Philippians 3:2
“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision”.
God loves us all and wants us to them others as well. It’s not often that others are called dogs and we are told to be aware of them. Who are they? We only need to see Jesus’ example. The only ones He was rough with were the pharisees. Why them? Because they interfered with others relationship with God. Matthew 23:15 says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Another versions says, “son of hell”. That’s not good.
James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should be teachers my brothers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment.” That’s because they are guiding others in the faith. If they do so wrongly, they are judged more strictly.
Matthew 18:6 puts the warning harshly, “And whoever shall cause to stumble one of these of the little ones believing in Me, it is better for him that a heavy millstone should be hung around his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea.” These are leading people away from the faith, or down a wrong path. We aren’t to be them, nor are we to listen to them. We are to beware of them.
I think of the atheists who share their messages; I think of those who attempt to lure those into non biblical lifestyles. I know they think they are helping them. But maybe not. Maybe it’s misery loves company.
I heard Richard Dawkins, Britons famous aetheist, who has spent decades of his adult life tearing down christianity trying to prop up christian culture. He realizes he has greatly weakened it. What he’s done was to create a spiritual vacuum which has been replaced with Islam. When he compares to two influences he says he would take christianity every time. He says, “Even though he doesn’t believe a word of it”. He has damaged the minds of many. Another unfortunate quote from him (or another atheist) says something like, “We have made the world safe to not believe in God”. These quotes are paraphrases. Paul is mainly referring to religious people harming religious people. However, the secular ones are to be feared as well.
Until we reach heaven there will be those who seek to obstruct. They are favored tools of the devil. I can recall sharing Christ with someone as a young christian. In defense of his skepticism he said, “The bible can’t be trusted. Where did Cain get his wife?” This stumbled me. I got an answer that helped, but I didn’t get the best answer for a couple of years. That is a verse in Genesis that said, “Adam and Eve had other sons and daughter.” Cain married his sister. Genetically it’s a problem now, but that close to creation, it wasn’t.
We will get receive blows from time to time. Ephesians 6:16 says, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The Lord helps us and gives us armor to greatly reduce the impact. 2 Corinthians 10:5 is another defensive tactic, “We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Those arguments are the flaming arrows. If we don’t take them captive they will run a course that weakens us.
The bible teaches us to avoids these wolves, but also fools. Some may seem fun or interesting on the surface, but do us harm. There is usually some appeal to them, otherwise there would be no reason to warn us. We’ve got scripture and the discernment of the Holy Spirit to keep us alert.
Those in cults give this same warning to their people. Unfortunately their warnings are the opposite of good. They call us wolves and tell their sheep to stay away. Very sad.
Lord, thank You for guarding us and teaching us to defuse attacks. Thank You for the warnings You provide. Help us to heed them.