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 "And
I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with
knowledge and understanding" (Jer 3:15)
Unfortunately, it appears
that the human shepherds of both physical and spiritual Israel are not living
up to the standards of the master shepherd. Jeremiah 3:15 is a prophesy not
fulfilled until the return of Christ. Similar prophesies see good shepherds only
after the Messiah returns.
"Yes, they are
greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot
understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From
his own territory." (Isa 56:11, see also Jer 23:2-6, 33:11-13, Eze
34:12-16, :23, 37:24, Isa 40:10-11)
‘Therefore thus says
the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You
have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold,
I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD."’
(Jer 23:2, see also 10:21, 25:34, Eze 34, Zac 10:3, 11:3-8)
The shepherds are not the
only guilty ones. Many of the sheep contribute to the unease of the
congregation.
"Who say to the
seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to
us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits" (Isa
30:10)
"The prophets
prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love
to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" (Jer 5:31)
"For you put up with
it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you,
if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face" (II Cor
11:20)
"Therefore thus
says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat
and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted
all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I
will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge
between sheep and sheep." (Eze 34:20-22)
"And He will set
the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will
say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ...41 Then He will
also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the
everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Mat
25:33, 41)
Minister and lay member can
be unified in their approach without the spirit of God. ‘Unity’ is not a
guarantee of godliness. Two can be blind just as easily as one. "Let
them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the
blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Mat 15:14) Blindness can be
found among "believers" too. "Because you say, ‘I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ ––and do not know that you are
wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked––" (Rev 3:17)
"I wrote to the
church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does
not receive us." (III John 1:9)
"Now I urge you,
brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the
doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." (Rom 16:17)
Divisions or schisms are
not the way of God. There are times when one must separate themselves. Those
like Diotrephes that promote themselves are to be avoided. Also one who
regularly commits offences against the law of God and the instruction of
scripture thus setting an example that is unbecoming of a Christian, might
need to be ejected from the community of believers.
Those who have the spirit
of God do not participate in the creation of division or schisms. As long as
a brother or sister is attempting to live by the law of God, a spirit led
person will reach out to that person. Divisions
are typically caused by people who get their feelings hurt for one reason or
other. This offense doesn’t typically come out of humility. The spirit led
person will attempt to work within the body of Christ even if he is not fully
appreciated. He knows the Creator is
his judge, not the human organization.
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