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| Feed My Sheep, not the Goats |
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There are seveal analogies that describe the two kinds of people in and around the church environment like wheat and tares. To ancient peoples, the goats and sheep would have more meaning than to us because they were knowledgeable about agriculture. For the most part today, we are not.
So, if we let the wheat and tares (sheep and goats) grow up together until the kingdom, yet are required to only feed the sheep, how do we do that? Goats act different to sheep. They will often feed themselves. In a mixed flock, they often tend to butt the sheep out of the way, in order to get to the feed.
How does that work in a church setting. Often, we see church politics playing a role, as the goats vie for office by stepping all over others in a shoving match. Sheep may tend to wait in the background, patiently waiting for their master.
Does that mean that every display of politicking is goaty rather than sheepy? Not necessarily! Some older ewes and even some long horned rams are known for riding roughshod over other sheep. Our job is to feed the sheep. The goaty types will get theirs anyway, and we pray for their miraculous transformation into true sheep. Goaty types can be like the squeaky wheel, that gets all the grease, leaving none for the true sheep.
So, if we are to feed the sheep, we must have some idea of what a sheep is. Like in a flock of sheep and goats, the sheep are often the gentler, less domineering personalities -- the followers of Christ -- as opposed to the power hungry ways of men. Perhaps that means that we must give these sheep special attention, and not allow the head-butting personalities to distract us, otherwise those all important sheep may miss out. |
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| To add a comment to "Feed My Sheep, not the Goats" |
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| August 09, 2008 |
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| Excellent!!! |
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| August 09, 2008 |
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Heard one Pastor say that you can always tell a goat because they say: "Buuutt Pastor"
Yes, you are so right.. and it is so sad that the squeaky wheel usually gets the oil. |
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| August 10, 2008 |
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| Baaa baaa! |
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| August 10, 2008 |
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Yes, the ol 20%, 80% rule.
You spend 80% of your efforts on 20% of the sheep.
While the 80% of the sheep get 20% of the efforts! |
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| August 12, 2008 |
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"Sheep may tend to wait in the background, patiently waiting for their master."
This may be me. Either that or I'm just plain chicken to step up and vie for that leadership role in our church. |
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| August 13, 2008 |
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| Cheryl, thank you kind lady. Todd, that was good. Jay, baa back at ya friend. Tom, that is so true. Mike, believe me, if it's only a fight and people attack you constantly, it ain't worth it. Peace is better than any leadership position where strife is involved. I stepped back from leadership for that very reason in our situation. Blessings! |
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