Shielding the sheep.

We finished Shiny Happy People, a new documentary about the Duggar family and the IBLP (The Institute in Basic Life Principles).

It's an eye-opening look at the wolves who are using Christ's church to destroy individuals and families, and ultimately, themselves.

But what I find more perplexing than the wolves are the sheep who never seem to sniff the wolves out.

Evil can play with the brain. Satan waits for us to get off course to swoop in and question the truth behind Scripture. He encourages man to twist God's Word just a bit, and when this happens, entities who are no longer following Christ grow larger and tend to pile up innocent victims as they do.

That's why we have to take to heart what John says:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:1)

Take note that Satan is the great deceiver, and so even though someone may verbally claim to know Christ, their spirit (not to mention the fruit that comes from their spirit) won't back up their claim. Hence the repulsive actions of "Christian" cult leaders.

And then we have Matthew:

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

While I've been chewing and digesting this documentary, I happened to meet two women who know what it's like to fall victim to someone claiming to know the Lord. One of them has written a memoir I'm reading right now called Married by Myself, which is really good. I highly suggest reading it if you or somebody you know has had to deal with gaslighting.

And just to put a bright red bow on everything I was processing last week, my husband and I are teaching Emotional Maturity by Randy Gariss on Sunday mornings at our church. It's a fantastic series on exploring the ways we react as human beings and being able to find the roots of our misguided behavior in the dynamics of our childhood families. Mr. Gariss points to 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 where Paul references God making our spirit, soul, and bodies whole and fit for the coming of Jesus. We holistically (and emotionally) need to be healthy in order to administer to others as the Church.

We can only be spiritually mature if we're emotionally mature. And if we're not emotionally mature and hold a position of leadership in the church, then how detrimental to the fabric of what God has intended to be holy and pure.

But God's plan can't and won't be thwarted, so may all of us who know the truth of Scripture be willing to shield the sheep from the dark hearts willing to butcher them.

Ultimately, if we're to be good stewards of our lives, we have to be good stewards of the Word that is entrusted to us and stand guard against what looks sweet but is ultimately bitter. And I'm so thankful for the men and women who are able to speak up against evil but still maintain their faith in the true Christ even in the face of prior manipulation and heartache.

That is unshakable faith, and I know the Lord has and will bless it.