By the Way: Lambs among the wolves

By Shane Hein on July 12, 2025.

3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

There was a time in the formerly Christian West when it was socially unacceptable to be a wolf in the midst of lambs. That is, there was a time when it was simply assumed that everyone not only belonged to a church but attended worship services quite regularly. Now, it is socially unacceptable to be a lamb in the midst of wolves. Anyone who knows their animals is quite aware that wolves are a whole lot more dangerous to lambs than lambs are to wolves.

That was most certainly the case in Jesus’ time. His Gospel message to the world was barely in its infancy and it was already facing fierce opposition from almost everywhere. He had no intention, though, of sending his followers out into the world without warning them of what they can expect. He tells them quite emphatically that they will indeed be lambs in the midst of wolves.

Wolves are what they are. There is no changing their minds, there is no reasoning with them, there is no compassion or empathy upon which those being sent by Jesus can appeal, the wolves simply act on their pre-programming. The wolves knew back then, as they do today, that if the Christian Gospel message is allowed to reach the ears of the public on anything like a level playing field, any competing message would be at an extreme disadvantage as a result.

Therefore, those who trade in lies must tilt the scales of public discourse heavily against the truth, either through coercion, deception, threats of violence, or violence itself. Only wolves have the cunning, the permission, and the moral ambiguity necessary to make that happen. Lambs do not have that luxury when bringing the truth to the world. Nor do they need it.

All the lambs need in their mission to the world are their trust in their shepherd to help them, guide them, lead them, and protect them from the wolves’ fangs. Those who receive the truth that the lambs will bring will either except it or they will not.

Rev. Shane Hein is pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church

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