Paul Derengowski, ThM
There is an adage we all sometimes hear to try and explain what appears to be obvious, that goes something like this:
If it walks like a duck, and it acts like a duck, and it looks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
In most instances, that is probably true, but it is not necessarily true, especially when it comes to the realms of Christianity and religion.
Because there are all kinds of people who walk like Christians, they act like Christians, and look like Christians, but they are not Christians.
Jesus said they are “ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15) and the Apostle Paul called them “false apostles” and “deceitful workers,” who “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness,” but in reality are the minions of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15).
Now, some ducks, geese, and swan can get a little ornery, depending on the provocation or threat.
We usually do not think about that when we see them floating around in a lake or a pond.
Now, I have never known of any of them to be violent enough to be a murderous thief, which is what the term “ravenous” means in Jesus’ statement.
But, in Christianity and religion there are all kinds of “ducks” walking about, acting and looking like ducks, but are as ugly and violent as any wolf could ever be.
The problem is that the murderous thief has been welcomed into many of our “Christian” institutions (families, churches, schools, etc.) and very few give it a second thought.
If it walks like a duck, acts like a duck, and looks like a duck, then it must be a duck, right?
What about, does it believe like a duck?
Do ducks (i.e. Christians) believe that studying the Bible (not just reading it) is only good for Sunday mornings, if ever, during the coffee and donuts hour?
Do ducks believe that other books or “revelations” have been given by God to correct the Bible, because somewhere along the line of human history, it became corrupted and untrustworthy?
Do ducks believe that God is at the mercy of mankind or that God has no right to do with His creation as He sees fit until He garners approval from humanity?
Do ducks believe that God only helps those who help themselves?
Do ducks believe that if humans will simply try hard enough, they will not only prove to God how worthy they are of heavenly bliss one day, but they can actually become little deities themselves, ruling alongside God?
The answers to each question is a definitive no!
Yet, not only are our churches full of such ducks, who believe in those kinds of nonsense, those same churches are being led by religious quacks, whom the ducks absolutely love, because they are telling the brood exactly what it wants to hear.
Worse yet, there are too many lame duck Christians, who do not believe in all the demonic nonsense, yet sit on their feathers and do nothing.
So, the next time you happen to hear the old adage bandied about, stop and think for a moment and ask yourself, “Is that necessarily true?”
Are those who walk like a duck, act like a duck, and look like a duck, necessarily ducks?
Because in the realms of Christianity and religion, that duck just might be wolf covered in down.
