The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalms 23:1, KJV).
When some prominent leaders in the church fell in the 90s, church
attendance dropped, financial giving to ministries fell, and many
Christians stopped serving the Lord.
For those who in their heart wanted to live in rebellion to God,
these type of events serve as a good excuse to walk away from
the Christian life. It's easy to say, "See, they're all just
a bunch of hypocrites."
When leader a falls, however, it should be a reminder to us of
Who the real Pastor of the church is. . . the Lord Jesus Christ.
I remember hearing John Osteen, who was pastor of Lakewood Church
in Houston, Texas say, "I have no sheep." He was pastor
of a congregation of 10,000 people, but he understood that those
under his care and instruction did not belong to him, but rather
to the Lord. Pastors and leaders in the body of Christ are under-shepherds
for the Lord. As David said, "The LORD is my shepherd."
It brings to mind the errors of the shepherding movement back
in the 70s. There was such an emphasis on human leadership in
the body of Christ that people got to the place where they almost
had to get permission from their "elder" to get out
of bed in the morning.
One group had a teaching on branches and twigs. . . the branches
being the elders. . . the twigs being the ordinary sheep of the
flock. The idea was that in order to receive the sap of the vine,
you must remain connected to your elder, who was more closely
aligned to the Lord. This teaching produced many malfunctioning
Christians, who began to believe that it was more important to
listen to their leaders than to listen to the Lord.
It is true that we do learn and grow from our relationships with
more mature believers. And God does speak to us and provide for
us spiritually through others in the church. However, we must
never forget that our true source of life, guidance and comfort
is the Lord Himself, rather than another human being.
When a leader falls, many believers fall with him, because their
roots are in the wrong place. They trust is in a human being or
an organization, rather than the Lord. The Bible says, "Put
not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there
is no help." (Psalms 146:3, KJV).
David said, "The LORD is my shepherd." David was able
to slay Goliath, not because of his relationship with another
human being, but because of his relationship with the Lord. I
often picture David, the young shepherd boy, sitting on a hill
somewhere, watching over his flock, perhaps under a starlit sky,
worshipping God, communing with the Lord, spending time with Him.
David knew his God. This is where many Christians are missing
it. The know their pastor. They know the people in their church.
They know "Christianeze." They have a Christian bumper
sticker and Jesus jewelry, but they don't really know the Lord.
They spend time in church, but they don't spend time with the
Lord. To be a Christian who will stand in the storms of life,
who will stand when others fall, you must have a personal relationship
with the Lord. . . and that means spending time with Him in prayer
and meditation of His Word. There is no substitute.
The Lord reveals Himself in many areas of His character, nature
and operation in our lives. He is Savior. He is Healer. He is
Lord. In Psalm 23, we recognize His as our Shepherd. . . or our
Pastor.
As Shepherd, He is our protector, our guide, the One who feeds
us, the One who comforts us. When Jesus was about to go the cross,
He told His disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you. (John 14:18, KJV). Every believer, regardless
of their level of maturity, spiritual or physical age, can have
a personal relationship with the Lord Himself and receive tangible
spiritual comfort, peace, guidance and help in time of need.
Yes, thank God for the help we receive from other Christians and
from leaders, but don't let that be a substitute for receiving
from the Lord Himself.
If you've got your eyes on some person, you will be disappointed,
no matter how sterling of a character they seem to possess. Maybe
it's a wonderful pastor or a powerful television preacher, but
whoever it is, they are human, they are subject to temptation
and they are fallible. We must realize, even those we respect
most, have missed it. I dare say (forgive me if you think I am
blaspheming) even Billy Graham is not perfect.
Perhaps this is why Jesus said, "And call no man your father
upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
(Matthew 23:9, KJV).
Like everything in the Christian life, balance is required. It
you think that you don't need other Christians and you don't need
teachers or ministers, you are wrong. The scriptures clearly teach
that the Lord has ordained a fivefold ministry (apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers) for the perfecting the saints.
. . (Eph 4:11-12). The Bible also tells us that we are to forsake
not the assembling or ourselves together. (Heb. 10:25) Lone ranger
Christians quickly become very strange.
The scriptures also tell us that we are to respect leadership
in the church, not because they are perfect, but because they
are God's workers. "And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians
5:12-13, KJV). There is a realm of authority which is given by
God to leaders in the church, to govern and guide the church.
Respect the leaders that God has placed in your life. However,
don't expect them to take the place of God.
I want to encourage you today in your devotional time to go to
the Lord Himself in prayer. Open your Bible and meditate the 23rd
Psalm. Apply it to your own life. Meditate the 14th, 15th, and
16th chapters of the book of John. Jesus said, "I am the
vine, you are the branches. Abide in me and I will abide in you."
Yes, you can enjoy unshakable faith and a steadfast relationship
with God that will bring strength to you every day of your life.
He is there for you today!
God bless you!