Hope you all had a great XMAS. Begin your year the right way by reading David Platt’s RADICAL…and enjoy the following message from Steven Colbert’s 2010 Christmas Special.
Feed Me, But DON’T LEAD ME!
Jeff Kline:
”I left because I just wasn’t being fed.” …Have you ever seen a shepherd force feed a sheep? No! It is not the shepherds job to feed the sheep. It is the shepherds job to lead the sheep into a pasture/ an environment that is safe and fruitful enough for them to feed themselves.
(Inspired by an afternoon with Pastor Dustin McCuen http://www.christchurchmonroe.org/)
August 24 at 12:29pm
P.J.P.
Well if that Shepard leads the sheep into a barren dry wasteland pasture then the sheep would be correct in saying “I left because I just wasn’t being fed.” …just a thought
August 24 at 12:43pm
E.M.
That’s awesome, so true! That’s my Pastor! :)
August 24 at 12:45pm ·
B.L.
Actually, sometimes a shepherd does have to force feed the sheep. Have you seen the Last American Cowboy? Saw a special on it
August 24 at 1:11pm
J.O.
Whoever said that the point of church was to be fed? Sounds a bit self centered to me.
August 24 at 1:12pm
B.L.
I’m sorry Jeff but have you ever even lived on a farm/ranch? Do you know anything about real sheep? And can we speak about humans in human terms instead of metaphors concocted thousands of years ago? What are you actually saying here?
August 24 at 1:18pm
J.O.
Who cares about the sheep? I think the statement is pretty simple. The pastor’s job is not to individually force feed each and every member of the church, the people need to learn to fend for themselves, and the pastor is to provide help in that process along the way.
August 24 at 1:21pm
P.J.P.
lol
August 24 at 1:47pm
P.J.P.
Jeff? What are you actually saying? Look what you started man…lol Love ya bro…interesting thought…brings up a good meaty conversation about the role of sheep and pastors I mean Shepard’s…and people or? Wait I’m confused now…lol
August 24 at 1:51pm
R.W.
I totally get it and get your heart, Jeff.
August 24 at 2:17pm
Jeff Kline:
Well, the analogy worked for Christ and I see no reason why it should no longer be valid now.
It is straight forward and simple. Being fully versed in the Torah, Jesus knew what David had written about Him in Psalm 23, that He was the Good Shepherd that led His followers into green pastures and beside quiet waters. So in John 21:15 Jesus commissions the very first church leader, Peter, by telling him to “Feed my lambs.”
Pastors have now been known as shepherds and church members their flocks.
My only point in posting the update is to bring the question mark to the now cliche answer in the body of Christ for why one congregation member leaves a church body…”I just wasn’t being fed.”
Listen, Horses are given feed bags, dogs are given bowls, but sheep are grazing animals. They are self feeders and I am pretty confident that the creator of sheep was well aware of this fact when He used the analogy to commission Peter.
We also need to be self feeders. If I am not being transformed into the likeness of Christ, I need to first examine my own prayer life, worship life, devotional life, pursuit of holiness, etc. before I so quickly blame my leadership.
It is always easier to blame someone else for our lack of success and progress than to own up to our own lack of pursuit or even discipline.
People leave churches and God calls us to new seasons. But the epidemic of todays all to common church swaps cannot be with any integrity100% accredited to the voice of God.
August 24 at 3:00pm
B.F.
Well said Jeff!
August 24 at 10:10pm
P.J.P.
You have some valid points Jeff and I can tell you are well versed and have done a great deal of study in the scriptures, I can see how we can use the analogy based on scripture that “Jesus” was a good Shepard, but how does that translate into all “Pastors” being shepherds as well I wonder how did that common understanding develop and become accepted among believers and what is it based on?
Jeff - What do you think the real issue is often times when church members leave a congregation saying, “I just wasn’t being fed?” And how are you addressing those issues as an appointed leader in a church congregation?
I agree when you are not successful it is easier to blame someone other than yourself than take responsibility for your own actions…But do you think there is ever a situation where it is justifiable to blame church leadership for anything at all?
August 24 at 11:00pm
B.L.
Assuming Pastors = Shepherds What do you do after you’ve been feeding, and after you’ve examined your own life of prayer, worship, devotion and pursuit of holiness? After all that, and you’re still not being transformed into the likeness of Christ, then are you being quick to blame anyone at all?
August 25 at 12:00am
K.W.M.
That’s a really good point Jeff! I don’t think I can view the “not being fed” excuse as valid anymore. Because it brings into light the responsibility for each believer to be a self feeder as well.
I see duality in the idea that a Pastor is responsible forwhether or not you’re “eating”, then should also be chastised for being controlling. I think the “leading to the pasture” is a good depiction because a Pastor in preaching the Word is merely showing, or reminding those listening of the Truth. Not forcing them to believe it or feed themselves with it.
Remember the other (and equally as important) role of a “shepherd” is to watch for the wolves in sheep’s clothing, false doctrine masquerading as Truth.
P.J.P. - Hey Bro! I don’t believe that pastors should be immune to accountability for their actions either. I would hold them accountable if there was false or distorted Truth being taught in their congregation while they did nothing. And I would hold them accountable if they preached sermons that lacked substance from the Word. There are many Pastors I could name who are much more like self-help gurus than “shepherds”.
I use a lot of quotations around the word shepherd because I feel the term has been distorted in our attempt to apply it.
August 25 at 6:40pm
Samson Slays A Lion On The Road To Timnah
Men were designed to do what is right…not what is easy. We were designed to subdue prowlers and break the jaws of the predators of our generation.
Neutrality, passivity, self indulgence, self preservation and entitlement are not realms inhabited by those who are true men. These are instead the bronze shackles of enslaved men who’s eyes have been gouged out and who no longer remember who they are.
The good news of this post is that I can testify to the love of a Father who lives to restore His sons to glory.
…before long, his hair began to grow back. (Judges 16:22)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2016:20-31&version=NLT
Meditations on the Life and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
A devout prayer for the forgiveness of sins, and for resignation, and the love of Jesus. - chapter 25
O Most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, behold I, a wretched and vile sinner, cast myself, with all the humility that I can, into Thy footprints, and with entire faith and full trust in Thy measureless goodness, and with inward sorrow for all my sins, with deep sighs, bitter contrition, and burning tears, I confess to Thee all the iniquities of my past life. O gracious Jesus, by Thine infinite mercy, have pity on me, I pray; open to me the bowels of Thy loving-kindness; turn to me, a poor sinner, and guilty worm of earth, the eyes of Thy divine grace and clemency. For to whom, O sweet Jesus, laden as I am with, and buried in, numberless sins, can I fly for refuge, save to Thee, who art full of mercy? Therefore, all my evils, all my ingratitude, sensuality, anger, disobedience, levity, want of mortification, and lust; all these together I throw into the abyss of Thy divine mercy and grace, and into the sacred and bleeding Wounds which in this horrible torment Thou hast received for my salvation; and I pray Thee, O my God, that Thou wouldst so wash away all these in Thy precious and most pure Blood, that no remembrance of them may endure before Thee.
O loving Jesus, my only comfort, I come to Thee with the full and earnest desire of loving Thee fervently, and of avoiding all that may draw me away from Thy love, so that I may deserve to be made one with Thee in affection, and will, and love. For Thou art all my hope; Thou art my consolation and my refuge. However much I may be troubled and cast down by my sins, yet am I no less gladdened and lifted up by Thy measureless goodness, and the merits of Thy most Sacred Passion. For whatever I have done wrong, hath been blotted out by Thy most bitter Death. Whatever is wanting to me, is abundantly filled up in me by the merits of Thy most holy Incarnation and Passion. And although my sins be great and numberless, yet are they little when compared with Thy measureless mercy. Wherefore, I trust in Thy infinite goodness, that Thou wilt never suffer me to perish, whom Thou hast created to Thine own image and likeness. Oh! despise me not, whose flesh, and blood, and brother, Thou hast vouchsafed to become. I hope, too, that Thou wilt never condemn me, whom Thou hast redeemed with such labour, and bought for so dear a ransom. O gentle Jesus! in Whom my soul trusteth, and Whom from the most inward marrow of my heart, I desire to love, make me now to feel Thy tenderness and loving-kindness, for Thou art not ignorant of my frailty. Thy Father in heaven judgeth no man, but He hath given over all my sins to Thy judgment. The Holy Spirit also hath given all judgment to Thee, and whatever I have done wrong against Him, by neglecting His grace, by not obeying His instincts, by not following His attractions, by not fulfilling His requirements and vocation, and lastly, by hindering, times without number, His loving work, by my own selfishness, and restless busy-doing;—all this He hath left to Thee, and cast it all upon Thee. All my salvation is in Thy hand; whatsoever Thou pardonest is forgiven. So long as Thou wilt, O sweet Jesus, there will never be wanting to me the means of salvation. O pitiful Jesus, have mercy upon me, for Thy Holy Name’s sake! For what else is the meaning of this Thy name, Jesus, sweeter than honey, and the honey-comb, except a “Saviour”? Wherefore, O good Jesus, be to me Jesus. Why wilt Thou be angry with the leaf which is blown about by the wind; why wilt Thou punish the withered straw? Why wilt Thou be forgetful of me, who am but a frail vessel of clay, which Thine own hands have made? Although I have offended Thee, yet am I a man wholly conceived in iniquity. Let Thy grace come down upon me, and Thy Wounds flow over me; let the healing balm of Thy Precious Blood be near my soul, and I shall be safe, for I am ready to fulfil Thy most gracious will. What wilt Thou have me to do, Lord? Behold! I offer my whole self to Thee, my body, soul, senses, memory, understanding, will, and all that I am, and I am ready to bear whatever Thou wouldst have me bear in time and eternity, want and abundance, abandonment and suffering. O Jesus, my only Love, grant that I may love Thee from my heart, and nothing do I ask, except to love Thee perfectly. Suffer me to be Thy lover. Thou hast commanded me, indeed, to love Thee with my whole heart, but give what Thou hast commanded, and command what Thou wilt. Pierce, I pray Thee, this heart of mine, with the sweet dart of Thy fiery love, that I may languish for love of Thee all the days of my life. Grant that I may love Thee from my heart, as Thou wouldst Thyself have me love Thee. Make me to see, O my God, how much Thou lovest me, that my whole life long, and with my whole strength, I may strive to return Thy love, and satisfy it. O kind Jesus, so fill and inebriate my heart with Thy sweet love, that all the world may be turned for me into a disgust and a cross. O loving Jesus, I long to love Thee, to receive Thee, to eat Thee, to embrace Thee with the arms of my soul, to treasure Thee up in my inmost heart, where no man can take Thee from me, where I may enjoy Thee alone, and where I may rest with Thee in peace, never more to be troubled. There Thou wilt give me richly to drink of the river of Thy heavenly and divine doctrine; there Thou wilt teach me Thy more secret paths, whereby I may come to Thee in all safety and certainty; there Thou wilt be wholly my leader, and Thou wilt hide me in Thy sweet wounds, and in Thy loving Heart, until the winter of sin is over and past, and the cruel storm of temptation is hushed, and the bright sun of Thy divine grace shineth through the whole depth of my soul, setting my heart utterly on fire, and causing it to flourish in all virtue. Amen.
