Neck and neck with a rainbow

Pastors are called by that name because ‘pastor’ means shepherd. Shepherd of what? Of the sheep, of course! What sheep? Why, as we are called in the Psalms, “the sheep of His pasture, the flock that He guides” (Psalm 95:7). You know, the people of God! That means us!
But are we really sheep, after all?

Sometimes I think we are sheep. We certainly act like them. We seem not to have minds of our own. We just follow the flock, and the flock is following the bellwether. But who is the bellwether following? Is he following the shepherd or not? Which shepherd?
Christ, of course!

And we like our sheep pens so well that we just stay in them day in, day out enjoying each other’s presence, basking in all that fluffy wool. Meanwhile, our shepherds are busy making sure none of us get out, making sure we’re producing enough wool, for the bigger the take, the more in they rake. Who cares about the gospel according to John, chapter 10… ?

“I am the Gate. Anyone who enters through Me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture”.
John 10:9

What’s that supposed to mean? Never mind, just don’t let them read the next verse…

Sometimes I think we are anything but sheep. We haven’t a mind to listen, we have no time to follow the voice of our Master, we seem to have tuned in to a completely different voice—our own. As for the shepherds, well, we hire the ones we like, that make our ears itch. Itch for what? Itch for anything that’s fun to hear, anything that distracts us so we don’t hear the voice of the Shepherd, the real Shepherd.

We’ll have pastors, we’ll lavish them with all the honor and respect they (think they) deserve, and we’ll do as we please. What about God? Who needs Him? Everyone of us, including our shepherds, are little gods. This flock has gone south: we’re all shepherds and no sheep. But please, don’t take our pen away from us, and don’t talk to us about ‘making the journey out and in.’ Follow Jesus? Who’s He?

I am Greek Orthodox by culture, choice and call, but I am a follower of Jesus, and I do not witness for the Church. I witness for Christ, and He witnesses for the Church.

I hadn't thought of it before, but I think in the Church today, elders are more needed than pastors. In fact, I haven't seen anyone lately in any church, including my own, who has the title and office of ‘pastor’ actually doing their job—unless, of course, the job description has been rewritten.

They have plenty of time on their hands, and where there’s plenty of time, they’ll fill it with something. The ‘parameters’ of being a pastor in today’s churches have shrunk to nearly nothing when it comes to caring for the sheep. Well, of course, there really aren’t any sheep nowadays. They’ve all grown up and become private persons, and so, what’s a pastor to do? Become a private person himself. “Take a number, please!” … “Next!” … “Sorry! Closed for clergy retreat. Come again!”

On the other hand, elders, well, I think there are a lot of men (and women) who are elders in the Body of Christ, but they are not identified as such, either by themselves or by their churches. And why not? I think it's because the ministry is seen as a profession, like doctors and lawyers. But I don't care how many degrees and letters after their names people have, if they are going to be ministers of the gospel, they are simply not professionals in that sense of the word.

Elders, though, are not trained in seminaries and funded by congregations. They simply are what they are, and when we’re fortunate enough to discover who they are, we never come away from them without being blessed. They follow Jesus without pay, and love without limit. There are more of them among us than we realize. Pastors will sometimes point out and praise some of the ‘leaders’ in their congregations, but it is rarely the elders. It is usually other men and women of their class, professionals, who have made ‘outstanding contributions to the cause of…’ Yes, some churches even call them ‘archons.’

A professional stands on his attainments, feels he or she deserves a level of respect (or even worship!) that goes with the position of having studied so hard and written all those papers. But a minister of the gospel, as far as I can see it, is one who follows Christ's every move, hangs on His every word, and does what He sees the Master doing, tells what He hears the Master speak. He wouldn't think himself anymore a professional than did Peter, James or John… or even Paul (unless he considered his tent making business a profession).

Sad to say, institutional Christianity (Greek Orthodox included) is bent on turning itself into a religious brand alongside the non-religious brands, in the marketplace of ideas and cultures, and so its leaders really do have to lead, really must have professional credentials and aspirations—and expectations. If they don’t, how will they keep up? I ask myself, ‘Don’t they know they’re trying to race neck and neck with a rainbow?’ And what is a rainbow? Some colors in a mist that will vanish as soon as a cloud blocks out the sun.

I am not sure it isn’t already too late to expect real pastors for real churches, or to use biblical language, real shepherds for real sheep. But whatever else is true, the Word of God is still the same, and He says this about shepherds, and about sheep…

The one who enters through the Gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice.
John 10:1-4

I am the Gate…
John 10:9

Yes, I know. I am a fool. No need to point out the obvious. That would only make you as great a fool as I am. But the Word of God is still true, and I thank God for the elders still among us, and for any real shepherds who come our way, and for any of us who still be sheep. Who they can be, God knows, but the goats are such as I.

Originally posted November 5, 2010