When Wolves Invade, Shepherds Must Protect (Part 2 - The Effects)
You might be wounded, betrayed, or become a target of the most painful and personal mutinies. All of these are possibilities; some of these are inevitabilities.
Drawing from my own experiences in ministry, this two-part article aims to explain how wolves work and describe some of the personal spiritual challenges that arise both in the moment and in the aftermath. In Part 1, I described the ways of wolves and began to explore the effects of their persistent attacks. Here in Part 2, I’ll describe what types of shepherds are needed to fend off these predators.
The wolves come out to play
To deceive, and turn men's hearts away
Under the guise of sheep with such beautiful smiles
They appear to be of God, yet all the while
They lead them straight to hell
A fellowship of thieves
Causing more destruction than those
Who don't claim to believe
This fellowship of thieves
Watch for the wolves, be wary
That you are not deceived
— The Crucified, “The Fellowship of Thieves”
The wolves will circle and then they’ll sink their teeth in and wound you. And even though the greater power of a Sovereign Planner limits their harm, a question might still lodge itself in the forefront of your mind:
“Is this all worth it?”
Why is this so hard? What am I doing wrong? Will this ever end? Who am I becoming? Will I ever recover? Is this all my fault? Would these sheep be better tended by another shepherd?
Ask yourself repeatedly with all the courage and brutal honesty you can muster on your hardest days: “Is this all worth it?” You must believe that it is. And if you realize that you don’t believe that, find something else to do.
Is it worth the time I am investing? Is it worth all that I am forfeiting? Is it worth the toll on my body? My mind? My soul?
You might be treated with cruelty and dishonour. You might be wounded, betrayed, or become a target of the most painful and personal mutinies. All of these are possibilities; some of these are inevitabilities. But you must know all of this in advance and still commit yourself to the task.
Shepherds Not Afraid to Fight
You must stand in holy defiance, convinced in advance that even if the powers of hell align against you—and they are aligned against you—the bride of Christ is worth any personal cost that God sees fit for you to bear. Self-inflicted costs and consequences are another story, but the trials that God ordains are blessings.
It is all worth it.
If you cannot come to believe this, if you cannot make consistent progress toward this truth, no matter what age, no matter how close to retirement - go and do something else. The bride of Christ is too precious to be led by half-hearted men.
Broken-hearted men? Yes.
Wounded and weary men? Yes.
Men who wrestle with God and walk with a limp? Yes.
But never half-hearted men.
Half-hearted men will make a mess of themselves and the church. They will falter fatally under the pressure and bend the vision and resources of the church to the benefit of their ease and comfort and pride and ego. Such men eventually bring far more hurt than help to the bride of Christ.
But you must see the bride of Christ as she is and in all her future glory and be convinced that this is no mere “job” - not a way to pass the time or climb a ladder or build a platform. It is a firm calling with a glorious end.
“For it has been granted to you that, for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…” (Phil. 1:29)
Conclusion
What warnings are young pastors given about the wolves who are often the architects of their quick demise? What are young pastors taught about their ways, ploys, and goals? What tools are offered to deal with such people?
Conflict and hostility are the rule, not the exception in pastoral ministry. We will suffer for his sake. Yet in not making younger pastors aware of these realities, we lead them to believe they will experience the exception and not the rule. Failing to inform and train young pastors sends them into the wilderness unarmed, leaving them defenceless against the wolves.
“Fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock…” Expect this. Prepare for this. And trust that God will sustain you through it.
If any of what I’ve described here sounds like something you’re dealing with, feel free to get in touch. I’d be happy to walk with you through it. Follow this link to my contact page.
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Michael Krahn is a pastor, the husband of Anne Marie, and the father of Madeleine, Olivia, and Sophia. Make a connection on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.