Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." — Matthew 7:15 (NASB)

On September 11, 2002, I raised my right hand and swore an oath to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In the days, months, and years that followed, I learned a great deal about the tactics, techniques, and procedures of enemy combatants and how to analyze their movement patterns in order to better predict future activity. Although most of my time in the military was focused on offensive operations, I also became quite knowledgeable concerning defensive operations and the lethal consequences of failing to remain vigilant in our battlespace. One such critical learning experience occurred in early 2009 during my final combat deployment to Afghanistan.

It was February 12, 2009, and I was deployed to Paktika Province in Regional Command East. I was an Infantry Captain living and working with a small team of American Soldiers in a quiet corner of the provincial governor's compound. It was a rather uneventful morning until an explosion shook the building in which we were living. Another soldier and I immediately grabbed our rifles and moved toward the rising billows of smoke marking the blast site. By the time we arrived at the entry control point, most of the wounded had already been evacuated, and additional reinforcements had secured the area. Afghan policemen informed me that approximately three men had been killed and eight others had suffered life-threatening injuries. Although the exact number of casualties was not yet clear, one thing was abundantly evident: no one had been prepared for what struck them that day.

The attacker that morning turned out to be a frail old man enlisted by the enemy to do their dirty work. Small in stature and distinguished by a long white beard, he was a familiar sight at the local mosque and police checkpoints—a common beggar often seen wherever he might receive food or other small acts of charity. Promised an eternal paradise of 72 virgins and significant financial compensation for his family after his death, he became a pawn in the enemy's hands.

As the story was later told to me, the old man approached along a quiet side street from the bazaar west of the compound. The guards recognized him but assumed he was simply there to ask for food. Seeing no apparent threat, they motioned him through the first checkpoint, which consisted of sandbags and concertina wire. As he reached the second guard post, another group of sentries stopped him and asked what he wanted. Again, he extended his trembling hand as if asking for food. Once more, the guards waved him forward, directing him toward a larger group of unsuspecting Afghan policemen who were sitting together and sharing a meal.

As the inconspicuous old man drew near, the policemen were blindsided by an evil they never anticipated. For those who survived, their lives and bodies would never be the same. They believed the old man had come seeking a meal, but on this occasion he had not come to receive anything—he had come to take the lives of everyone around him.

Unarmed, undefended, and unsuspecting, the Afghan policemen were easy targets. As the old man approached the group, it was never determined whether he detonated the explosive vest himself or whether it was triggered remotely from a concealed position nearby. Regardless, the explosives strapped to his body were powerful enough to tear him apart and bring death and destruction to everyone within approximately 15 meters. While I do not know the exact number of men who ultimately lost their lives, I know this: one life lost was too many.

Comparable to the deadly intruder who entered the governor's compound in eastern Afghanistan that day, the church today has been struck by wolves in sheep's clothing who have entered in and caused immense destruction. Unarmed, unprepared, and often unconcerned, many Christians enjoy the comforts of life while remaining oblivious to the wolves lurking in their midst. In some instances, portions of the church have even chosen to make peace with the world, allowing worldly influence to infiltrate the household of God and distort the truth of the Gospel.

During pre-combat training, American soldiers were taught to remain vigilant and always stay alert because staying alert meant staying alive. When facing such a cunning and deceptive enemy as those we encountered in Afghanistan, no one could afford to let down his guard. The same principle applies to the Christian life today. Although our struggle is not against flesh and blood, our hearts, minds, and souls remain in the enemy's crosshairs. The danger facing the body of Christ is every bit as real spiritually as the destruction I witnessed physically in eastern Afghanistan that day.

Therefore, my exhortation is this: guard your heart with all diligence, remain vigilant, beware of false prophets, and faithfully safeguard the truth of God's Word.

Written by JCT