Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:1-4a

1st Peter 5:1-4  A

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.   ESV

There's a lot in this passage to think on.  But I want to focus on elders and shepherding.  

"Elders" (presbuteros) are those who preside over the assmbly(ies) of believers.  They are "overseers."  They are also referred to as bishops is some translations.  Regardless of the title used, these are older men, mature in the faith and able to teach - disciple - believers.  They act as the guiding authority for individual assemblies of believers.  

Historically, it has not been a rare thing for elders of one individual assembly to confer or associate with elders of another assembly for the sake of fellowship, unity and consistency.  Though we like to see "denominations" as abominations, they are (or at least should be), in actuality, an association of like-minded and like-believing elders who confer together and draw from the collective experience, wisdom and knowledge to guide multiple assemblies.

For instance, when Paul addresses his missive to the "Church at Ephesus," it is not beyond considering that he was addressing multiple assemblies in that place.  The "church building" and the mega-church being conventions yet to come, it would not be surprising to find several "assemblies" of believers in one locale.  That being a possibility, it would follow that the "elders" in that place over those individual assemblies would work together for the good of all.

BUT - it is the role of the elder as shepherd that most touched my heart.  I was mentored by older pastors back in the day when doctors made house calls and elders did too.  These "shepherds" took seriously their obligation to care for the flock - from the greatest to the least.  They considered it their obligation to stay informed and involved with those under their care.  These men were in no way "professionals."  Even those ordained as "pastors" or "teaching elders" who had received training and education at seminary for that specific ministry did not consider themselves professionals but, rather, merely servants.

Interestingly, shepherds have not really had a good reputation in history.  They have been characterized as sneaky, lazy, shiftless, etc.  So, of course, we have to be amazed that David was a shepherd and that the angels came to the shepherds with the good news of the incarnation.

Let me take a different perspective, one we have unfortunately (and probably intentionally) lost.  The sheep are under the authority and care of the shepherds.  There is an intrinsic obligation laid upon the sheep to submit to the shepherds.  Now for sheep-sheep, there is little question of who is in charge; but for people-sheep or sheeple, it seems we have rejected that aspect of the relationship - much to our harm.

We have made the position of the shepherd (elder) one of status and prestige.  We have little problem letting them "care" for us as long as that care is within our comfort zone.  

What we do have a problem with is the authority of the shepherd - their obligation and right to "rule" over us.

Paul writes to Timothy:

2 Tim. 4:2

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.   ESV

Now, we have little problem with the preaching part - as long as it doesn't get too personal.  We even tolerate the exhortation part as long as it doesn't exhort too much.  

But we have a real problem with the reprove and rebuke part of their role.  This is an all too common disconnect in our assemblies.  We don't mind preaching and exhorting but the other smacks too much of meddling.

Now consider:

Eph. 4:11-14

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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, 14 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.   ESV

How are they to do this if we refuse to accept their reproof or rebukes?  Well, they can’t.

The sad part is that we are not rebelling against men but against God.  "He" gave these roles and responsibilities.  These elders are His means for accomplishing His will for His saints.

Ok - let's get it out there.  There are some really poor and even evil "shepherds" out there.  But it is our obligation to discern the quality and character of those we would follow, those whose authority we would submit to.  So we can't claim to be victims.

Placing one's self and one's family under the care and authority of any man or group of men is never something to be done lightly.  We are not to be spectators or mere consumers.  

When we are considering joining an assembly or fellowship, it is our responsibility to check out the leadership and just as diligently the statement of faith or mission statement.  It is our obligation to ask tough biblical, even theological questions of the leadership before we prayerfully seek to make a decision.

I've been a part of a fellowship whose shepherd(s) were mere position and status holders.  They were shepherds based upon their congeniality and popularity.  There was little hope of sound care or guidance from them.  The fellowship we are now a part of was thoroughly "vetted" by both my wife and myself before we decided to place ourselves under the care and authority of the "session" (elders).  

One "test" was whether the "teaching elder" (most would call him the Pastor or Preacher) was willing to correct, rebuke and/or reprove AND, if the context and content in which he did so was biblical.  Of course, it was kind of a ringer because I had, years ago, mentored and discipled one of the elders of this fellowship, so we went in with a greater level of confidence of being satisfied.

Are you safe in the care and oversight of your shepherds?  Do they actually shepherd the flock according to the biblical model?  Do you submit to their authority with comfort and confidence or do you just ignore that part of the relationship?

When shepherds are not faithful, the wolves eat well and the shepherd ultimately feeds upon the flock.

More on this next time...........................

This and That 082812

I had a great meeting with a local Pastor this morning and was blessed to share our concerns and needs.  I was reminded that even sheep that have a safe sheepfold can be twitchy and obstinate.  In my ministry it’s really the absolute norm but one would hope that in a body, a fellowship it would not be so.  Oh well, we can hope.

I’ve not found any reference in scripture to “bad” sheep.  lost sheep, wandering sheep even rowdy sheep – but not bad ones. 

One thing comes to mind.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.   Joh 10:27

It is soooooo easy in any form of ministry and service to take on more responsibility than is rightfully ours.  If we’re the “leader” we think it’s all on us.  That’s bad – and – that’s good.  It’s good to take responsibility and accept the challenges it brings but it is bad to let ourselves think it’s all on us.  It wasn’t, isn’t and never will be about us.  It’s all about Him.

Sheep, even wild sheep are His sheep.  Oh He lets us serve Him as under shepherds and sheepdogs but they are still His sheep.  He is the Master Shepherd – the “sheep whisperer.”   It is His voice they hear.  Yes, they can hear it through us but we have to be very sure it is His voice they are hearing – and not our own.

Sheep follow Him – If we’re behind Him and ahead of them then I guess you could say they follow us.  But we have to be following Him, depending upon Him – recognizing that He doesn’t really need us but rather has graciously invited us to work under, with and for Him.

As we serve as His under shepherds or sheepdogs we have to continually ask, “What has He said to the flock and what is He saying now?”  It won’t be anything “new” – He’s already made all things “new.”  He is saying what He has always said.  We just need to figure out how to apply it to the present context.

It is His voice they need to hear – so it is His words we need to speak. 

Of course the hard part it “getting us out of the way” of His words.  That good old (err bad old) flesh just doesn’t want us to accept that He is faithful - we are feeble and that it’s all about Him.  Sure, we do what we can do – but when we think we are supposed to or can do His thing, we get into bad trouble. 

When we take on the burden that only the Master Shepherd can carry we are – well – sinning.  I know, I have to consistently work on that.  The results are usually a time of discipline for my well intentioned efforts.  He smacks my hand and says, “That’s mine!!”  It is not pleasant but it is none the less a blessing.  The object is to submit to Him, to rely on Him even for that drive and energy to serve – especially the what and how!

I’ve been reading Flavel’s work, The Mystery of Providence and I cannot tell you how what a great blessing it has been (thanks again David).  Once you get in tune with his 17^th century style of writing I promise you, you will be well blessed.  There are some “ouches” in there but there are a lot of comforting and encouraging things as well.

I pray, for you and me, that we will seek to hear His voice more clearly and to know when the sheep need to hear His voice – or our voice from Him.  I doubt that this side of heaven we’ll ever nail this down.  But through prayer, study and sharing with others who struggle we will get better and better.

Remember too that our battle orders are summed up in one word: 

μαθητευσατε – make disciples

This is the what – we trust Him to show us the how – His how!

I like to say that by His power – the power of the Gospel, “We catch ‘em, the Holy Spirit prepares ‘em and He cooks ‘em till they’re done.”