I recently saw a video that was both funny and serious. It also showed some brilliant police work.
It showed the arrest of a couple of men in Peru. They were being led away by people dressed as team mascots. One was an eagle. Another was a big, cuddly bear. A third was an animal I didn’t recognize, but it had a big smile on its face.
The men being arrested were notorious drug dealers. They had been responsible for much death and destruction in the country, but they were arrested by people dressed up as cute, nonthreatening animals. The drug traffickers were not happy, but the faces on the costumes of the arresting officers made me laugh. I wondered how these hardened criminals felt being handcuffed in public by people dressed like that.
The announcer said that these animals were famous mascots of various professional soccer teams in Peru. The video showed these oversized, furry animals breaking down doors with special equipment before the arrests took place.
It was funny, but why did the police dress up in those silly outfits?
After a little reflection, the answer is obvious. Narcotraffickers are cautious people. They understand that the authorities are looking for them. They have guards who keep a lookout for any official-looking people. Both men arrested had, no doubt, often escaped during prior arrest attempts. They saw the police coming before they could get too close.
These men, like most men in Peru, were soccer fans. What danger could a person in an overstuffed bear costume present? They could even share a laugh and talk about the man in the costume that would appear to be a fan of the same soccer team as the criminal.
In these outfits, the police were able to approach the homes where those men were staying. If the criminals saw them out the window, they would not feel the need to flee. They would have laughed and told their partners to look outside. When those cute animals brought out the tools and weapons needed to make that arrest, it was too late. Murderers met their fate at the hands of an innocent-looking foe.
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul warns the believers in Corinth about some men in their midst. These men, with their teaching, pose a danger to the church. They have transformed themselves (dare I say, “dressed up”?) to appear as innocent servants of the Lord. They seem harmless but are not. Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that even Satan can appear harmless. He can dress up like an angel, or messenger, of light (2 Cor 11:14).
The reason Satan operates that way is obvious. He wants to disguise himself so that those he wants to influence are caught off guard. Like the Peruvian policemen in animal outfits, they do not want to appear in a way that reveals their true identity.
Some false teaching is obvious. If a Mormon comes to our door, there is no mask involved. Charlatans on TV offering miraculous healings or financial windfalls if you send in money, are easy to spot. We would certainly be on guard if a Bible teacher were leading a study while under the influence of drugs.
But sometimes, false teachers wear costumes. They don’t warn us of the danger they present. They wear a suit and have a successful ministry. They belong to mainstream, respectable Evangelical denominations and have the backing of respected people. They can have large followings and write theological books.
In those situations, it’s easy to let our guard down. We can see no harm in letting them in. We can serve in ministry with them. But teachers like that can teach a false gospel. They can twist the Scriptures. Just because they look harmless doesn’t mean they are. If we are not careful, we and those around us can soon find ourselves accepting what they teach. It would be like being led away in handcuffs by someone wearing a big bear head. The head may even have a stupid smile on its face.
People like me, who saw those arrests on TV, couldn’t help but laugh. But for those duped, it was no laughing matter.
