Sheep Among Wolves

Introduction

The movie Pearl Harbor tells of the events leading up to and immediately following the Japanese attack on the U.S. on December 7, 1941. The film follows the fictional lives of two fighter pilots, Raph and Danny, who have been inseparable friends since childhood and are stationed at the same base in Hawaii.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Raph (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett) are called into Colonel Jimmy Doolittle's office. They have succeeded in downing seven Japanese planes.

Doolittle (Alec Baldwin) stands behind his desk and addresses the cocky pilots somberly.

"You've both been awarded the silver star. You're just about the only pilots with combat experience. I need you for a mission I've been ordered to put together."

Raph and Danny look nervously pleased. Doolittle looks them over carefully.

"Do you know what 'top secret' is?" he asks.

Raph responds with a wry smile. "Yes, sir! It's the kind of mission when you get medals, but they send them to your relatives."

Ignoring the remark, Doolittle continues, "Top secret means you train for something never done before in aviation history—and you go without knowing where you're going. You do it on that basis or not at all."

Honored to be asked, yet unsure of what they are committing to, both men agree to go.

In many ways, God recruits us to follow him in the same way that Doolittle recruited these pilots for this mission. God trains us in ways unique to us to fulfill unique purposes, and we know little or nothing about where we are going. We go on that basis, or we don't go at all.

Tell The Story

Last week, Pastor Neyda shared from the beginning of chapter 10 where Jesus sends the disciples out into the ministry. He tells them to:

The New International Version Chapter 10

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Each of us has been called into ministry. Everyone who calls themselves a Christian, a Believer, a follower of Jesus, a disciples and an apprentice are called by Christ to proclaim that the Kingdom is near and to do all we can to care for the needs of our neighbors. Don’t miss this: Kingdom work is about calling people to salvation in Jesus AND caring for their needs. If we do one without the other, we are out of balance in our ministry focus. Jesus continues, telling the disciples that they are to trust God for everything in their ministry. They are not to take extra shirts or money with them. If a home welcomes them, they are to bless them with peace. If a community does not welcome them, they are to shake the dust from their feet and move on.

The ministry that Jesus has in mind here is not bake sales or pancake breakfast. It’s not comfy Bible Studies or well put together worship services. The ministry that disciples are called to is to go out and to go to the people who are far from God and to bring them near. In today’s world, these people may never step foot in the church. Jesus does not call us to an “if you build it they will come” mentality. Jesus called us to go and find the person farthest from God and invite them to the heavenly banquet.

Jesus doesn’t call us to form Holy Huddles to live out feel-good Christianity. Jesus calls us out to the least, the last and the lost.

Application

Kingdom Work Requires Risk and Danger

Jesus uses two metaphors for us to consider as we live into our calling. Jesus says:

The New International Version Chapter 10

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Jesus says that the disciples are sent out like sheep. Biblically, sheep have a positive connotation. Israel was called God’s sheep. Followers of Jesus are called sheep. This is not the negative connotation that we sometimes here today.

Sheep, though, are powerless in the own strength. Sheep are defenseless against predators. It is as sheep that Jesus says disciples are sent out among the wolves. It’s even more explicit in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus says he is sending out disciples “as lambs into the middle of wolves.” What sort of image do you have of a lamb dropped into the midst of a pack of hungry wolves? It’s a pretty dire and dangerous situation for the lamb.

Wolves are an image that has been used in Matthew previously- and it is an image that Jesus has used for the “Fruitless” and those whose fruit is not Christlike. In Matthew 7:15

Matthew 7:15 NIV

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

IN Matthew 3:7-8

Matthew 3:7–8 NIV

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

We are living in a time when many people claim the name of Jesus but lack the fruit of Jesus’ character. There are false prophets who worship false idols and call it Christianity. There are religious leaders who claim the name of Jesus, who appear to be one of God’s sheep, yet are really wolves. There are fruitless “christians.”

As disciples of Jesus who are sent as sheep among the wolves, we have to be able to discern the fruit people posses. Does their fruit, their character reflect the fruit of Christ’s character? Are we able to keep from following false prophets who point us to blind allegiance to idols in the name of Jesus? We will know someone is following Jesus by their fruit. Why would we align ourselves with someone whose fruit does not align with the character and nature of God who is love? Who offers all people grace? Who forgives? Who extends mercy and compassion to those who are suffering?

When pastors, leaders, and individuals claim the name of Christ but lack the fruit

Jesus calls us to Kingdom work that puts us into vulnerable situations among the wolves who are out for our destruction.

This is why:

2. Kingdom Work Requires Us to Use Our Heads

Jesus tells his disciples that because they are being sent out as sheep among wolves they are to

The New International Version Chapter 10

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

It’s our second vivid metaphor and it’s a good one. While many of us don’t like serpents/snakes and they often have a negative connotation- in ancient times they were seen as being sensible, wise, cunning, and shrewd.

When Jesus says that we should be as shrewd as snakes- he is telling disciples to use their heads. While we may be defenseless sheep, we do not have to be stupid! We have to stay smart, stay observant, continue seeking truth, and looking for the fruit of the people we follow and align ourselves with.

As we use our heads, we are to be as innocent as doves. Doves were considered chaste and faithful to their partner. Doves were known to be gentle and even whimsicle. When Jesus was baptized, we see a dove as the symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit. In the ways that we deal with false teachers and leaders, we are to be gentle as doves. We are to be careful when confronted with difficult situations.

We are living in an increasingly hostile world towards Christians. Years ago, being part of a church- especially the right church- bought you some social cache. Benjamin Franklin, who was not a fan of religion and CHristianity, supported three different churches financially because it was good for business. In recent years, Christianity is seen with increasing skepticism. We have to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves while we live in the midst of people who do not agree with our beliefs and standards.

There is precedent for this kind of living throughout the Bible. As Christians, we do not respond as the world responds.

Proverbs 15:1 NIV

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

We respond with gentle words that reflect the grace and love of God when others come at us with anger.

Proverbs 26:4–5 NIV

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

When we get in arguments with foolish people, we end of up risking sounding foolish.

2 Timothy 2:23 NIV

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

We do not have to defend God or the work of Jesus. We are not enter into endless quarrels. We are called to be people of truth and light- not know for our quarrels, but for the ways that we love.

Closing

Jesus sent his disciples out as sheep among wolves. He told them they would be arrested, flogged, harrassed, and even killed for the sake of the Gospel. The early disciples and church lived with a very real understanding that persecution was a daily occurance. The early church thrived, not on arguing their way to relevance, or by being the biggest bully on the block- they thrived by living out the love of God- even towards those who persecuted them.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer is a hero of mine. He was a German theologian and pastor who trained other pastors during World War II to resist Hitler and his regime and called people to “costly” discipleship. Bonhoeffer taught people to a life of discipleship in the midst of a Nazi government that offered a false and distorted version or image of Christianity. Bonhoeffer said that “Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ.”

Towards the end of his life, Bonhoeffer was considered what it would look like for Christ-centered Christians to rebuild the church in Germany. He wrote: "What the church will need, what our century will need, are not people of genius, not brilliant tacticians or strategists, but simple, straightforward, honest men and women."

We need Christians who will live wisely among wolves. Who will seek truth when the culture around us embraces lies. Who live out love when hatred becomes the expected norm. To live in peace when the world around us thrives off division and fear.

We need the courage to pray the prayer of Henri Nouwen: Give me courage to show the dove in a world so full of serpents.