We church leaders have a language problem, I think. I mean, we’re just so bad to use words that aren’t very well defined, as though everyone knows exactly what we mean.
Recently, the elders at my church and the staff met to consider the church’s vision. The staff very quickly told the elders that we should be all about “making disciples.” Everyone sitting at the table heartily agreed.
I asked, “What’s a disciple?” Do we mean “disciple” in the Boston/Crossroads discipling movement sense? In the Dallas Willard/Richard Foster sense of someone who practices spiritual disciplines? Do we mean someone who is regular in attendance and a daily Bible reader? Do we mean someone who is committed to personal evangelism? You see, I’ve heard the term used in each of those senses. Which one is right?
(We’ll come back to this question.)
We have the same problem with “shepherd.” Church consultants and preachers and professors are pushing hard for elders to become “shepherds.” Often the ministers insist on calling the elders “shepherds.” We have this big push for a change in terminology. But what makes a shepherd a shepherd? And why on earth is one biblical term suddenly a better term than another just-as-biblical term?
Now, at a superficial level, no one could possibly argue against an elder being a “shepherd.” It’s a scriptural term. Who could complain about that? Well, it depends on what you mean by “shepherd.” You see, it’s entirely possible to use a biblical term for a non-biblical concept. What are we really aiming at here?
Let’s consider some functional definitions for “shepherd” commonly heard in lectures on shepherding —
• A shepherd spends his time in prayer and rubbing shoulders with the sheep, providing encouragement and comfort, but does not oversee the church. That’s left to the paid staff. (Elders get out of the way of the staff.)
• The church plans to grow by providing each member with a designated shepherd, who will be a source of emotional strength and encouragement — someone to call on for funerals, hospital visits, etc. (Elders are a service provided to the membership, like a coffee bar or nursery.)
• Shepherds are to be spiritual mentors, picking a few young men to mature in the faith, by teaching them how to care for the flock. (“Care for the flock” being defined per the above.)
But real shepherds with real sheep have as their primary task the feeding and watering of the flock. Sheep cannot find good pasture on their own — especially in the harsh Judean wilderness.
Shepherds also defend the flock from predators, especially wolves, and tend to the wounded. But their first task is to help the sheep find food and drink. Without a shepherd, the sheep may or may not be wounded or eaten, but they will certainly die very quickly from lack of food and water.
We miss this, reading the text as Americans, as our sheep feed in fields knee-deep in lush alfalfa. We get our image of “shepherd” from Heidi.
We think life is easy for sheep, who need a shepherd to handle the few, occasional things they can’t do for themselves — heal a broken leg, fight off a wolf. But the Biblical image is very different.
In the East, the sheep are kept far away from the farmlands. There’s not enough land to raise crops for both humans and sheep. Therefore, the sheep feed in the desert — living on scattered bits of plant life and watering holes.
- The Heidi version of shepherding
To call an elder a “shepherd” is to describe life as a desert — like the Judean wilderness. The elders are pictured as helping the flock find what they cannot find on their own — sustenance.
Water is hard to find in the desert, and no sheep can live long without it. A sheep will dehydrate and die within 24 hours — without a shepherd.
What then — to a Christian — is sustenance? What do we eat and drink to stay alive? What does the text say?
Feeding the flock
(Eze 34:14 ESV) 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.
(Psa 23:2-3 ESV) 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
What does it mean to lead the sheep “in paths of righteousness”? Where are green pastures and still waters?
Protection
Shepherds must protect the flock from wolves.
(Eze 34:5-6 ESV) 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
What’s a “wolf”? Chronic depression? Low esteem? A divorce? Poor personal financial management?
Teaching
(Act 20:24-27 ESV) 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
(Act 20:28-31 ESV) 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
Paul uses himself as an example of how to be an elder, speaking in terms of caring for “the flock.” His emphasis is on his teaching ministry. And then he warns against false teachers “speaking twisted things” — surely to be combated by teaching sound doctrine.
(Tit 1:9-11 ESV) 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
In Titus, Paul defines the task of a shepherd in terms of teaching the truth and rebuking error.
Oversight
(1Pe 5:1-3 ESV) So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
This is a tough passage. Elders have real, positional authority. They are to exercise authority, but cannot domineer. They must be examples. Examples of what?
Healing
(Eze 34:16-17 ESV) 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. 17 “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats.
Earlier, Ezekiel spoke of the sheep being scattered for lack of a shepherd, indeed, because the shepherds of Israel (the king, the rulers) have preyed on their own sheep.
(Eze 34:8-9 ESV) 8 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
When Paul speaks of wolves attacking the flock leaving them wounded, echoing the language of Ezekiel, he’s speaking of false doctrine —
(Act 20:29-30 ESV) 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
But doctrine seems so boring, so 20th Century! So un-edifying. What we really need are counselors, not teachers!
Something, somehow, is missing. The Scriptures talk about doctrine and we find doctrine insufferable. Many ministers and professors are pushing for a more psychological or counseling approach to church, and yet the text keeps pushing us toward doctrine.
But we’ve tried doctrine. And it hasn’t worked that well for us. What’s missing?
Equipping
(Heb 13:20-21 ESV) 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
How do we equip the flock “with everything good that you may do his will” and to do “that which is pleasing in his sight.”
Notice the emphasis. The point is that sheep be transformed, not merely encouraged and comforted. They should become “righteous.”
(Eph 4:11-16 ESV) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
We again encounter this idea of “equipping.” Now it’s “for the work of ministry” but ultimately “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” What does that mean?
Normally, the equipping ministry is thought of as dealing with church leadership skills or individual spiritual disciplines. But that’s not really what the text says, is it?
In fact, Paul says that shepherds are to equip the members so that they become like Jesus.
V. 15 says the same thing. “Grow up in every way … into Christ” means “become like Jesus.”
The result is that the body builds itself up in love. The body! Not only do the elders love the flock, but so does the entire body. It’s not about the elders loving the body so that it feels loved. It’s about the body being transformed into loving people — like Jesus — so that everyone does what needs to be done.
How might that work out in practice?
Jay,
You have just shattered a long held belief of mine that elders have no positional authority, only the authority of a righteous life.
I think my problem was that I had seen too many who used their position to get their way. They were overbearing and were not leading people to be like Jesus. I’ll have to think this over some more, but I think you may have corrected some bad thinking on my part.
Wouldn’t it mean less time in meetings of elders and more time with non-elders?
Jay puts it in the ten-ring when he says, “In fact, Paul says that shepherds are to equip the members so that they become like Jesus.” But I would drill down a bit into this, as the context of Ephesians 4 does not assign this task only to shepherds, but to five distinct gifts from Christ to the church.
Each of these “five-fold gifts” can be seen to reflect an aspect of the character of Christ. To receive and to reflect the “shepherd Jesus” we must learn to receive the pastoral care of the shepherds so we can truly receive the pastoral care of Jesus himself. This allows us to give that pastoral care to others around us in various measures. A good shepherd equips us to connect to THE Shepherd ourselves, and to reflect that aspect of Jesus’ character in our community.
There are other Christ-gifts as well, and I think we would do well to grasp them better and to receive them in the church. A mature shepherd will reflect the other four facets of Christ here as well, but the church functions best when we don’t make the shepherd carry the whole load, as this takes him beyond the measure given him.
As to positional authority, local elders do have it, but I believe it has been granted them AFTER they have exhibited spiritual authority and relational authority. A good elder might tell a brother, “This is what you should do.” But what is behind that instruction must be MUCH more than, “Because I’m an elder, that’s why!”
Jay,
Why not let Jesus define what a “disciple” is?
Matthew 10:24; Luke 14:25-33; John 8:31-32, 10:4, 13:34-35, and 15:8. Of course we could find more.
And why not let Jesus and the apostles define what it means to be an elder-overseer-pastor? Do I even need to provide any more scriptures than you have already begun to address? Perhaps Psalm 23 and John 10 would be good places to define the role of shepherds-elders-overseers in more completeness?
And before we go talking about “positional authority”, why not let Jesus and the apostles educate us in what GOD intends ‘authority’ to mean? Western 20th-21st century models are assuredly NOT God’s definitions. There are 7 words for authority (at least) in the original languages and a survey of the passages where they are used makes it pretty clear that modern definitions have no place in God’s intentions for elders-overseers-pastors. Jesus used the most inclusive term for only Himself (Matthew 28) and the only time the term is used for ‘unquestionable authority’ (as many see the term) is when Paul tells Timothy to teach “with all authority” – which, in context, is still NOT as absolute as many want to pretend – either honestly or with hidden intent.
Assuming anything positional MUST BE kept in alignment with what Jesus said about ‘leaders not being like those among the Gentiles’ – that is, NOT lords over the people of God in ANY way. The idea that shepherds-overseers-elders are THE decision makers in the congregations is an abomination stemming from a failure to become familiar with ALL that the Lord (who has ALL AUTHORITY) has taught us about that “position.” Isn’t it past time we got over ourselves a bit and stopped trying to be power-brokers about this in a struggle between leaders (elders, preachers, deacons, ministry leaders, Bible Class teachers, et al) who are intended to deliberately NOT accept that model – according to Jesus?????
There are over 200 scriptures that address authority and its uses. A comprehensive look at those passages can clear this up. Why is that so hard? Pride? Arrogance? Lack of a servant’s heart? Traditionalism? Progressivism? Laziness? Bad teaching?
Take the same approach to ‘what authority is’ and ‘who has it’ and ‘what it exists for’ that you desire to take concerning what it means to be an elder-shepherd-overseer. Using modern models for what a disciple is, what an elder is, or what authority is are all instances of using models to produce something modern that strays away from what Jesus and the apostles taught by the inspiration of God’s Spirit. Applications can be tailored, but the basis for those applications is settled…by Jesus and the NT writers.
How about a little more consistency in study here, too?
Incredulously,
Grizz
The below is my opinion and for what it’s worth, but “I do approve of this message.”
The scriptures concerning elders were analyzed for us by CENI scholars many years ago. How many times have we rehearsed the same traditional pathways, each time reproving to ourselves that we are faithful to the “NT pattern.” “New” ideas are only variations on the old theme — the difference being which of the Greek words are under current emphasis — elder, overseer, or shepherd. The current emphasis on “shepherd” is more a cyclic reaction to the past image of an overbearing dictatorship than it is based on scripture. One approach to initiating a change from something too binding is to dissociate oneself from the previous “outdated” model. Thus, academic programs say the NT doesn’t speak to the function of elders, so we are free to design our own model that works for us; and these programs train ministers under the idea that they are CEO’s. Let the educated ones run the church; you guys head for the pasture where you belong. The still, small voice of the Spirit of unity is not heard. More important things are shouting, like organization and increase of whatever.
The hermeneutic of CENI seemed to be based on the strength of technical Greek analysis, but actually its level of analysis was superficial. We traditionally treat the instructions in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5 as applying to individual elders. The descriptions of characteristics predicting good leadership in Timothy and Titus can be applied individually; but other places refer to an eldership, which is the total group taken as ONE, and not the sum of individuals. Each individual contributes strength to the group. The congregation should see the group, not a bunch of individuals.
The Greek word for “shepherd” is a verb in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5; it is a noun in Eph. 4. The Greek word for “overseer” is a noun in the above verses. One of the things an overseer does is to shepherd — to pastor (an action, not an office). But it is possible that “pastor” as meaning “one who pastors” is bigger than the meaning of an elder who “pastors” (shepherds, tend the sheep, etc). There may be many pastors, but not all are elders. There may be many other “pastors” meaning those who are shepherding — connection group leaders, ladies’ groups, youth ministers, etc. The eldership, as pastors, models how it is to be done according to the pattern of the Great Shepherd. Elders are overseers (noun) who pastor (verb), and as overseers it is the eldership’s responsibility to see that all pastoring that is done under their watch is according to the pattern of the Great Shepherd, and they are leading the way in how to accomplish this.
Jesus left the Spirit to fill His physical absence. Does that mean there is no physical image of Jesus for people to emulate? Hang a picture? Put up a statue? Appoint a person? The authority of the Holy Spirit was given to an eldership of overseers to show Jesus to the congregation. Not given to the Show Jesus Committee. It is the eldership. What does the eldership show?
An eldership models how to work together and help one another to collectively show the most complete and perfect image of Jesus possible. How a group of people fit together and combine strengths and help weaknesses so that the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is physically demonstrated before the congregation. This is how it’s done; now this eldership is holding this congregation accountable to do likewise. The eldership will oversee the process so that all the gifted leaders in Eph 4 work for the same goal and the eldership will model how to pastor those who need instruction and help and encouragement. And the congregation will all follow the lead of the eldership as they, in the unity of the Spirit, submit to Jesus.
Unity is not uniformity. It isn’t “if you can come to our terms, resign.” Pride, selfishness, all works of the flesh must be eradicated from the relationships within an eldership. Jealousy and arrogance and control and divisiveness in an eldership will split the church in almost the exact same proportions as it did the eldership.
An elder receives authority from a united eldership. The “positional” authority from the office is the position of kneeling in service. The position that Jesus took when He washed the disciples’ feet. The eldership models that.
One person cannot model all of Jesus working alone, and one person cannot demonstrate what unity in the Spirit looks like in human form. The eldership is a “mini body of Christ” for the congregation to see – this is what unity in the body of Christ looks like. This is what humility and service looks like. This is what being led by the Spirit looks like. Now that you have seen it, this is what we will all do.
What ministerial staff would want this type of eldership to keep out of the way and mind their own meddling business?
What is a wolf? How about humanistic thinking and post-modernism? Humanistic thinking is from the flesh, and the church is full of it. It is the responsibility of the eldership to keep it out of the church, by teaching and by example, and the eldership will be accountable to the charge of the Holy Spirit for what they did or failed to do.
We have a big attitude problem. Those who look down their self-defined doctrinally correct noses at others who “don’t do it right” are so distracted by their own hypocrisy that are blinded to the savagery going on in their own congregation.
IMO, this summarizes the NT pattern for church leadership. We need to operate according to the scripture and the example of Jesus and not toss this aside and adopt some corporation’s organizational chart. The details of an organizational pattern may differ, but the concept of modeling unity in peace, love, service, and humility must be foremost. This is a description of an ideal, and it is unlikely that any eldership will reach such perfection, but first of all we have to get on the right track.
Seems to me that each elder/shepherd should have Paul’s concern expressed in Philippians 1:25, i.e. “I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you ‘for your progress and joy in the faith’…” I want each believer to make progress and find the joy Jesus made possible, just as I have been about all these years. A group of elders, ministers, deacons, and spouses, families, etc. should become a core fellowship in the church that models “love one another as I have loved you” so that we can lead everyone to the same, knowing God’s Spirit is bringing this about. We not only respond promptly to hurting, struggling, straying sheep, with the heart of the Good Shepherd, but we steer all in the flock toward doing the same toward one another. The community of believers should become the safest and most fulfilling place to live out THIS life, growing in anticipation of a fellowship together in Christ with God beyond this life that is forever! : )
Jerry,
Thanks. I think you’ve nailed it.