Means And Methods

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:1-3

Christ was clear that not everyone who claimed to be a leader of the flock was a good person. In our text He refers to those pseudo-shepherds as thieves and robbers. He points out that their means and methods demonstrated their evil intent. Whereas a true shepherd would pursue the health and welfare of the flock in the appropriate way, these pseudo-shepherds used unethical practices to profit personally from taking advantage of the flock. This resonates loudly with us as we observe the actions of many of the purveyors of religion today. The pseudo-shepherds continue to live profitably from the proceeds of their theft and robbery of the sheep. The sheep are starving for food, while many of the leaders live lavishly. What is perhaps even more disturbing is that the sheep continue to long for the spiritual satisfaction that only comes from the preaching of Christ and instead endure motivational Christless, man-centered guilt theology. Thus, they starve when they could be fed. Christ was quite clear about these false shepherds. He identified them on more than one occasion. In our text, He labelled them as thieves and robbers. We should be as wise as He can make us to identify these people in our own day. The one who does us the most good is the one who points us to Christ.

Our Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that You see things clearly.
We praise You that You are able to give us wisdom,
that we also may see.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning