Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! (Philippians 3:02, NKJV).
In ancient Hebrew culture, dogs represented the "unclean", since they were on the long list of dietary prohibitions. They came to signify anything unholy or un-sanctified (e.g.; not set apart for the Lord; something profane).
Evil workers can also be read as, workers of evil, a description of any being who acts in opposition to the "good and perfect will of God".
Mutilation referred specifically to those Judaizers in the early church who compelled others to believe that circumcision and the Mosaic Laws were prerequisites of salvation, but that label also extends to any teaching or school of thought that adds works of any kind to the pure and simple gospel.
Paul fought fiercely with all three of these enemies of the gospel, more than once risking his life, reputation, and freedom to do battle against the anti-gospel forces, and having done so, he is here exhorting us to do the same.
The command to Beware is significant. It implies that, oftentimes, these antagonists creep into the church stealthily, like wolves in sheep's clothing. It is our job as members of the Body of Christ to understand that the threats are not always, or even usually, obvious. Enemy combatants can be subtle, and appealing, and attractive, spouting heresy and encouraging apostasy in the sweetest, most persuasive way possible.
In reality, the only sure inoculation against deceit in these areas is to be so steeped, so immersed, in the truth of God, that any attempt at infiltration sets off doctrinal and spiritual alarms in your heart and mind, like two adjacent piano keys being pounded loudly and discordantly together.
And know that the temptation to compromise or accommodate these forces is an inherent part of our old nature that, until death or rapture, is always at war with our new selves.
The lure of the "unclean" is strong, titillating, and pervasive. The old, fleshly lusts, unless starved into submission, can gain a sudden foothold, causing us to stumble and fall. The only way to effectively guard against such defeat is feed the new nature, transforming the mind with the Word of God, resisting the pressure to conform to this world. And despite any propaganda to the contrary, this world and its human society is getting worse and worse. What was an unthinkable taboo less than a generation ago is common fare today. What was considered brutal murder less than 40 years ago, is now termed innocuously, "reproductive choice". God help us!
Evil workers no longer even bother to disguise much of their depravity and baseness. In fact, evil is often paraded in popular culture like a perverse badge of individualism, desensitizing unwilling spectators to the spectacle. And the influence of the cultural media further inflames this attitude like gasoline on a bonfire. Then there is the less obvious, perhaps even more deadly influence of the so-called philosophy of selective tolerance; "so-called philosophy", because it is presented in terms of rational discourse but is, in reality, a sophistic appeal to moral apathy. It is "selective tolerance" because some things are not tolerated at all, like championing the rights of the unborn, or sexual purity before marriage, or even the God-given institution of marriage, itself.
Lastly, there is the lure of legalism in the believer's life; the comforting adherence to a checklist of do's and don't's, without regard to truth or motive. This appeals to our massive pride in a way that is very difficult to resist, and can serve as a vehicle for feeling spiritually superior, or of earning coveted membership to an elite class or clique.
All these things are tragic impediments to a life of faith. They are stumbling blocks that make our Christian walk a perilous obstacle course. The exhortation here is to know of these things ahead of time so that when inevitably confronted with the pitfalls, we are neither surprised nor unprepared.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- (Ephesians 6:10-18, NKJV).
