Scaring the Flock

Christ Jesus often referred to ministering to the congregation in shepherding terms. The people were the sheep and the minister was the shepherd. I guess it is human nature when people won't listen to us we try to bully them or scare them in the direction we want them to go by sharing the consequences of their folly. I am guilty of this myself.

When I was younger I used to talk a lot about the coming World Tribulation, the potential for WWlll to happen and how if that time were not shortened no flesh would survive. I looked at current events through that lens and tried to make people fearful so that they would turn toward Christ Jesus. I still do use this technique from time to time though I have come to see its short comings in recent years.

The problem with pedaling fear is that it can make the minister just as fearful as the people. You not only scare the sheep but you scare the shepherd as well. I liken it to working on a sheep farm in New Zealand. When Kiwi shepherds go out to bring the sheep into the yards they send out the Heading dogs to sweep up the sheep and to herd them toward the gate. Dogs are a natural enemy of sheep so the sheep are afraid and run away from them.

Once you have them on the trail or in the lane-way the Hunt-Aways start to bark loudly and drive the sheep toward home. Again the fear of the dogs and their barking causes the sheep to hurry towards the yards. These are two variants of the same fear used to drive the sheep in the right direction. But as a farmer I can tell you that the shepherd does not fear the Heading dogs.

The Heading dogs are usually bred off Border-Collie bloodlines and are very gentle and quiet. The Hunt-Aways though, are a mixture of breeds. Something like a Blood Hound crossed with Border -Collie and Labrador. Their bark can be so loud and penetrating the if a sheep turns to challenge the Hunt-Away and it barks suddenly beside you it can give you the fright of your life. So at times the shepherds can share the same fear as the sheep.

Another issue that can make the flock fearful is question of what they are being brought into the yards for? Are they coming in for drenching against parasites or to be crutched (partially shorn), and then sent back out to the paddock to a fresh break of grass. This would give them some hope of a future. 

However, if the farmer is bringing them into the yards to draft off the aged ewes and the infirm to send of to the works then there is no hope. This is similar to the minister of the gospel. If the minister speaks only of impending doom. In the current Covid epidemic it would be to speak of the dangers of the vaccine and the dark agenda of the global elite. Then it is a message of fear to their audience. To a lesser extent the message can also be fearful to themselves. This changes their attitude over time and they can become fearful and very negative.

If the minister preaches a warning and also preaches hope by preaching about the Savior. Then it is a much more hopeful message that you bring to your flock. In this way you can explain how Christ Jesus bore our sins on the Cross at Calvary and His desire for the lost to be saved. You can speak of faith and life in the Spirit. You can explain the fruit of the Spirit and the peace that Christ brings to our lives. That there is no longer a need to be fearful. 

The cup is half full and you can be more hopeful of a future. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."