sheepdog

i had a little vision a while ago...

a shepherd was watching his flock on mountain pastures

and he had the help of a loyal sheepdog.

however...occasionally...the sheepdog would turn into a pit bull and maul the sheep.

and the shepherd would be broken hearted over his wounded sheep and be hurt that they would turn away from him.


unfortunately, this happens a lot in church leadership.  Jesus is our Shepherd.  He has many people in leadership that are serving the function of a sheepdog.  they loyally help to guide the sheep toward the Shepherd and keep them away from danger.  however...occasionally His leaders forget their purpose or forget their Shepherd and maul His sheep.  and this breaks the Shepherd's heart because He loves His sheep.

if you are involved in any kind of leadership under Christ.  please...take this as a word of caution.  yes...we are human...we have moments that we 'flesh out' and lose our tempers.  we have misunderstandings.  we have our own baggage that sometimes filters our experiences and creates the wrong reaction.
but please, we need to be careful not to turn into an aggressor and wound the very people we should be serving humbly.

i'm not saying we should be wimpy and massage

people's feelings and indulge their every evil desire.

i'm saying...well...

Proverbs 20:28

Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Ephesians 4:14-16

No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.