Deutero Q

In his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, the Apostle Paul warned, "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!" (Acts 20:29-31).

How true those words are today! While the Church of Jesus Christ has always faced opposition from outside, even more insidious is the threat to the Body of Christ from within. In our time, savage wolves are at work promoting the ordination of practicing homosexuals, the murder of unborn children and all kinds of wickedness.

The very things God calls evil, the world and many church leaders are calling good. Biblical orthodoxy has been subverted. Sound teaching is out; inclusiveness and political correctness are in. As a result, many sheep in the Church are falling prey to savage wolves and their destructive teaching.

As harsh as it sounds, many of the so-called "leaders" in the Church today are instruments of Satan rather than instruments of God. The Lord said, "By their fruit you will recognize them." Just look at the the fruit of those who are clamoring for homosexual ordination and abortion rights. The fruit is ungodly and rotten; in a word, it is death.

I realize these are strong words, but perilous times call for strong words and action. We are witnessing the self-destruction of many mainline churches, including the Presbyterian Church (USA). Savage wolves are running rampant. Their latest tactic is to prevent Bible-believing congregations from leaving the denomination with their property.

What must we do? We must step up our praying. I am not talking about cold, lifeless prayer, but ardent prayer empowered by the Spirit of God. We need to be on our knees and faces before the Lord God Almighty, repenting of our complacency and crying out for revival, which America and the mainline church of Sardis so desperately needs. Christ said to the church in Sardis, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead" (Revelation 3:1).

We must pray for the savage wolves, for their salvation and sanctification, even as we pray for our own sinful hearts. We must hate the practices and the wickedness that the savage wolves advocate, but we must love the people with Christ-like love.

We must do more than complain: we must live out the Word of God on a daily basis, holding fast to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16). And we must always, in the words of Paul, "Be on guard!"

These are perilous times. The savage wolves are many. But of this we can be sure: God is sovereign; He rules and reigns. Good will ultimately triumph and the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!