Sheep, Goats and Wolves

By Becky Melendez  

“ And before him shall be gathered all nations: And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:32-33

Flocks - Church congregations.
Sheep - Obedient Christians.
Goats - Those who agitate and cause turmoil.
Wolves - Those who are carnal causing division, strife and schism. 
Shepherds - Pastors.

You do want to be a good little sheep.  Don’t you?

Characteristics of Sheep

A.  Avoid strife, envy, malice, dissension, arguing, gossip and doctrinal arguments.   

B.  Submitted to the pastor and those in leadership positions in the church.

C.  Love going to church, the same church, all the time.

D.  Love to hear the Word preached.

E.  Don’t care how long the service lasts.

F.  Love to plant their treasure's in the kingdom of God. (Time, money, prayer.)

G.  Receive admonishing and correction from the pastor and church leadership easily.

H.  Content where God has them and not jealous of someone with a higher 
position than they.

Characteristics of a Goat

He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. Proverbs 26:24-26

A.  Agitate others in the flock and easily drawn by other agitators.

B.  Always gossiping.

C.  Twist the Word to fit their selfish ideals.

D. Voice feelings of disagreement toward the pastor in a disrespectful manner..

E.  Have trouble making it to church.

F.  Have trouble sitting under one pastor and being content to be part of only one church?  (Church hoppers.)

G.  Find ways (excuses) to exempt themselves from the system set up in the church.

H. Have trouble being admonished and corrected by church leaders.

Characteristics of a Wolf

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18

A.  Have a inward drive to have a chief seat or high position in the church without being submitted to anyone.

B.  Drawn to strife and carnal things easily.

C.  Get in trouble and disagreement with church leadership and be unable to work out the problem. "We'll just start our own church, or go somewhere else."

D.  Not inwardly submitted to the pastors.

E.  Angry or resentful at offering time or showoff at offering time.

F.  Try to put down the pastor’s teachings and draw people after themselves.

G.  Sly, sneaky and deceitful in their attitude and actions.

H. Gather security from people who support their views.

You may be a sheep with goat like or wolfish attributes.  Ask and allow the Good Shepherd (Jesus) to help you change.

For additional study read: John 10:1-30, Ezekiel 34 and Romans 13:1-7