The Enemy Within: 5 Reasons the Church Must Guard Against Internal Dangers
Introduction
When the Apostle Paul prepared to say his final farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus, he did not offer a light recommendation or a casual "goodbye." Instead, he issued a somber and urgent warning that echoes through the centuries to every local congregation today.
In Acts 20:28, he commands:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock..."
This command establishes two clear spiritual responsibilities: first, the leaders must guard their own souls, and second, they must guard the entire congregation. The question we must ask is: Why such an emphasis on "keeping watch"? It is because Paul knew a terrifying truth: the greatest danger to the church would not only come from the world outside, but from the people inside.
I. The Danger of Internal Wolves
Base Text: Acts 20:29–30
Paul declares that "savage wolves" will come, but his most shocking revelation is where they come from: "Even from your own number men will arise."
• The Infiltrator’s Advantage: A false teacher from the outside is easy to spot. But a "wolf" from within has proximity, influence, and the trust of the sheep.
• Doctrinal Truth: False doctrine is often "born" within the pews. It starts with someone who is already sitting in the bench, eating at the potluck, and participating in the ministry.
• Biblical Confirmation: * 1 John 2:18–19: "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us."
◦ Hebrews 3:12: "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart..."
II. The Personal Responsibility of Leadership
Base Text: 1 Timothy 4:16
Before a leader can protect the church, they must protect their own walk. Paul told Timothy: "Watch your life and doctrine closely."
1. Watch the Life: A leader's moral conduct must match their message.
2. Watch the Doctrine: A leader must remain anchored to the Truth.
• The Principle of Integrity: Doctrine without an exemplary life destroys credibility. As Romans 2:21–24 suggests, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of those who preach one thing but do another.
• Doctrinal Standard: Spiritual purity requires moral purity. This is why the requirements for elders are so strict—they must be irreproachable examples to the flock (1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 5:3). If the leadership falls, the church suffers.
III. The Ambition to Drag Disciples Away
Base Text: Acts 20:30; Romans 16:17–18
The goal of internal "wolves" is rarely to serve Christ; it is to serve themselves. Paul warns that they speak twisted things "to draw away disciples after them."
• Motivations of the Self-Server: These individuals are often driven by power, popularity, or financial gain. They do not want people to follow Jesus; they want a personal fan club.
• Their Methods: They use "smooth talk and flattery" to deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. They cause divisions because a divided church is easier to manipulate.
IV. The Warning of the Ephesian History
The history of the church in Ephesus serves as a haunting case study. In Acts 20:31, Paul reminds them that he worked for three years with tears to establish them.
• The Deterioration: Years later, when Paul writes the book of Ephesians, he addresses "the saints" but noticeably fails to mention the elders (Eph. 1:1). Contrast this with his letter to the Philippians, where he explicitly addresses "the overseers and deacons" (Phil. 1:1).
• The Loss of Structure: Biblical history suggests that the organized leadership in Ephesus may have deteriorated due to the very wolves Paul warned about. This is why he eventually had to leave Timothy there—to command certain people not to teach false doctrines (1 Timothy 1:3).
Application: When a church stops being vigilant, its spiritual structure and biblical organization eventually crumble.
V. The Contamination of Internal Bitterness
Base Text: Hebrews 12:15
The danger isn't always a "false teacher"; sometimes it is a "bitter heart."
"See to it... that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
• The Poison of Unbelief: A single person harboring bitterness, rebellion, or worldly philosophy (Colossians 2:8) acts like a spiritual cancer. It spreads through gossip and discontent, defiling many more people than an external persecution ever could.
• Internal vs. External: History shows that the church thrives under persecution but often dies under internal strife.
What Must the Church Do?
The Scripture provides a three-fold mandate for dealing with internal threats:
1. Watch (Vigilad): Be alert. Do not be spiritually naive.
2. Point Out (Señalad): Identify those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine you learned (Romans 16:17).
3. Separate (Apartaos): The Bible is surprisingly firm here. We are told to keep away from believers who are idle or disruptive (2 Thess. 3:6, 14) and not to even welcome those who do not bring the true doctrine into our homes (2 John 9–10).
Key Doctrinal Principle: Tolerance of error is not "love"; it is complicity. Discipline and separation are acts of protection for the truth and for the souls of the weak.
Central Doctrinal Emphasis
The church does not belong to the pastor, the elders, or the founding families. The church belongs to God. As Acts 20:28 reminds us, she was "bought with His own blood." * It is not a platform for personal ambition.
• It is not a space for human ego.
• It is a blood-bought assembly that must be protected at all costs because Christ died for it.
See Also
- How to Become a Friend of God
- What to Do If a Church Member Sins?
- Duality in the Scriptures: Neutrality is an illusion
Conclusion
Paul warned with tears because he knew the value of the flock. He knew that the most dangerous wolf is the one wearing the finest sheep’s clothing. May we be a church that loves deeply, but also one that watches intently. Let us guard the life, guard the doctrine, and guard the flock until the Chief Shepherd appears.
