Most of the time, I enjoy reading Scripture because it feeds my soul. However, sometimes reading the Bible scares me... a lot, especially when God begins by saying, "Woe to you!" This phrase is often used at the beginning of a judgment passage. In other words, when God says "woe," you better say "whoa." In the passage above, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the spiritual leaders of Israel about their mistreatment and abuse of God's people. Rather than lovingly attending to their needs, the shepherds had scattered God's flock and driven them away. While God promises to restore his people and appoint new shepherds to pastor his people, God also vows to deal with these ungodly, wicked shepherds. God spoke a similar message through the prophet Ezekiel:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.
(Ezekiel 34:2-4 ESV)
Later, Ezekiel prophesied the Lord's judgment on these wicked shepherds:
Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. (Ezekiel 34:10 ESV)
The reason these passages scare me is because I spend much of my time preaching and teaching the Scriptures to God's people. There is a great responsibility to anyone who claims to speak God's word with God's authority. In fact, James 3:1 says that not many should aspire to become teachers, since those who teach will be judged with greater strictness. In other words, pastors and teachers should take their jobs very seriously since the Lord is very concerned with his flock.
However, all too often the pulpit is treated as a platform for entertainment and irrelevant stories rather than the exposition of Scripture. Many sermons are nothing more than a preacher's opinionated soap-boxes that fail to paint the proper portrait of the glory of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of preaching about the finished work of Christ on the cross, pastors preach moralistic legalism that only piles up more things for Christians to do before they can be right with God. Often there is only preaching of the Law to the exclusion of the gospel, or their messages are all about grace with no mention of repentance. This places unnecessary weight on the shoulders of the sheep which they were never meant to bear.
It is very sad to hear Christians tell me, "I am hungry to know what the Bible teaches, but I am not getting fed." This is an indictment against ministers who fail to preach the whole counsel of God. I include myself when I say, "We must do better." As ministers of the Word, we have a responsibility to not only teach the sheep, but tend the sheep. Sermons are not enough. Sheep need to be cared for by their shepherds. Pastoral care cannot be separated from gospel proclamation. This is suggested in Jesus' conversation with Peter on the beach in John 21:15-19. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Each time Peter, being reminded of his thrice denial of Christ before the crucifixion, excruciatingly replies, "Yes Lord, you know I love you." The interesting thing here is Jesus' admonition to Peter. Twice Jesus says, "Peter, feed my lambs." The other time, Jesus says something different. "Peter, tend my sheep." Feeding the flock cannot be separated from tending the flock. Pastors, are you doing both? Obviously each minister is gifted in different ways, but sermons should never suffer at the expense of pastoral care, and vice versa... we must do both.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:5-6 ESV)
Let me conclude with some words of encouragement for all of you who are standing as faithful ministers of the Word. Preach the Word and love God's people. Teach the sheep. Tend the Sheep. Trust the Good Shepherd, and you will never be brought to shame.
Tend My Sheep
Do you love me son of John? Jesus asked the Apostolic Rock
If you say that you still love me, there are issues with My flock.
I am your Good Shepherd, and this commandment you shall keep
Not only must you feed My lambs, but you must also tend My sheep.
There are many in My sheepfold who have wandered here and there
They do not need your education, only tender love and care.
I realize you are busy with your ministries divine
Yet true ministry begins when you leave the ninety-nine.
You may impress us with your knowledge, your theology on display
But what good are all your sermons when your sheep have gone astray?
Your sermons are important, but please understand
If you don’t live past Sunday morning, you have only fed the lambs.
You should love them all the same; your compassion must run deep
I still demand you feed My lambs, but you must also tend My sheep.
Will your rod and staff bring comfort? Will your words restore their soul?
Will you lead them by still waters and green pastures to console?
Will you seat them at your table, with favor good and loyal?
Will your goodness and mercy follow them? Will you anoint their heads with oil?
This is your true calling, it is My gift and not your choice
These sheep belong to me, and they all will hear My Voice.
And though they may mistreat you, not knowing what they do
Always forgive them freely as I have forgiven you.
And when your life has ended, and for your soul they weep
The tears of the lambs will truly mourn for their tender of the sheep.
No comments:
Post a Comment