“Wolves are used as symbols in the Bible for destructive leaders such as princes (Ezek. 22:27), judges (Zeph. 3:3) and false teachers (Matt. 7:15; cf. Acts 20:29). (p 216)
The shepherd protected the flock of sheep from wolves. In the context Laniak talks about fleeing shepherds leaving the flock and the sheep venerable to wolves.
There are many wolves today. As pastors, how do we handle them? What is the Biblical way to handle them? There are wolves outside the congregation who continually attack the congregation. That might be an easier wolf to handle. Pray for them, and yet protect the people. But there are also wolves inside the congregation, how do we handle them, especially when the wolves think they are the sheep and yet they are devouring everyone around them. Can a pastor just let them keep on devouring the sheep or must the pastor confront the wolf and do something about him or her to protect the rest of the flock? It is apparent that many pastors let wolves run wild in churches today, letting the congregation get devoured, but shouldn’t the pastor protect the congregation from these wolves even if they are in the fold?
What does this look like? Accountability? Confrontation? Speaking truth in love? Do pastors today have the ability to do this, to be a true shepherd of a congregation protecting them from the wolves outside and inside? If this is not a skill we have, how can we learn it?
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