Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote ancient philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated, “There’s nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straightforward, and well meaning it should show in your eyes and not escape notice” (page 317).

I often contend with appeals to objective morality and moral absolutism used by Stoics, as I don’t maintain that people are good, bad, or otherwise. We’re merely fallible human beings who are capable of behaving well, poorly, and otherwise. Of such behavior, one source states:

A wolf in sheep’s clothing is an idiom from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount as narrated in the Gospel of Matthew. It warns against individuals who play a deceptive role. The gospel regards such individuals (particularly false teachers) as dangerous.

Fables based on the idiom, dated no earlier than the 12th century CE, have been falsely credited to ancient Greek storyteller Aesop (620–564 BCE). The confusion arises from the similarity of themes in Aesop’s Fables concerning wolves that are mistakenly trusted, with the moral that human nature eventually shows through any disguise.

In the modern era, zoologists have applied the idiom to the use of aggressive mimicry by predators, whether the disguise is as the prey itself, or as a different but harmless species.

For clarity, in Matthew 7:15, Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Noteworthy, John 5:22 states, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”

For context, the American Psychological Association defines judgement as “the capacity to recognize relationships, draw conclusions from evidence, and make critical evaluations of events and people.” Of this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled Judgment:

REBT theory recognizes global evaluation as the process whereby a person unnecessarily and severely judges oneself, others, and life. Perhaps I may unhelpfully believe, “If I can’t communicate effectively in this blogpost, then I’m worthless as a psychotherapist.”

About this unhelpful process, one REBT source discourages such evaluation and states, “If you still want to rate yourself, judge yourself against conditions that do not change in your lifetime, think of yourself as worthwhile because you are human, alive, unique and constantly changing.”

Ergo, judgement isn’t something from which REBT practitioners abstain. Rather, we’re encouraged to judge rationally (in accordance with both logic and reason) rather than irrationally. Thus, I know that I’m not worthless when communicating ineffectively.

Herein, I’ve made a case against misinterpretation of biblical wisdom while also advocating Stoic judgement in the interest of rational living.

In that post, I noted how the common assertion that “only God can judge me” is inaccurate. Clearly, the Bible outlines that Jesus is the prescribed judge of imperfect humans—if one chooses to believe in Christian dogma. Of course, some Christians believe Jesus is Jehovah.

So even regarding religion, there’re a lot of evaluations and appraisals of people who differ on their views about Christianity. For example, regarding my former Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs, a Catholic may say, “Deric is bad, because he doesn’t believe that the Father and Son are one!”

Also, a Muslim who learns that I’m agnostic (a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality, such as a supreme being, is unknown and probably unknowable) may say, “Deric is evil, because he’s a nonbeliever!” I reject the framing of human judgment regarding one another.

I’m not my beliefs or ideas. Likewise, I’m not my behavior. Therefore, regarding Aurelius’ reference to a “wolf befriending a sheep,” there are no bad, evil, or wolfish people. Adopting Jesus’ view, that there people who “come to you in sheep’s clothing,” I concur.

Flawed individuals are capable of misrepresenting their actions. Given this distinction, I now invite you to consider how you behave. Do you want to act wolfishly? How about sheepishly? Moreover, are your actions misrepresentations of your actual intentions? Think about it.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use

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