"Wolf Wolf!"
A very well-known preacher whose services are requested widely among churches of Christ recently made the following statement in a sermon during a protracted meeting:
"Some of my brethren are yelling, Wolf! Wolf!' when there is not a wolf in a thousand miles."
That is a strange utterance to come from anyone who has read either the Bible or secular history to any profit at all. Several in the audience seemed to be pleased with the statement, for they turned and smiled at one another and at some who did not believe the preacher and therefore did not smile.
Many of the warnings are needed no longer, if "there is not a wolf in a thousand miles." But there has never been a time when there was no lion or wolf walking about, "seeking whom he may devour." (1st Peter 5:8)
Jesus never said anything that would justify any man's ever saying "there is not a wolf in a thousand miles." But he himself did cry out, "Wolf! Wolf!" in these words: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." (Matthew 7:15) Do we no longer need this warning of our Lord? We do not, if "there is not a wolf in a thousand miles."
Paul yelled, "Wolf! Wolf!", when he said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, "I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch ye." (Acts 20:29-31) But why watch today, if "there is not a wolf in a thousand miles"?
Many of these wolf!, wolf!, passages appear in both the Old and the New Testaments, and no one should have any trouble in understanding just how far from the teaching of God's word a man is, when he tells the church there is no danger confronting the people of God today.
When the inspired men of God yelled, "Wolf! Wolf!", some tried hard to suppress them. But many of them were courageous men, and could not be suppressed short of killing them. Many of them did forfeit their lives.
Some of our faithful preachers who are warning the brethren of dangers facing the church today are not cowards; they do not get panicky every time they are placed under pressure to hush up; they do not scare easily; and as long as they are able to write or speak, they will not be suppressed, regardless of the "pressure tactics" used against them.