"2. Wolves have their own vision. Senior leaders make mistakes when they think division in their ranks only comes from gossip or slander. There is more division in churches and organizations than most leaders realize because its covert operation is not based on slander but on hidden agendas. Any person who perpetuates their own vision within the overarching vision of a church or organization is in fact a divisive person and a wolf in sheep's clothing." -- Joseph Mattera
Says no biblical passage anywhere. The real danger here of course is in not teaching what wolves actually are and what they do. Having a "different vision" is a carnal argument. No one gets to heaven and is turned away because they had a different vision than their pastor. That is because there is only one vision for the church and it is called the Gospel. If someone comes into your church with a different gospel -- that is a wolf! Yet to the NAR mindset, anyone divisive is a wolf in sheep's clothing. How utterly ridiculous. The purpose driven church teaches pastors to blessedly subtract these disagreeable folks right out of their churches anyway. This is why there are so many wounded Christians roaming the Christian landscape; because the man charged with being their shepherd chose to hold to a vision instead of a shepherd's staff.
"3. Wolves are not ministerially accountable and walk in the dark. Any person or secondary leader who doesn't allow their overseer to see what kind of work they are doing, gets annoyed when asked for reports, shuns honest open relationships and accountability or obstructs usual communication systems is potentially a wolf in the making." -- Joseph Mattera
Mattera seems awfully concerned about his authority not being challenged. This is the modus operandi for the NAR infected churches as well. Granted they are not usually so in your face about it as they prefer to claim the pastor or prophet are "anointed" and thus untouchable by the mere common folk rabble of churchianity. This is the aforementioned cult of personality paradigm. The sheep are conditioned to follow the man of God instead of God himself. Sounds too harsh you say? Try having a biblical conversation with a Joel Osteen follower or a Joseph Prince adherent as to why their pastor is wrong about anything.
"4. Wolves are not authentic because they attempt to look like sheep. People who are not authentic to themselves are candidates for turning on others at any given time. If you are not true to yourself and to whom God made you, you will not be true to other people. Wolves wear sheep's clothing because they attempt to fit into the overall scheme and structure of an organization or church. That is to say, they fit right into all of the cultural norms of their surroundings. For example, if they are in a church, they will regularly attend church services and leadership meetings, pay their tithes, perform ministry tasks and attempt to outwardly excel in spiritual disciplines more than anyone else. Most pastors are preaching every Sunday to a percentage of people who are wolves since they have no discernment, or because their church is too large for them to smoke the wolves out. Given time, wolves will attempt to position themselves in some way for more influence so, generally speaking, a senior leader will eventually find out who these people are." -- Joseph Mattera
Sigh. Wolves come dressed in sheep's clothing simply to fool the sheep. To convince them they are one of them. For the NAR and Mattera the goal is to usurp their power and authority but the reality is far worse. The wolf seeks to devour the sheep of the Lord. He seeks to lead them astray with false teachings and prophecies. He seeks to shackle them to these false teachings and make them prisoner to it. There is perhaps nothing sadder the conversing with someone who has bought a false theology and serves a false Christ. Jesus says that if we convince ourselves that our darkness is light -- how deep is that darkness! You see beloved, the unsaved can always respond to the prompting and drawing of the Holy Spirit through the preached Word but if you think you are already saved and are not it is far more difficult.
"5. Wolves position themselves to be close to those in power. As stated in the previous point, wolves crave proximity to power. They will attempt to garner favor with the senior leader by acts of service, sacrifice, financial giving and flattering the leaders among them who are the most susceptible to false praise. For example, if the senior leader is not accessible enough, wolves will work to attach themselves to secondary leaders they perceive have influence with the senior leader. They do this to curry favor with the secondary leader so they can slowly build another infrastructure loyal to a subversive agenda instead of to the senior leader and the vision of the organization." -- Joseph Mattera
Wow, it sounds like Mattera has dealt with a lot of unsavory Christian leaders in his time. That does not change the bible however. Notice the prevailing thread. He is the leader and he alone has the vision. Anyone coming against that vision must be a wolf. The reality is real wolves do not crave to be next to power at all. They wish to deceive. They wish to lead followers after themselves and away from Jesus Christ. The damage they inflict is eternal in nature not this hodgepodge of carnal subterfuge and strategic disobedience. Beloved this is the true effect of the NAR teachings. It is overly concerned with this life and this world instead of the kingdom yet to come. The vision of Joseph Mattera is the same as for all purpose driven pastors -- to build their individual church; all for Jesus of course -- wink wink. The purpose for which Jesus bled and died however is eternal. Wolves do not come to muck up the temporal race for pastor of the year. They come to steal, kill and destroy the eternal hope of Jesus Christ.
