Shepherds, You Have One Job

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.  (2 Ti 1:13-14)

Here is the simple truth: either you are a sheep or you are not a Christian.  God sends pastors because whether the people are easily led or not, they are most certainly easily misled.  Apart from Christ and His death we are all easy prey for wolves—often because we admire the wolves and despise the weakness of God in the flesh on the cross.

The Lord sends shepherds to lead His flock to green pastures.  The flock is led by the Good Shepherd’s voice, not by the pastor’s voice.  If we have heard a thousand sermons about how sheep are stupid and stubborn animals, we should also know that the ranks of shepherds, in the real world, have never been filled with braniacs or men of valor.  In fact, young boys like David could easily shepherd his father’s flocks.  Here is the point: what our pastors are sent to do, a boy … could do.

But, in fairness, the same could be said of what it takes to be a marine.  We might remember that the word infantry comes from the Latin word for “children.”  Foot soldiers, infantrymen, were those who were too inexperienced to serve in the cavalry but were good in absorbing spear thrusts and cannonballs.  What does it take to be a good marine or infantryman?  Do what you are told.  Follow orders.  Be faithful.  Do not sleep on your watch.

And yet, we know that no matter how simple it might be in concept, marines and good infantrymen are few and far between.  So are good and faithful pastors.

Pastor David H. Petersen, Gottestiendst, 2013:3

Get Over Yourselves

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8)

Frequently, the priestly office and Levitical rank are a cause of pride for one who does not know how to hold an ecclesiastical position of honor. How many, after being made elders, have forgotten humility! It is as though they were ordained specifically in order to stop being humble. Indeed, they ought to have pursued humility more, because they had acquired a position of honor—as Scripture says, “The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself.”* And it is the assembly that chooses you; lower your head more humbly. They have made you a leader; do not be puffed up. Be among them like on of themselves. It is fitting to be humble, fitting to be lowly, fitting to flee from pride, the chief of all evils. Examine the Gospel: See with what kind of condemnation the Pharisee’s pride and boasting are attacked. “The Pharisee was standing and praying as follows within himself‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, wicked people, adulterers, and even like this tax collector; I fast twice a week.’” But the tax collector, on the other hand, standing humbly and quietly at a great distance, “did not even dare raise his eyes…and he was saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’” And the tax collector “went down to his home justified.’”†

Origen of Alexandria: Exegetical Works on Ezekiel, 9.2.3

* Sirach 3:18. Note that the early fathers had differing views on the status of apocryphal works in relation to the 66 books which were generally accepted and officially recognized at Nicaea.
† Luke 18:11-14.