Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 28.07.2002
Shepherd or Ruler
A Christian leader must not rule, but he must tend believers. Lording as a ruler is a sin of a Christian leader which creates partial mind. Christianity divided in parties or sects is a product of worldly mind. The right-minded breaks away from parties and is able to see the reality of the real congregation of God. Jesus is the Shepherd of God's people. Serving as His assisting shepherd is a noble mission of a Christian leader.
To rule or to tend
A shepherd goes on ahead of his flock and leads his sheep with the power of his example. His authority over his flock is based on his ability to serve. A ruler goes behind his flock and drives it with a lash like a cow boy. His authority over his flock is based on his awe-inspiring respect.
Religious rulers consider the members of the Church stupid cows, who must be driven to the right direction with the lash of their theological wisdom.
Christian shepherds consider the members of the Church understanding sheep, who know to follow their shepherd, if only he behaves like Jesus.
A shepherd goes on ahead of his flock and leads his sheep with the power of his example. His authority over his flock is based on his ability to serve. A ruler goes behind his flock and drives it with a lash like a cow boy. His authority over his flock is based on his awe-inspiring respect.
Religious rulers consider the members of the Church stupid cows, who must be driven to the right direction with the lash of their theological wisdom.
Christian shepherds consider the members of the Church understanding sheep, who know to follow their shepherd, if only he behaves like Jesus.
Flock and Shepherd
God wants to be the Shepherd of His people, not only the King. Jesus is the good Shepherd. He doesn't keep His sheep all the time in a close sheep pen, although it would be easier for Him. He doesn't use a sheepdog, because He wants that His sheep follow only His voice. He tends on the broad pastures. If He would not care to search the lost sheep, He would close them to a fencing or would keep them in order using a sheepdog. He is the gate for the sheep. His sheep don't only come in, but they also go out of the pen. Jesus says about His sheep: "He will come in and go out and find pasture." John.10:9 So the pasture is outside.
An assembled congregation is like a sheep pen. To there people "come in" and from there they "go out". The pastures of those who belong to Jesus are not in the meetings of a congregation, but in everyday life. There Jesus lets His own eat and drink. In the sheep pen they are encouraged by each other's faith and they share with each other what they have experienced on broad pastures. "When you come together, everyone has something to give." 1Cor.14:26 In the fencing wounds are taken care and the weak tended.
God wants to be the Shepherd of His people, not only the King. Jesus is the good Shepherd. He doesn't keep His sheep all the time in a close sheep pen, although it would be easier for Him. He doesn't use a sheepdog, because He wants that His sheep follow only His voice. He tends on the broad pastures. If He would not care to search the lost sheep, He would close them to a fencing or would keep them in order using a sheepdog. He is the gate for the sheep. His sheep don't only come in, but they also go out of the pen. Jesus says about His sheep: "He will come in and go out and find pasture." John.10:9 So the pasture is outside.
An assembled congregation is like a sheep pen. To there people "come in" and from there they "go out". The pastures of those who belong to Jesus are not in the meetings of a congregation, but in everyday life. There Jesus lets His own eat and drink. In the sheep pen they are encouraged by each other's faith and they share with each other what they have experienced on broad pastures. "When you come together, everyone has something to give." 1Cor.14:26 In the fencing wounds are taken care and the weak tended.
Assisting shepherd
Jesus has assisting shepherds taking care of His sheep. He calls to the office of an assisting shepherd a person He sees fit. Voluntariness, obedience to God's will, unselfishness, heart's desire to do the job and a humble and serving mind are the right qualities, because an assisting shepherd must tend in the same style as Jesus does. "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1Peter.5:2-3
If there are many local groups of believers, come to know the leaders of those groups. If someone of them is lording over his church, don't become a member of that church association. Do not submit yourself to the power of any sect leader. It is easy to see the actions of a lording pastor. He has not the mind of Christ and not the right motives to do his job.Paul, the apostle rebuked the believers of Corinth, because they had submitted themselves to the ruling leaders. "You put up with anyone who enslaves you,... or pushes himself forward." 2Cor.11:18-20
If someone demands you to honour him because of his position, do not surrender yourself to him. In God's Church there are not at all status posts. All posts are serving posts. Among God's people there is only one Lord. Jesus is Lord, and we others are servants. So you need to obey nobody only because he is a parish elder or a pastor or something like that. He who has a post from God has the authority of God's word and the Holy Spirit. He appeals to you only through the authority of Jesus.
Jesus has assisting shepherds taking care of His sheep. He calls to the office of an assisting shepherd a person He sees fit. Voluntariness, obedience to God's will, unselfishness, heart's desire to do the job and a humble and serving mind are the right qualities, because an assisting shepherd must tend in the same style as Jesus does. "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 1Peter.5:2-3
If there are many local groups of believers, come to know the leaders of those groups. If someone of them is lording over his church, don't become a member of that church association. Do not submit yourself to the power of any sect leader. It is easy to see the actions of a lording pastor. He has not the mind of Christ and not the right motives to do his job.Paul, the apostle rebuked the believers of Corinth, because they had submitted themselves to the ruling leaders. "You put up with anyone who enslaves you,... or pushes himself forward." 2Cor.11:18-20
If someone demands you to honour him because of his position, do not surrender yourself to him. In God's Church there are not at all status posts. All posts are serving posts. Among God's people there is only one Lord. Jesus is Lord, and we others are servants. So you need to obey nobody only because he is a parish elder or a pastor or something like that. He who has a post from God has the authority of God's word and the Holy Spirit. He appeals to you only through the authority of Jesus.
Watch sect leaders!
In Christianity there are parties or sects. The Catholic Church is the mother of all sects, and the Pope is the most well-known example of the ruling that is against God's will. Many pastors and elders are appointed to their ministry on the basis of church politics. Do not follow those, whose post is not from Jesus. They only aim to maintain the party and to get more supporters. They don't seek what is Jesus' own, but what is their own.
Do not allow any denomination or any revival movement to own you! Do not allow any sect leader to put his hands upon you and bless you to join his fellowship! Do not allow Catholicism, Lutheranism, Baptism, Pentecostalism or the like to pollute you. Religious spirits are reality. Do not underestimate their influence on you. Under the ruling sceptre of a denomination you easily start to walk according to the human mind and forget to listen to the voice of Jesus.
In summer sect leaders arrange "party congresses" in other words summer festivals of the denomination. They want to strengthen the denomination identity in the members of congregations so that they could more easily keep their flock in order. Do not allow them to gather you into their fencing, because you don't come in there through the Jesus gate but through the name of the denomination. Let your identity be only in Jesus.
You recognise the shepherd who comes from Jesus by his attitude, when he asks you to honour only his sender, Jesus. "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." John.7:18
In Christianity there are parties or sects. The Catholic Church is the mother of all sects, and the Pope is the most well-known example of the ruling that is against God's will. Many pastors and elders are appointed to their ministry on the basis of church politics. Do not follow those, whose post is not from Jesus. They only aim to maintain the party and to get more supporters. They don't seek what is Jesus' own, but what is their own.
Do not allow any denomination or any revival movement to own you! Do not allow any sect leader to put his hands upon you and bless you to join his fellowship! Do not allow Catholicism, Lutheranism, Baptism, Pentecostalism or the like to pollute you. Religious spirits are reality. Do not underestimate their influence on you. Under the ruling sceptre of a denomination you easily start to walk according to the human mind and forget to listen to the voice of Jesus.
In summer sect leaders arrange "party congresses" in other words summer festivals of the denomination. They want to strengthen the denomination identity in the members of congregations so that they could more easily keep their flock in order. Do not allow them to gather you into their fencing, because you don't come in there through the Jesus gate but through the name of the denomination. Let your identity be only in Jesus.
You recognise the shepherd who comes from Jesus by his attitude, when he asks you to honour only his sender, Jesus. "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." John.7:18
Impartial commitment
You have to commit yourself also to men, not only to Jesus. However you must do it without partial mind. It is wrong to commit yourself to a Christian group in the spirit where you at the same time deny your relationship with other followers of Jesus, who live outside that group. When you engage yourself to a Christian group, go in only in the name of Jesus. It means that you don't adopt the name of the group. Impartial commitment among Christianity is almost the same thing as to be a politically independent member of a Parliament. Most of the members of our Parliament are sectarian (= committed themselves to parties). Maybe this is the way it is also among Christians.
Rulers of sects often emphasize that it is wrong, if you have not committed yourself to any denomination. They want to drive you to select your party. Why it is not enough for them that you are a Jesus-believer? They want power! They want to rule over you! They want "to boast about your flesh!" Gal.6:13 "Also he belongs to our Church." They appreciate more the religious fellowship than the fellowship in the Holy Spirit which comes from the commitment to Jesus. A worldly fellowship breaks the spiritual fellowship and separates believers from each other.
When I committed myself to a church association, I did it only for the sake of Jesus. When they noticed that the religious spirit of the denomination didn't work in me I was made feel that I am an outsider. Finally I also had to go out from there for the sake of Jesus, because "the party discipline" tried to force me to accept a sin.
It is just the love for all the Jesus-believers which forces me to withdraw from denominations. In order to be for all believers you must be against all parties. It is so sad that "the fellowship of Pentecostalism" has often forced aside the fellowship created by the Holy Spirit, "the fellowship of Baptism" has forced aside the co-operation of those who are baptized into Christ and "the fellowship of Lutheranism" has forced aside the fellowship of those who are justified through the faith of Jesus. Woe to an unclean fellowship! Where do you find a meeting assembled in the name of Jesus? One who belongs to Jesus is longing for that oasis. The liturgies of the sects don't nourish him.
You have to commit yourself also to men, not only to Jesus. However you must do it without partial mind. It is wrong to commit yourself to a Christian group in the spirit where you at the same time deny your relationship with other followers of Jesus, who live outside that group. When you engage yourself to a Christian group, go in only in the name of Jesus. It means that you don't adopt the name of the group. Impartial commitment among Christianity is almost the same thing as to be a politically independent member of a Parliament. Most of the members of our Parliament are sectarian (= committed themselves to parties). Maybe this is the way it is also among Christians.
Rulers of sects often emphasize that it is wrong, if you have not committed yourself to any denomination. They want to drive you to select your party. Why it is not enough for them that you are a Jesus-believer? They want power! They want to rule over you! They want "to boast about your flesh!" Gal.6:13 "Also he belongs to our Church." They appreciate more the religious fellowship than the fellowship in the Holy Spirit which comes from the commitment to Jesus. A worldly fellowship breaks the spiritual fellowship and separates believers from each other.
When I committed myself to a church association, I did it only for the sake of Jesus. When they noticed that the religious spirit of the denomination didn't work in me I was made feel that I am an outsider. Finally I also had to go out from there for the sake of Jesus, because "the party discipline" tried to force me to accept a sin.
It is just the love for all the Jesus-believers which forces me to withdraw from denominations. In order to be for all believers you must be against all parties. It is so sad that "the fellowship of Pentecostalism" has often forced aside the fellowship created by the Holy Spirit, "the fellowship of Baptism" has forced aside the co-operation of those who are baptized into Christ and "the fellowship of Lutheranism" has forced aside the fellowship of those who are justified through the faith of Jesus. Woe to an unclean fellowship! Where do you find a meeting assembled in the name of Jesus? One who belongs to Jesus is longing for that oasis. The liturgies of the sects don't nourish him.
Turncoats and heretics
In general people don't condemn parties, but they may condemn you if you change your party. Faithfulness to a party has a status of a virtue, although in the eyes of God it is a sin. The Lutheran Church even makes its priests to swear an oath where their sect loyalty to the Lutheran denomination is ensured.
The members of a party say about a person who left the party: "the turncoat". The members of the party to where this "defector" moved say about the same person: "He revised his earlier stand." The members of a sect say about a person who left the denomination: "the heretic". The members of the sect to where this "heretic" moved say about the same person: "He was obedient to God." Do not only change a party, but become impartial with all your heart.
In every Christian association there are factional members, because worldly mind is typical of them who are "mere infants in Christ." 1Cor.3:1-3 However the leaders of the Church association should have the same spiritual mind as Jesus has.
Especially persons, who really are misleading the people of God, test the spiritual mind of a shepherd. How does he react against them? He is tempted to start ruling instead of tending. This fear has often spoiled the actions of the shepherd. Jesus is not afraid of losing His sheep. You too, don't be afraid, if you are an overseer. Jesus sends His sheep even among rapacious wolves. "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matth.10:16
You can believe that the people of God will go through it. Don't allow your fear to make you a lord. Instead when you see danger, you can lift up just the feature of Jesus that uncovers the deceiver. When you have strengthened the Jesus-faith of the sheep you can send them among deceivers. They are safe, because they have the wisdom of Jesus and His innocence.
In general people don't condemn parties, but they may condemn you if you change your party. Faithfulness to a party has a status of a virtue, although in the eyes of God it is a sin. The Lutheran Church even makes its priests to swear an oath where their sect loyalty to the Lutheran denomination is ensured.
The members of a party say about a person who left the party: "the turncoat". The members of the party to where this "defector" moved say about the same person: "He revised his earlier stand." The members of a sect say about a person who left the denomination: "the heretic". The members of the sect to where this "heretic" moved say about the same person: "He was obedient to God." Do not only change a party, but become impartial with all your heart.
In every Christian association there are factional members, because worldly mind is typical of them who are "mere infants in Christ." 1Cor.3:1-3 However the leaders of the Church association should have the same spiritual mind as Jesus has.
Especially persons, who really are misleading the people of God, test the spiritual mind of a shepherd. How does he react against them? He is tempted to start ruling instead of tending. This fear has often spoiled the actions of the shepherd. Jesus is not afraid of losing His sheep. You too, don't be afraid, if you are an overseer. Jesus sends His sheep even among rapacious wolves. "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matth.10:16
You can believe that the people of God will go through it. Don't allow your fear to make you a lord. Instead when you see danger, you can lift up just the feature of Jesus that uncovers the deceiver. When you have strengthened the Jesus-faith of the sheep you can send them among deceivers. They are safe, because they have the wisdom of Jesus and His innocence.
Selecting a shepherd and a flock
Who selects the overseers for the flock? Not an apostle or a bishop at all, but the flock itself. Jesus says that His sheep know His voice and follow Him. It is in the same way with assisting shepherds. They, who recognise the voice of Jesus in the voice of assisting shepherds, follow them. These assisting shepherds can think that the believers who obey them are "those entrusted to them". An assisting shepherd can say about persons who don't believe his teachings in the same way Jesus said: "but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." John.10:26
Who selects the sheep for the overseer? Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood." Acts 20:28 The Holy Spirit selects sheep for the overseers. He leads the believers. He wants to the fellowship where the right assisting shepherds work. You should notice what Paul emphasizes in this matter, "the church of God" and "He bought with His own blood". If an assisting shepherd thinks that the flock is his own, it is one of the biggest mistakes he can make. His attitude should be that Jesus has entrusted His sheep to him for some time. The Holy Spirit can lead them to another place tomorrow.
The relationship between an overseer and those over whom he watches is not based on belonging to a church organisation, but it is a relationship between two persons. Nobody can be your pastor, if you don't know each other. If both of them try to follow Jesus and they know each other, they can be in the shepherd-shepherded relationship. God is the real Shepherd and He knows His own and keeps a perfect member list of His flock. The book-keeping of the assisting shepherds cannot be up to date. Let them try to do the best they can, but nobody must consider their list the real member list of God's congregation.
God's congregation is partly here and partly there on broad pastures. Don't even try to define its borders, but if you are a shepherd keep watching over the souls that the Holy Spirit entrusted to you. If you are a sheep of Jesus, rejoice in the whole congregation of God and don't consider "your own church" the whole Church of God.
Who selects the overseers for the flock? Not an apostle or a bishop at all, but the flock itself. Jesus says that His sheep know His voice and follow Him. It is in the same way with assisting shepherds. They, who recognise the voice of Jesus in the voice of assisting shepherds, follow them. These assisting shepherds can think that the believers who obey them are "those entrusted to them". An assisting shepherd can say about persons who don't believe his teachings in the same way Jesus said: "but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." John.10:26
Who selects the sheep for the overseer? Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood." Acts 20:28 The Holy Spirit selects sheep for the overseers. He leads the believers. He wants to the fellowship where the right assisting shepherds work. You should notice what Paul emphasizes in this matter, "the church of God" and "He bought with His own blood". If an assisting shepherd thinks that the flock is his own, it is one of the biggest mistakes he can make. His attitude should be that Jesus has entrusted His sheep to him for some time. The Holy Spirit can lead them to another place tomorrow.
The relationship between an overseer and those over whom he watches is not based on belonging to a church organisation, but it is a relationship between two persons. Nobody can be your pastor, if you don't know each other. If both of them try to follow Jesus and they know each other, they can be in the shepherd-shepherded relationship. God is the real Shepherd and He knows His own and keeps a perfect member list of His flock. The book-keeping of the assisting shepherds cannot be up to date. Let them try to do the best they can, but nobody must consider their list the real member list of God's congregation.
God's congregation is partly here and partly there on broad pastures. Don't even try to define its borders, but if you are a shepherd keep watching over the souls that the Holy Spirit entrusted to you. If you are a sheep of Jesus, rejoice in the whole congregation of God and don't consider "your own church" the whole Church of God.
The Bible version used in references is NIV