topic. I have extracted a few sentences from it that describe a wolf’s motive and the resulting injury to his victim.  The link follows.


“A wolf in sheep’s clothing deceives in order to lure, then works to devour the victim to satisfy his own appetite. If the victims survives, it is torn, severely injured, and emotionally traumatized. He will now have a lack of trust for anything that looks like a sheep.”


Link:
https://recognizeheresy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Wolves-in-Sheeps-Clothing.pdf



Stephen Martin also wrote a very helpful book called, “The Heresy of Mind Control - Recognizing Con Artists, Tyrants, and Spiritual Abusers In Leadership”.  In this book he further studies and discusses such leaders.

Link:
https://recognizeheresy.com/donate-for-the-e-book/

[Janet Easson Martin]

A Wolf in Action

The following telling portion of an article from “Crosswalk” will be quite familiar to those who observed the founder of GCx for any length of time and unfortunately some of his disciples. It’s very helpful to see these telling characteristics outlined in black and white. These descriptions are in line with what the scriptures say about wolves who “lead” believers. It seems Satan attacks the “sheep” through this person who makes himself his agent for harm.

“Signs of a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

1. They Love Power and Themselves

This leader will try to gain and hold onto power for their own selfish reasons. Relationships are used and abused solely for the purpose of gaining more control. A wolf in sheeps clothing will use their position to create rules and standards that were never a part of God's plan. They do not want to empower people with freedom and truth but rather keep them under his power with boundaries.


2. They Refuse Correction and Respond to Criticism with Anger

When you confront a wolf in sheep's clothing, the response will not be one of humility and repentance. This person will respond with anger, bitterness, and often turn the criticism back on you. Their main goal in life is self-preservation and will not let anyone get in the way of their authority. A wolf will appear meek in front of an audience but will show aggression when confronted.


3. They Use Emotions to Get What They Want

A wolf knows the power of words and emotions to manipulate people. They use guilt, shame, and fear to keep others under their power. A wolf knows when to speak sweet words of compliments and when to use cutting words to fuel insecurity.


4. They lack the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 tell us what the characteristics and traits are in the life of a person who is following the Holy Spirit. The wolf does not produce the fruit of the Spirit. They may be able to appear loving and gentle in front of people but behind closed doors, they lack kindness, gentleness, self-control, and other fruits. A wolf gives into sinful natures and will display them when feeling attacked.”



Link to full article:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/5-ways-to-recognize-a-wolf-in-sheep-s-clothing.html%3famp=1