From the cultist H.W. Armstrong's "1975 in Prophesy", illustrated by Basil Wolverton. It's notable that ol' Basil was also featured in MAD magagine.
Posted on 01/02/2014 10:13:07 AM PST by DouglasKC
The Ravenous Wolves of FreeRepublic
How do we deal with the insults and pain of those whom Christ called "ravenous wolves"?
Many aren't aware of it but the phrase "A wolf in sheep’s clothing" has biblical origins.
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
The word translated "false prophet" here is not referring to a Godly person who has a prophecy that fails. Instead it's referring to a person who pretends to be a Christian but in reality is not. They are compared to "ravenous wolves" among the flock.
These ravenous wolves exist in life. And they exist here in the religious forum of FreeRepublic. They can be a challenge to our faith and to our Christianity. In this article we're going to examine how to identify these wolves in sheep clothing and how to use our shepard, Jesus Christ, to combat them.
How can we know them? Jesus Christ gave us the answer in the very next verse:
Mat 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
In other words, says Christ, real Christians have a certain, identifiable "fruit". The wolves among the sheep will NOT have these fruits. You can't get grapes from thorns.
Jesus then goes on to make another comparison:
Mat 7:17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
The word translated "bad" means harmful, or evil. Something that is intended to hurt or destroy. So the hallmark of bad fruit is something that is harmful or destructive to people. "Good" on the other hand is something that is beautiful, beneficial, or worthy.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
So the mark of a wolf in sheep’s clothing is whether they bear good fruit, or any. In John 15, Christ gives more detail on this fruit.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
This fruit is something that Christians have. If someone doesn't have Christ they then won't have this fruit.
The Fruit of the Spirit
But what is this fruit? How can we know whether the fruit is good or bad unless we know what it looks like? Luckily the apostle Paul gives us a good idea of what this fruit looks like in the book of Galatians.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
This fruit, these characteristics, are the natural result of living and abiding in Christ, in having his spirit.
Paul sums them up beautifully in 1 Corinthians:
1Co 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
1Co 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
1Co 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
1Co 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
These characteristics apply across all organizations. Organizations do not have a lock on the spirit of God. If someone exhibits these characteristics on a consistent basis they do have the spirit of God and they are a Christian.
There are many people in various organizations on FreeRepublic that exhibit these traits. Many Catholic, LDS, Protestant and Messianic and other members of FreeRepublic exhibit these traits and thus do have the spirit of God and are Christians.
However there are a very few that rarely if ever exhibit these traits. In fact they exhibit something else....the works of the flesh:
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
These behaviors are not just physical but are also spiritual. They are destructive and harmful to themselves and those they come into contact with.
That should not be surprising because the emanate not jut from the flesh, but are demonic in origin. James highlights these works.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Note that good behavior and meekness are hallmarks of of wisdom, having the spirit of the Lord. James contrasts that with other behavior.
James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
James 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
And back to the righteous:
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Animal Behavior
So these are the fruits. The ravenous wolves of FreeRepublic generally act like their namesakes....wolf like.
You've seen them. They'll post derogatory things about others and their faith. The purpose isn't to defend their own faith which often is hidden or not evident. . The purpose is to satisfy their hunger for division, acrimony and blood.
Like animals they seem not to know how to behave civility. They can't address others with whom they disagree without snarling, spitting and insulting. They bare their teeth and pretend that their animal nature is noble and Godly.
They justify their animal nature by pretending that they're just like us. They show us their sheepskin but they can't hide their true nature.
Like a wolf pack there is hierarchy and anyone outside of the pack is instantly set upon if one so much as questions the rules of the pack.
Like a wolf pack they howl, or ping others, when they think they've identified a victim. Peter describes their behavior perfectly:
1Pe_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
That's how the ravenous wolves of FreeRepublic operate. They bait. They hunt down. They attack. They devour and all the while pretend that they're one of us.
Christ is the Shepherd
How do we deal with these wolves? These impostors? These fake Christians? After all they seem to have the advantage of aggressiveness, viciousness and have no qualms about personally attacking others.
The answer is that "we" can't do anything. We're sheep. We're weak. We're helpless. We don't have the teeth or claws they do.
But we have something else. Something they don't have. We have Christ as our shepherd protecting and guiding us. They can't harm us if we depend on Christ and stay in the flock.
Really all the wolves can do is sit just outside the flock, snarling, biting and snapping at us. And maybe that's why they're bitter and angry. They realize that they're not real sheep. They envy that the sheep have real faith in their shepherd. They wonder why Christ doesn't accept their disguise as being the real thing.
Now certainly we're not perfect sheep. I'm not. Sometimes we take their bait. It's not easy to see other sheep begin attacked or to be attacked. Sometimes we want to snarl back with our little sheep teeth. But it rarely works because to do that we have to leave the side of Christ.
The best strategy is to let Christ take care of them. They're not fooling very many and they're certainly not fooling Jesus. They're interested only in satisfying their hunger. They don't want to debate. When they pretend they are they're really only dangling bait to draw others out where they will be vulnerable and away from the shepherd.
About such Christ said:
Mat 7:6 "Don't give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.
These ravenous wolves of FreeRepublic have figured out how to manipulate and find the "loopholes" in the forum rules so their rude, crude and unChristian behavior is tolerated. But they're not fooling anyone. A leopard can't hide his spots.
Ultimately they are to be pitied. Clearly they've had experiences in their lives where they've been hurt deeply. They've been betrayed. They've been picked on. They've been abused. So not knowing Christ they do the same to others. They behave like animals as all Christians did before becoming Christians.
But they don't have to. One day God will open up their eyes. He will show them that they are only pretending to be sheep and they will realize their animal nature and be ashamed. And then Christ will show them HOW to become sheep.
Our prayers should be that they will change. That they will bear fruit worthy of repentance. And we should examine ourselves and our attitudes toward them and others. To pray that God gives us the wisdom, kindness and gentleness to deal with those who would use us and spitefully accuse us.
Mat 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
Mat 5:44 But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
Mat 5:45 In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven.
This should be our goal. To let the light of our Father shine through and to glorify him. A tall order to be sure but the only way to stand up to the wolves.
So, Douglas, tell us, since you're our "thread expert" at FR on "tree analysis": Is Bonfire's (now former) neighbor a "good tree" or a "bad tree?"
From the cultist H.W. Armstrong's "1975 in Prophesy", illustrated by Basil Wolverton. It's notable that ol' Basil was also featured in MAD magagine.
from dictionary.com
her·e·sy
[her-uh-see] Show IPA
noun, plural her·e·sies.
1.
opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.
2.
the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine.
3.
Roman Catholic Church . the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church.
4.
any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English heresie < Old French eresie < Latin haeresis school of thought, sect < Greek haíresis, literally, act of choosing, derivative of haireîn to choose
You do know that "vulgarities, profanity, personal attacks" are summarily deleted by the RM. They simply are not permitted nor permitted to stand on the RF. When someone tried, the RM is all over it, as should be.
So just what vulgarities, profanity, personal attacks are you referring to?
It's openly projecting is what it is.
And evidenced by the tone of the rant posted as a thread.
//Like theologians? I think there are Freepers who have theology degrees//
*raises hand*
>> accused Christians of “arrogance” for asserting that Mormonism is a false religion.
A point you can’t sustain without misrepresenting #116.
The brotherhood of Christianity is not yours to define nor limit regardless of what you think you know and understand.
Catholic Word of the Day: HERESY, 09-21-13
CatholicReference.net ^ | 09-21-13 | Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3069554/posts
Posted on Sat 21 Sep 2013 09:58:52 AM PDT by Salvation
When I’ve seen the word heresy used here it seems to be defined by the poster so it’s not relativism on my part at all just a lack of clarity on how to identify it.
The brotherhood of Christianity is not yours to define nor limit regardless of what you think you know and understand.
***Let’s hear your definition. If no one is allowed to define the terms, then where do you even begin the debate? How about where CS Lewis set to define it in his book “Mere Christianity”?
“A point you can’t sustain without misrepresenting #116.”
And yet you turn around and write, immediately after:
“The brotherhood of Christianity is not yours to define nor limit regardless of what you think you know and understand.”
IOW, it’s ‘arrogance’ to condemn Mormonism or other anti-Trinitarian religious groups as cults, even though all of holy scripture and 2,000 years of Christianity back me up. You’re also appealing to a relativist view of the facts, since I cannot define anything based on those facts since it is impossible to “know and understand” anything.
If you do not “know and understand” these things, what makes you think everybody has that problem?
If this isn’t what you mean, then what do you mean? Is Mormonism a false religion? Is Athanasius incorrect to say that all Christians confess the trinity? Is Paul correct to declare that anyone who teaches a different Gospel than his is accursed?
These silly little games we play with the relativists are obnoxious. We play them EVERY TIME the LDS or other weird groups pop up.
Servo1969, here.
I have glanced over this thread and believe I am totally out of my depth here.
But since a post of mine has been quoted I felt I should at least say hello.
So...
Hello!
my Catholicism
***Then you no doubt would proceed from the catholic definition of the word heresy.
Catholic Word of the Day: HERESY, 09-21-13
CatholicReference.net ^ | 09-21-13 | Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3069554/posts
Posted on Sat 21 Sep 2013 09:58:52 AM PDT by Salvation
...” we should examine ourselves and our attitudes toward them and others. To pray that God gives us the wisdom, kindness and gentleness to deal with those...”
Well, since Douglas advocates that we “examine ourselves and our attitudes” and to seek “kindness and gentleness” as representative of our FR expressions, let's begin by inventorying this article for such kind & gentle attitudes modeled for us within this vanity, shall we?
* Pegged as “Ravenous wolves”: DouglasKC: ”These ravenous wolves exist in life. And they exist here in the religious forum of FreeRepublic.”
* Model of “civility” re: how to describe those you disagree with on the Religion Forum here: DouglasKC: “Really all the wolves can do is sit just outside the flock, snarling, biting and snapping at us.”
(Taking rapid notations here on “cleared” “civil” descriptors for future FR usage! Thanks, Doug!)
* Extended “workshop” notes on “Civility 101”: How to not only reference your fellow FREEPERs as “Animalistic,” but be rather descriptive about it!: DouglasKC: ”They behave like animals as all Christians did before becoming Christians.”
* And: ”He will show them that they are only pretending to be sheep and they will realize their animal nature and be ashamed. And then Christ will show them HOW to become sheep.
* And: ”They can't address others with whom they disagree without snarling, spitting and insulting. They bare their teeth and pretend that their animal nature is...”
(Hmmm...and all along I thought sheep were animals, too...interesting...learn something new here all the time!)
Internal motive-judging: DouglasKC: ”Really all the wolves can do is sit just outside the flock, snarling, biting and snapping at us. And maybe that's why they're bitter and angry. They realize that they're not real sheep. They envy that the sheep have real faith in their shepherd ”
* And: ”The purpose isn't to defend their own faith which often is hidden or not evident. The purpose is to satisfy their hunger for division, acrimony and blood.”
(Aside from somehow arriving at being an “expert” on the “purposes” of FREEPERs' internal motivations & mission-mindedness, See post #173 for How to “Disqualify That Opinion” per the arguments of liberals by accusing others of sounding “angry”)
* Openly Judged Before ALL: DouglasKC: ”These impostors? These fake Christians?”
* And: ”They realize that they're not real sheep.”
(Well, never mind Jesus having to sort out the sheep and goats as per Matthew 25 future prophesy about that...it appears Douglas went ahead & got 'er done!)
* Behavior Judged: DouglasKC: ”...their rude, crude and unChristian behavior”
(Oh, you mean like NONE of the above, right?)
(Hey...! And thanks for posting that thread!)
You’re also appealing to a relativist view of the facts, since I cannot define anything based on those facts since it is impossible to “know and understand” anything.
***Upthread he appeals to his own catholicism, so he would eventually get narrowed down to a ‘mere’ definition.
Is Mormonism a false religion?
***Yes. It is a heretical cult that denies Jesus was God Himself.
Is Athanasius incorrect to say that all Christians confess the trinity?
***Probably not.
Is Paul correct to declare that anyone who teaches a different Gospel than his is accursed?
***Paul is correct. No doubt such relativists would accuse Paul of arrogance or somesuch thing, and in the same wide swath they accuse Christ of not being Christlike when He condemns false teachers as ‘sons of satan’.
These silly little games we play with the relativists are obnoxious. We play them EVERY TIME the LDS or other weird groups pop up.
***They desire to be inclusive, but Christ did not have such a desire and so they’re being antichristian in that regard. So, let’s sit down and define the terms. Open up a trinitarian caucus thread that says “this is what we believe and why” and anyone who argues against such a belief is a heretic (if they call themselves christian). For me it’s simple: Jesus is God Himself. Anyone who promotes a different view, whether it’s polytheism, pantheism, Jesus was a demiGod, or anything else, is a heretic. Simple.
I would simply walk around the dog pile or, if I felt charitable and was armed with a trowel and plastic bag, scoop it up and properly dispose of it. That's about all we can do.
The incivility of these vile elements does nothing for the cause of FreeRepublic, Christianity or anything positive. It merely fouls the environment for all.
Their lame excuses about challenging what they consider heresies is merely that-- lame excuses for aberrant behavior. One can disagree without being disagreeable.
One need only look at the example of Jesus Christ himself both toward the Gentile woman and to the Samaritans, then considered a cult by the mainstream Judaism of his day . . . and to the self-important (and often self-appointed) leaders of the established religious hierarchy of his day.
Amen!
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