Shepherds, Humility, and the Back of the Bus

Sheep & Shepherd: Arad in the Biblical Negev

In our little neighborhood of Abu Tor, we’ve had many discussions concerning pastors gone bad and what is the issue behind all of that. There were two streams of data flowing this weekend that were great illustrations of this epidemic in American churches.

First, we have recently heard of a group that went to Jordan. In it was a pastor with several of his congregants. This man consistently insisted that he and his wife had to have the front seats since they were “leading”, even though the group had an assigned instructor. On one day, another couple sat in the seats “claimed” by the Power Pastor. This did not sit well with him. The next morning, Power Pastor had written a note claiming that those seats were “reserved”. There are no “reserved” seats on a trip for people studying. Power Pastor was miffed that his “seat of honor” (Lk. 14:8) had been taken. Power Pastor was in direct contrast to another group leader who sat in the back of the bus and allowed his group to be closer to the front so they could see better and interact with group leader.

The second stream was as our flatmates A.Lenore and A.Phillips went on a field study for their Parables of Jesus class. They went to what is essentially a wildlife/nature refuge. There, there are all sorts of Biblical installations (wells, threshing floors, mills) as well as Biblical plants and animals. Also there is a lady who’s an expert on the imagery of Jesus’ parables. She was talking to them about shepherding and what makes a good shepherd. A good shepherd always walks behind the flock to protect and care for the sick, young, or pregnant sheep. The strong sheep will walk forward on their own. The shepherd will only guide their directions to the left or to the right (Is. 30:21) using sheep dogs, maybe other shepherds, or just him/herself. Regardless, the shepherd cares for his flock, not by being up front, but from the back caring for the weaker members of the flock.

Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. He also describes Himself as gentle and humble. I think it is this quality that is missing from the training and education of church leaders. They are taught how to lead, not how to humbly serve. I don’t think that many (if any at all) pastors got into pastoring thinking, “Hey! This is a great way to get my ego stroked and look important and ruin anyone who stands in my way!” But, somehow that seems to become more of the norm rather than the exception.

The Church in America needs pastors who are gentle and humble. We need them to be shepherds and not leaders. And by all means, we need them to sit in the back of the bus.

~ by eikonministries on March 31, 2009.