Under-Shepherds Of The Good Shepherd

In my previous posting I wrote about some of the idols worshipped by Christian pastors. You may feel I am overly judgmental or that I create caricatures. That's OK. At least you are struggling with the point I am trying to make: shepherds called to care for Christ's flock are easily tempted to worship themselves, to be proud and over-bearing, to be so zealous for causes that they become blind to what their very zeal is doing to the sheep they are called to tend. All this is idolatry, what Jeremiah calls the worship of scarecrows in a cucumber patch (Jeremiah 10:5).

For these reasons I want to return to John 10, the Biblical passage that got me going on this topic. Remember that this chapter is a continuation of  Jesus confronting the hypocricy of the Pharisees, those pietistic Jews who condemned him for giving sight to a man who in all his life had never seen or known anything but darkness. Those same Pharisees absolutely refused to acknowledge the wonder of what had happened. Instead they threw the man out and condemned Jesus as a sinner who scorned God's will by working on the Sabbath. So we return to what Jesus said in John 10.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." - Jhn 10:1-5 ESV

I take it that Jesus is talking about how spiritual leaders—pastors or shepherds—gain control of flocks. In the immediate context Jesus addresses the Pharisees who had condemned him for healing that blind man on the Sabbath. They were so zealous to obey every tiny point of the Jewish legal system that they missed the very heart of what God's Word teaches. In other words, they were so wrapped up in proving themselves to the LORD that they forgot his command to "love your neighbor as yourself." And these same Pharisees had great influence among the Jewish population. They were admired, respected and believed to be true shepherds and teachers of the flock of God.

Now along comes Jesus, with his in your face acts of working on the Sabbath when the Law (as they understood it) demanded they rest, pray and do no work whatsoever (cf. Deut. 5:12-15). There are many similar New Testament stories about Jesus "breaking" the Sabbath. Samples:

• Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. - Mark 3:1-6 ESV

• At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." - Mat 12:1-8 ESV

So back to the shepherds or pastors. How do they rightfully enter the sheepfold? Jesus says, "he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." Jesus goes on to interpret his mashal, his parable. He makes several points.

1. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. - John 10:9 ESV
2. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11 ESV
3. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. - John 10:14-15 ESV
4. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. - John 10:16 ESV

Apply what Jesus teaches about under-shepherds called by him to tend God's flock in a particular place and time.

1. The pastor is first and always himself a sheep who may enter God's flock only and ever by the sacrifice of Jesus. The pastor also lives in daily penitence and depends totally upon God's grace and mercy in Christ for his personal salvation. Through and in Jesus he finds nourishment for his soul. His personal relationship with Jesus guides everything he does and teaches, since he realizes that his task as shepherd is to lead each member of his flock to follow Jesus, the one and only Good Shepherd. 
2. Following the pattern set by that same Good Shepherd, the under-shepherd recognizes that his task is to "lay down his life for the sheep." His calling is to tend that particular flock committed to his charge. He is to use each and every gift he has to care for his flock. He dare not neglect his flock to focus instead upon some other cause, however worthy he thinks it may be.
3. That further implies that he learns to "know" his flock. This means that he becomes personally acquainted with the members of his flock. He visits them, prays for and with them, teaches them, sorrows and rejoices with them. He is their pastor. They are his sheep. 
4. And then he turns to the world around him, because he knows that Jesus has other sheep that are not of this particular fold. Whether they are many or but one, he is committed to bringing them also into the flock of God. This will involve leading them also to see their sin and receiving Jesus as their one and only Savior. "So there will be one flock, one shepherd." 

I need to discuss further that relationship of the members of the flock to the pastor placed over them, but that must wait until the next time. 

What's A Stupid Shepherd?

In my last post I said that we need to take a long look at pastoral leadership. That conclusion was based upon Jesus' mashal in John 10.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. - Jhn 10:1-6 ESV

It is common for Christians of all denominations to call their spiritual leaders pastors or shepherds, based upon this parable and the various other references to God's people as sheep led by shepherds found throughout the Scriptures. During my own better than 50 years of pastoral work I have struggled to grasp the full intent of God's Word in that work. I have not. I remain in the same place as I was in when I first began: forced to rely upon the grace and forgiveness of Christ. Nevertheless, seeing ourselves as either shepherd or sheep, it is useful to review what that Word says about this office. Let's begin with a passage that rebukes false shepherds. a passage we might call "scarecrows in a cucumber patch."

For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it." Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it." My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and to set up my curtains. For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered. - Jer 10:18-21 ESV

Jeremiah was a prophet of Judah in the seventh century before Christ. During his lifetime Israel was destroyed by the Babylonians and the people led away as slaves. Jeremiah warned them of this impending fate, but was beaten and imprisoned for his teachings, most especially because he dared to rebuke their stupid shepherds.

What is a stupid shepherd? Jeremiah answers. A stupid, unthinking shepherd is one who does not inquire of the LORD. Instead of turning to the LORD, the true, living and everlasting King of all the earth, he turns to idols created by men. Believe me, there are plenty of idols around to tempt those of us called into the office of shepherd or pastor. Each and every one of them is rightly called a scarecrow in a cucumber patch (Jer. 10:5 ESV). Here are a few examples of idols we shepherds are tempted to worship. There are many others besides these.

• Traditions - This pastor loves liturgical traditions: the bells, whistles, candles and smoke of days gone by. He is enraptured by vestments, processions, incense, kneeling, crossing himself, etc. These symbols and practices have served to teach and bless the church of the ages. He applauds himself for being very historically and liturgically correct. He does not comprehend why some do not want to join him in his correctness. He is simply being true to the traditions of the church, regardless of what those very traditions may be doing to scatter, divide and even destroy the flock of God he has been called to shepherd. 

• Contemporary life - This is the opposite scarecrow. This shepherd scorns all that old stuff. He insists on being modern, with it, contemporary. He will reach out to the world around him, meet people where he believes they are and draw them into God's kingdom. So he comes to an established flock and at once rejects anything even remotely known as liturgical. The very word is disgusting to him. He pulls together a praise band and puts a stop to all things traditional. He always dresses in blue jeans and T-shirts, along with all the other modern folk. His worship services are best done in a gymnasium, with people sitting around tables sipping cokes and coffee and bouncing around to the sounds of rock music. It does not matter to this shepherd what he does to families who despise his approach. He applauds himself for reaching out to people in the modern world. If those tired, old, tradition-bound folks don't like what he's doing, well, they can go somewhere else. 

• Psychology - By this I refer to the shepherds whose exclusive emphasis is upon teaching people to get along with one another and lead successful lives. His source of wisdom and knowledge is modern psychological textbooks, seminars, videos and groups. He is all wrapped up in sermon series on how to overcome alcoholism, drug addiction, relate to your spouse, raise kids, guide your teens, become all you can be, etc., etc. He brings in experts for seminar after seminar. He invites the community to join with his flock in these gatherings. Everything he does and teaches is based upon some new psychological, sociological university study or the work of a world-renowned guru. Certainly he encourages people to pray, but his true emphasis is upon getting in touch with your inner self and learning to relate to others. 

• Create a just world - This pastor insists upon leading his people to engage the world. There is so much racial prejudice, drug addiction, child abuse, divorce, broken families, political greed and police brutality. He insists that he and his flock march against these things, change the laws, save the children and feed the poor. This shepherds speaks out at city councils, goes on marches to Washington and raises money to support political action groups. He is consumed by the desire to create a just and righteous world. He devotes most of his energy and life to such just causes. 

All of the above pastors are certain in their hearts that what they are doing is what they have been called to do. Yet Jeremiah would stand against them for scattering their flocks. He would demand that each pastor ask himself what God's Word says. Is he entering the sheepfold by climbing over the wall rather than by going through the door? Is he teaching his flock first and always to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd? 

More on this next time. 

Teachers of God's Word Are God's Gift To Us

We've been taking another look at spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, the church. We turn now to the second pair of texts commonly used in any discussion of gifts. However, before we go further it is vital that we take a look at the several Greek words translated into English as gift.

• Charisma—What is usually called a spiritual gift (1 Cor. 1:7, 12:4-31), including faith, healing, prophecy, tongues, etc. Love (Agape) is the greatest of the three eternal gifts that include faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13). 
• Charisma—Also used to speak of salvation. The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 5:15-16, 6:23). Refers to God's mercy toward both Jews and Gentiles. He is the Giver of all things (Rom. 11:29-36). 
• Dōma—Gifts parents give to their children (Matt. 7:11). Sometimes gifts are given and receivers are expected to return the favor (Phil. 4:17), something Paul did not seek. 
• Dōsis—Gifts churches give to support others (Phil. 4:15). A good thing, like Doma, that comes down from God the Father (James 1:17; Matt. 7:11). 
• Dōron—God's free gift is that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8; Rom 3:24). Because we have received this gift by grace (charis), in gratitude and praise we offer back our lives (bodies) to God as as living sacrifices  (Rom. 12:1). 
• Dōrehma—Any free gift, also called a complete or perfect gift, from the heavenly Father (James 1:17; Rom. 5:16). 
• Dōrea—The Holy Spirit, the living water (John 4:10; Acts 2:38). Grace is also called a Dōrea (Rom 3:24, 5:15). 

The Apostles and Evangelists exhaust their vocabulary in speaking about gifts in order to emphasize that everything, everything we have is a gift, undeserved, unearned and certainly something that can never be given back to God as a way of earning His mercy and forgiveness. As Paul says, 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Rom 11:33-36 ESV (cf. Job 41:11). 

With this clearly in mind, we turn to Ephesians 4. We have each received God's grace, says the Apostle. How and when God measures out that grace is in God's hands. Whatever gifts we have are truly gifts, unearned and undeserved (Eph.4:7). We are therefore urged to use our gifts to serve one another as stewards or managers. So Peter writes, confirming what Paul has said,

As each has received a gift (charisma), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: - 1Pe 4:10 ESV

 Paul continues, 

Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts (Dōmata) to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) - Eph 4:8-10 ESV

What particular gifts (Dōmata) does the ascended Christ give to His people, His body, the church? He lists four groups of people:

1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Shepherd-teachers (pastors)

Remember how Paul emphasizes the importance of Apostles, Prophets and Teachers in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 12:28)? These people bring the Word of God to the Body. The Spirit works through that Word to create, sustain and strengthen faith in Christ (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 4:15). Faith in Christ is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's gift. All and everything is God's gift. And since God does everything through His Word, those called to proclaim and teach God's Word are
absolutely essential to the body. Their task, writes the Apostle, is

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Eph 4:12-16 ESV

The body is how Christ manifests Himself here on this earth (1 Cor. 12:27). This body is a living organism made up of many members. The head of the body is Christ Himself (Eph. 5:23). We each are members of His body, joined and held together by the joints, the places and times where and when we come together. Nurtured and nourished by the Spirit through the Word, we grow together into Christ. And as the body of Christ we strive together to share the message of God's love so that others too may receive the grace of God.

Part of the difficulty we face in dealing with this particular text in the context of our discussion of spiritual gifts is the disagreement about this list of four gifts. Are they offices in the church? Are the bishops or overseers (Acts 20:28) the people who have inherited the office of the apostles? Did Christ establish a distinctive ordering of those called into these offices? And what about those spiritual gifts discovery tools that suggest that any member of the church may potentially have the gift of pastor or teacher or prophet or apostle?

To answer these and related questions would take us far, far afield. We'd have to review the long history of clergy vs. laity, the teaching about vocations and callings and the distinctions between various levels of clergy. I'm not going there. Perhaps another day.

Suffice it to say for now that in Ephesians 4 Paul emphasizes the vital importance of those who proclaim and teach the Word of God in the body of Christ. Through those gifted by the Holy Spirit and called to these tasks the Spirit strengthens and grows the body to maturity. These people are gifts for which we give thanks and praise to God. We could not survive without them.

Shepherds and Signs

We've been attending a new mission congregation some 40 miles from our house. The folks in that little church are very excited about what they're doing. This weekend some of the few teens sat for hours as a live Nativity scene beside the church building the congregation is renting. As I looked at their patient witness I thought back to that first Christmas and the shepherds. To mind came the words of the angel, "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:11). It's that sign thing that intrigues me. Are we (non-shepherds) still able to follow signs? And how do we know a sign when it comes along?

Diane S. Dew has a very extensive list of Bible verses referring to signs and wonders. She claims that a sign is the same as a miracle and a miracle is something our science cannot explain. I realize, however, that such a view may be too simplistic. Signs and miracles are not necessarily the same thing. I suggest that you study her list and draw your own conclusions about signs.

The Scriptures are clear that we are not to follow the example of many Jews in Jesus' day by demanding signs. When they pushed him for signs --though he'd already given them many -- he replied that they were spiritually and ethically diseased, wicked and evil. Their motives were entirely messed up. They would get nothing from him but the sign of the prophet Jonah, who was vomited out of a fish's belly after three days. This was a reference to Jesus' own upcoming resurrection.

The point is clear. We don't go around looking for and demanding signs in order to believe. Our Lord gives us signs when and where He decides we need them. They point the way. In fact, for believers in Jesus, signs are the very norm of our lives. They're always with us. They always accompany us, precisely because we're under His care and guidance.

This is to say that Jesus shows us the path we are to take, day by day. He is the gentle and good Shepherd who leads us. The signs show us where to go, just as they did for the Christmas shepherds. With eyes of faith wide open we see Him pointing out the path we are to take and why we are to trust Him. We follow because we know He is leading. We hear His voice and pin our hopes on Him.


That must have been one of the several reasons why the angels told shepherds to follow the sign leading them to the Savior. As shepherds they knew about leading and following. I only pray that our hearts are equally open to the leading of the Good Shepherd this Christmas and throughout the year before us. "Savior, like a shepherd lead us . . ."