Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
My kids play a game called Among Us. Don’t judge me as a father, but it’s actually been a fascinating window into human nature. In the game, a group of cartoon characters run around a map completing tasks. They all look similar, and at first, there’s no way to tell who was given the role as the “imposter.” The imposter’s goal is to blend in, pretending to be like everyone else, all while secretly eliminating the other players one by one. The only way players can catch the imposter is through the trail of bodies they leave behind.
Jesus describes a similar picture within the church when he warns us about wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15). Despite the warning that wolves look like sheep, I think most of us assume wolves are easy to spot. We imagine something ferocious and clearly dangerous, but a wolf doesn’t walk into the church with their teeth out. They’re rarely obvious at first. They look like sheep, sound like sheep, and often act just like the sheep. They know how to raise their hands in worship, when to cry at the right story, and when to say “Amen, brother.” They learn the rhythms and language of church culture so well that they can look just like some of the most passionate, broken, gospel-centered Christians in the room. But that’s what makes them so dangerous.
If they blend in this easily, almost at home in church culture, how can we hope to identify them when they’re in our midst?”
Wolves Leave a Trail
Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this reality and provided some insight as to how we might spot them among the flock. In Acts 20:29-30, he says,
“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Notice their aim is to “draw away disciples after themselves.” That’s the agenda of a wolf: drawing people to themselves so that they might consume them.
That’s where the metaphor of a wolf becomes so poignant. Sheep graze on grass. Wolves eat meat, which means when wolves are in the fold, eventually you will find a trail of consumed sheep in their wake. People who are drained, broken, used, and discarded. Just like in the game my kids play, wolves leave behind a multitude of bodies, and that is when they reveal themselves.
Sometimes this looks like spiritual abuse; people who were once vibrant are now silenced, disoriented, and fearful. Sometimes it’s emotional manipulation, love-bombing people until they show signs of thinking for themselves, it’s then that they’re often discarded. Sometimes it’s domineering leadership, where challenges and rebukes can’t be received, because wolves can rarely admit wrong. Instead, they shift blame back onto the very people who dared to bring accountability. The scars from this kind of betrayal can linger for years.
The heartbreaking reality is that wolves often go undetected until the damage is already done. It’s often the case that it’s only when you begin to look at the multitude of broken people left behind that the pattern becomes clear.
The Call to Leaders
This is why pastors and leaders must take Paul’s charge seriously:
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock”
(Acts 20:28). The first call is to us. If we don’t pursue emotional health and spiritual wholeness, we can become predators ourselves. Ministry is a dangerous place for the soul that seeks identity in applause, mission in busyness, or affirmation in the admiration of others. When leaders are unhealthy, the sheep become food for their insecurities. Some rush into every crisis because they need to be the savior. Others avoid conflict at all costs, pushing every challenge onto lower-tier of leaders because they want to be everyone’s friend. Both are forms of self-preservation, not shepherding. And behaviors like these leave the flock vulnerable, not from outside threats but from you.
This danger is not new, though. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel to condemn the shepherds of Israel who fed themselves instead of the flock:
“You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep”
(Ezek. 34:3). They ruled with selfishness and harshness, leaving the weak, the sick, and the straying to fend for themselves. When leaders use the flock to meet their own needs, they repeat the same failure. In doing so, they betray the very heart of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Wolves, in contrast, take life for themselves. The call of every pastor is to be so grounded in Christ that we give life rather than consume it.
Discerning the Flock
This is also why the church must remain discerning. Wolves are revealed by the people they consume. While every healthy church welcomes the broken, those entrusted with leadership must be tested, proven, and rooted in Christ. To tolerate wolves in positions of influence is to endanger the flock. And when wolves are given space, the damage can be devastating. Few wounds cut as deep as church hurt, because the church is meant to be a refuge for the hurting. When people are betrayed at the hands of leaders with whom there is an expectation of spiritual healthiness, it shatters their trust in the one place it is expected to be found. It leaves lasting trauma, and worse, it betrays the very gospel of Christ. Still, Paul’s warning reminds each of us that this is a very real possibility in the life of the church. And for that reason, we should not be caught by surprise that these wolves exist, often within our midsts.
What to Do When You Encounter a Wolf
If you suspect someone may be a wolf, begin with obedience to how Scripture teaches us to engage conflict. Matthew 18 tells us to go to our brother and confront them directly. Often, this is where a wolf reveals their true nature. Instead of humility, they tend to grow defensive and reach for further manipulation. The goal here is always the same: put their accuser on the defensive and, if that doesn’t work, discredit or silence the threat.
If you’re concerned that this might be their response, bring your concerns first to an elder of the church. Share with them your observations, your plan to speak directly to the person, and your concern about their potential response. Lord willing, the suspected wolf will receive you. If they don’t, notify the elder you spoke with and again follow the instructions of Matthew 18, which tells us to bring another with you who has had a similar experience.
Be careful here. The process by which we identify witnesses cannot be telling everyone our experience in order to gather people to agree with us. That is gossip. We are like investigative reporters, asking those we suspect may have similar experiences and listening. From there, we might consider inviting them to join us in bringing testimony.
If done correctly, do not let a wolf accuse you of gossip or divisiveness. Be at peace; this is not what the Bible considers “gossip.” Gossip is a heart posture that delights in rumors to tear others down or to revel in their pain. The hope of Matthew 18 is that of restoration to Christ, through humble repentance and healing. Seeking two or three witnesses who can confirm a pattern of abuse is not gossip; it is obedience to Scripture. We must remember that division is not defined by those who confront sin, but by those who persist in it.
The Sacred Weight of Leadership
So commit to getting healthy, lest you prey on your people. Unhealthy pastors and leaders within the church use the church to feed an insatiable appetite. Leaders who need something from their people will have their decisions clouded by sin and will never be able to love their people effectively. Instead, seek Christ to meet the needs that ministry was never meant to meet. Find safe places to confess your sins, process your wounds, and deal with your insecurities. Otherwise, the ministry itself will dangerously become the place where you consume others in order to try to fill the voids within your soul.
This is the sacred weight of leadership in the church. Paul’s charge remains:
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock”
(Acts 20:28). May we guard both our hearts and our people, that the sheep are fed, and not devoured, and that Christ alone remains the center of our devotion.
Anthony Caiola
Anthony is a pastor, church planter, writer, and consultant who helps churches and leaders build healthy, mission-driven organizations. He serves as the Lead Pastor of Awaken 514 Church and works as a real estate entrepreneur and nonprofit leader, coaching teams to align values, systems, and culture for lasting impact. Originally from the New York Metro area, Anthony now lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
