Matt 7:15-16 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing,but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." AND 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord,Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!"

I don't think there is any born again believer in Christ that has not suffered disillusionment in church. As new believers, we put our trust in those more mature believers to guide us and direct us in our faith and as in any time that we put faith and trust in other human beings, we are let down. The organized church can also be a downright hostile environment for those who have truly been born again. I too suffer disillusionment and long for purer, truer fellowship and am often disgruntled to the point of just quitting.

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God often disciplines me by allowing me to have my way for a bit and I see his hand in my current situation. God has allowed me to have an illness that precludes me from attending church and I have been home every Sunday since September and by my isolation, He has given me a truer insight to Christian fellowship and its importance.

Now that I've been away for awhile, I am beginning to forget the things that steal my joy in worship. I don't like most of the traditions for they seem to cloud the truth and exclude those that I would like to include. I don't like the weight that is put upon what man must do to be good and would prefer to hear about what God does in the lives of common men and women through faith in Jesus Christ. All this tends to fade in time and what comes to mind are the people. I wonder how Pauline is doing with all the burdens she must bear and I miss her hugs. I miss sitting with Danny and Andrea as I have for years and blending my voice with theirs as we worship the Lord in song. I miss Patty and Don and their steadfast encouragement. I miss Vickey, my weary Martha who can never say no. I miss Peggy and Bobby and their familiar, "How are you, hon?" and more hugs. Oh, how I miss those hugs! Then the thought hits me. I don't hate church. I love the church and I need the church. I have allowed the wolves to steal my joy in worshiping with these dear people.

The wolves love organizations for in them they find an audience for their religious show. They love to control and impose burdens upon those who have been made free in Christ. They love to make a show of their holiness and make rules of their own personal practices to impose on others that they might glory in their flesh. They seek to build ministries on the backs of the saints and scower the community for workers to build their small kingdoms. All the while saying, Lord look what we have done in your name!

These wolves can come in the form of pastors but not always. They also come as laymen or University Presidents or song leaders. They are not known by title, office, or the lack thereof but by their fruits. The fruits of the Spirit are of the Spirit and can not be generated by carnal men. They are able to disguise themselves as Christians, as sheep but they are unable to change their inward condition and as all carnal men,they seek not the things of God but only that which serves themselves. They are known by the way in which they tack on the name of God to give authenticity to their own will. They don't serve the Will of God because they can't. The only hope for them is our only hope too, that being saving faith in Jesus Christ.

The wolves can have what they want. The traditions, the organizations, the programs, and the ministries that bring them glory. They have their reward now. However, they can no longer have my joy in worshipping with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I will no longer allow them to devour me but will seek refuge in my Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He Who protects me from the wolves without will also protect me from the wolves within. I resting safely in Jesus, will seek to love and in unison lift Jesus with fellow believers where ever we may be.

There is no organization of man that can contend with Jesus and win. Where ever I join with another in Christ, there He will be also. That can be in my home, in a church of any denomination, or in any workplace. We who are in Christ are the living stones of the church. We can't be destroyed nor contained within any human organization. We mustn't allow the wolves to keep us from meeting together and enjoying the true fruits of the Spirit as together, we seek to do the Will of God.

Don't be like me, afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and the joy of knowing Jesus and share that joy with one another; those of us who are the beloved of Christ. We are His church the bride that will be presented without blemish or spot. Though man's imitation will fail and crumble to the dust as all things of man, we will be made eternal and made to dwell where there will no longer be any wolves. Ours is the victory in Christ!