One of the common ways church leaders see themselves is as shepherds. They lead their flock. The sheep, dumb animals that we are, follow. (Or we are at least, supposed to.) These shepherds cite scripture to justify their position. Jesus is the over-shepherd, they are the under-shepherds - and the rest of us are mutton.
But, if you're going to call yourself a shepherd and justify your actions via such usage then it's important to understand what a shepherd was in biblical times.
Shepherds were decidedly lower class. Many writers call them a "despised class." Most were youngest sons or hirelings. (See Jesus' comments on sheep, shepherds and hirelings in John 10.) They lived with their sheep, smelled like their sheep, defended their sheep from prey (physically) and their world revolved around their sheep. They knew their sheep by name.
The rod and staff were tools of their trade. The hook on the staff would be used to pull sheep out of danger. The rod would be used for both protection and discipline. It is said that a sheep that constantly wandered away would have a leg broken by the shepherd's use of the rod. But then the Shepherd would carry that sheep while the leg healed - taking intimate care of it during the healing process - and the sheep would become so attached to the shepherd it would never run away again. (The leg-breaking part sounds a lot like church discipline - I haven't heard of many cases of care and love during the healing process, however.)
Shepherds only managed flocks to a size they could handle - probably in the 100 sheep range. Sometimes they would combine their flocks with those of other shepherds - and work together - while still remaining completely aware of which sheep they were responsible for. (Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep would suggest the hearers of that parable understand the importance of each sheep.)
So. Present day Christian leaders (or wannabes) who want to be known as shepherds and want to call the rest of us sheep, (and yes, whining Mega-Church, pirate-fearing, gold-loving Pastor I'm talking to you) if you want to be known as a shepherd - live the life. Recognize your humble station in life - decidedly lower class. Live amongst the sheep you've been called to. Smell like them. Know their names. Protect them. Carry them when necessary.
All the while realizing that you are but one of them.
Full Version: So You Want to be a Shepherd?
Once upon a time, there was a tomato plant. It was the most beautiful of tomato plants in the garden, but it would not grow like the other tomato plants. The wise woman would water the plant and make sure it had plenty of sunshine, and even talk to the plant; saying "Mr. Tomato plant, you look so beautiful today. Why don't you grow like the rest of your tomato plant brothers?"
The tomato plant would not listen, for he was content to enjoy the sunshine, and the water, and the evening talks with the wise woman of the garden.
One day the wise woman of the garden decided to move the tomato plant to another place, where she thought the tomato plant would grow. When she did this, the tomato plant still refused to grow, for he was a very happy tomato plant, and was getting much attention from the wise woman of the garden. He was still getting his sunshine, and his water, and now a new view. Life for the small tomato plant was wonderful. He had no care in the world.
The wise woman of the garden was not satisfied with the growth of the tomato plant, for she knew his potential. She knew that tomato plant had the potential to put off wonderful fruits and she knew that as long as tomato plant was content and happy, that tomato plant would be satisfied sitting in the sunshine and drinking in the rain.
So one day the wise woman told tomato plant that he needed "Trouble" in his life. "Trouble?" questioned the tomato plant. "Yes, trouble." said the wise woman, "for you have been content and happy for too long and your brothers are growing and have become more mature than you. They are putting forth yellow flowers and some even have small pieces of fruit on them." With this the wise woman pinched off a few of the leaves on the tomato plant.
The tomato plant screamed with the pain and cried as the green juices of his stems swelled to the injured areas. "Now I will have to work to repair myself." cried the tomato plant. "Yes, said the wise woman and with reparation comes growth."
So the tomato plant grew.
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
The tomato plant would not listen, for he was content to enjoy the sunshine, and the water, and the evening talks with the wise woman of the garden.
One day the wise woman of the garden decided to move the tomato plant to another place, where she thought the tomato plant would grow. When she did this, the tomato plant still refused to grow, for he was a very happy tomato plant, and was getting much attention from the wise woman of the garden. He was still getting his sunshine, and his water, and now a new view. Life for the small tomato plant was wonderful. He had no care in the world.
The wise woman of the garden was not satisfied with the growth of the tomato plant, for she knew his potential. She knew that tomato plant had the potential to put off wonderful fruits and she knew that as long as tomato plant was content and happy, that tomato plant would be satisfied sitting in the sunshine and drinking in the rain.
So one day the wise woman told tomato plant that he needed "Trouble" in his life. "Trouble?" questioned the tomato plant. "Yes, trouble." said the wise woman, "for you have been content and happy for too long and your brothers are growing and have become more mature than you. They are putting forth yellow flowers and some even have small pieces of fruit on them." With this the wise woman pinched off a few of the leaves on the tomato plant.
The tomato plant screamed with the pain and cried as the green juices of his stems swelled to the injured areas. "Now I will have to work to repair myself." cried the tomato plant. "Yes, said the wise woman and with reparation comes growth."
So the tomato plant grew.
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
QUOTE (LilaTheGreat @ Jun 20 2008, 09:42 AM) 
Once upon a time, there was a tomato plant.
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
Awesome!!!!!
Once upon a time... a monkey lived in a great tree on a river bank. In the river there were many Crocodiles. A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son: "My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat."
And the little Crocodile thought and thought. At last he said to himself: "I know what I'll do. I'll get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he Crocodile was not very bright.
"Oh, Monkey," he called, "Come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey. "I do not swim."
"No—but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile.
The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodile's back.
"Off we go!" said the Crocodile.
"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey.
"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" Asked the Crocodile, diving.
"Oh, don't!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water. He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.
When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked.
"Why did you take me underwater, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I am going to kill you by keeping you underwater," answered the Crocodile. "My mother wants Monkey-heart to eat, and I'm going to take yours to her."
"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me."
"How queer!" said the ignorant Crocodile, "Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?"
"That is what I mean," said the Monkey.
"If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."
"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "I’ll take you straight back to your tree. Never mind the ripe fruit. Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then we’ll see about going to the island."
"Very well," said the Monkey.
But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than—whisk! Up he ran into the tree. From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water below:
"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!
And the little Crocodile thought and thought. At last he said to himself: "I know what I'll do. I'll get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he Crocodile was not very bright.
"Oh, Monkey," he called, "Come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey. "I do not swim."
"No—but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile.
The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodile's back.
"Off we go!" said the Crocodile.
"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey.
"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" Asked the Crocodile, diving.
"Oh, don't!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water. He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.
When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked.
"Why did you take me underwater, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I am going to kill you by keeping you underwater," answered the Crocodile. "My mother wants Monkey-heart to eat, and I'm going to take yours to her."
"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me."
"How queer!" said the ignorant Crocodile, "Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?"
"That is what I mean," said the Monkey.
"If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."
"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "I’ll take you straight back to your tree. Never mind the ripe fruit. Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then we’ll see about going to the island."
"Very well," said the Monkey.
But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than—whisk! Up he ran into the tree. From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water below:
"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!
Shiite...I thought this thread was all about sheep.
Excuse me while I grab a swig of Woolite.
Excuse me while I grab a swig of Woolite.
QUOTE (zemo @ Jun 20 2008, 08:05 PM)
Shiite...I thought this thread was all about sheep.
Excuse me while I grab a swig of Woolite.
Excuse me while I grab a swig of Woolite.
Well... it started out that way
QUOTE (Hannibal @ Jun 20 2008, 11:06 AM)
One of the common ways church leaders see themselves is as shepherds. They lead their flock. The sheep, dumb animals that we are, follow. (Or we are at least, supposed to.) These shepherds cite scripture to justify their position. Jesus is the over-shepherd, they are the under-shepherds - and the rest of us are mutton.
But, if you're going to call yourself a shepherd and justify your actions via such usage then it's important to understand what a shepherd was in biblical times.
Shepherds were decidedly lower class. Many writers call them a "despised class." Most were youngest sons or hirelings. (See Jesus' comments on sheep, shepherds and hirelings in John 10.) They lived with their sheep, smelled like their sheep, defended their sheep from prey (physically) and their world revolved around their sheep. They knew their sheep by name.
The rod and staff were tools of their trade. The hook on the staff would be used to pull sheep out of danger. The rod would be used for both protection and discipline. It is said that a sheep that constantly wandered away would have a leg broken by the shepherd's use of the rod. But then the Shepherd would carry that sheep while the leg healed - taking intimate care of it during the healing process - and the sheep would become so attached to the shepherd it would never run away again. (The leg-breaking part sounds a lot like church discipline - I haven't heard of many cases of care and love during the healing process, however.)
Shepherds only managed flocks to a size they could handle - probably in the 100 sheep range. Sometimes they would combine their flocks with those of other shepherds - and work together - while still remaining completely aware of which sheep they were responsible for. (Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep would suggest the hearers of that parable understand the importance of each sheep.)
So. Present day Christian leaders (or wannabes) who want to be known as shepherds and want to call the rest of us sheep, (and yes, whining Mega-Church, pirate-fearing, gold-loving Pastor I'm talking to you) if you want to be known as a shepherd - live the life. Recognize your humble station in life - decidedly lower class. Live amongst the sheep you've been called to. Smell like them. Know their names. Protect them. Carry them when necessary.
All the while realizing that you are but one of them.
But, if you're going to call yourself a shepherd and justify your actions via such usage then it's important to understand what a shepherd was in biblical times.
Shepherds were decidedly lower class. Many writers call them a "despised class." Most were youngest sons or hirelings. (See Jesus' comments on sheep, shepherds and hirelings in John 10.) They lived with their sheep, smelled like their sheep, defended their sheep from prey (physically) and their world revolved around their sheep. They knew their sheep by name.
The rod and staff were tools of their trade. The hook on the staff would be used to pull sheep out of danger. The rod would be used for both protection and discipline. It is said that a sheep that constantly wandered away would have a leg broken by the shepherd's use of the rod. But then the Shepherd would carry that sheep while the leg healed - taking intimate care of it during the healing process - and the sheep would become so attached to the shepherd it would never run away again. (The leg-breaking part sounds a lot like church discipline - I haven't heard of many cases of care and love during the healing process, however.)
Shepherds only managed flocks to a size they could handle - probably in the 100 sheep range. Sometimes they would combine their flocks with those of other shepherds - and work together - while still remaining completely aware of which sheep they were responsible for. (Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep would suggest the hearers of that parable understand the importance of each sheep.)
So. Present day Christian leaders (or wannabes) who want to be known as shepherds and want to call the rest of us sheep, (and yes, whining Mega-Church, pirate-fearing, gold-loving Pastor I'm talking to you) if you want to be known as a shepherd - live the life. Recognize your humble station in life - decidedly lower class. Live amongst the sheep you've been called to. Smell like them. Know their names. Protect them. Carry them when necessary.
All the while realizing that you are but one of them.
And the shepherds were those that lived outside the communities.
Don't forget that Jesus was killed actually after he entered one of those communities.
My view is coming by way of Michael Grant's history of ancient Israel.
QUOTE (LilaTheGreat @ Jun 20 2008, 11:42 AM)
Once upon a time, there was a tomato plant. It was the most beautiful of tomato plants in the garden, but it would not grow like the other tomato plants. The wise woman would water the plant and make sure it had plenty of sunshine, and even talk to the plant; saying "Mr. Tomato plant, you look so beautiful today. Why don't you grow like the rest of your tomato plant brothers?"
The tomato plant would not listen, for he was content to enjoy the sunshine, and the water, and the evening talks with the wise woman of the garden.
One day the wise woman of the garden decided to move the tomato plant to another place, where she thought the tomato plant would grow. When she did this, the tomato plant still refused to grow, for he was a very happy tomato plant, and was getting much attention from the wise woman of the garden. He was still getting his sunshine, and his water, and now a new view. Life for the small tomato plant was wonderful. He had no care in the world.
The wise woman of the garden was not satisfied with the growth of the tomato plant, for she knew his potential. She knew that tomato plant had the potential to put off wonderful fruits and she knew that as long as tomato plant was content and happy, that tomato plant would be satisfied sitting in the sunshine and drinking in the rain.
So one day the wise woman told tomato plant that he needed "Trouble" in his life. "Trouble?" questioned the tomato plant. "Yes, trouble." said the wise woman, "for you have been content and happy for too long and your brothers are growing and have become more mature than you. They are putting forth yellow flowers and some even have small pieces of fruit on them." With this the wise woman pinched off a few of the leaves on the tomato plant.
The tomato plant screamed with the pain and cried as the green juices of his stems swelled to the injured areas. "Now I will have to work to repair myself." cried the tomato plant. "Yes, said the wise woman and with reparation comes growth."
So the tomato plant grew.
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
The tomato plant would not listen, for he was content to enjoy the sunshine, and the water, and the evening talks with the wise woman of the garden.
One day the wise woman of the garden decided to move the tomato plant to another place, where she thought the tomato plant would grow. When she did this, the tomato plant still refused to grow, for he was a very happy tomato plant, and was getting much attention from the wise woman of the garden. He was still getting his sunshine, and his water, and now a new view. Life for the small tomato plant was wonderful. He had no care in the world.
The wise woman of the garden was not satisfied with the growth of the tomato plant, for she knew his potential. She knew that tomato plant had the potential to put off wonderful fruits and she knew that as long as tomato plant was content and happy, that tomato plant would be satisfied sitting in the sunshine and drinking in the rain.
So one day the wise woman told tomato plant that he needed "Trouble" in his life. "Trouble?" questioned the tomato plant. "Yes, trouble." said the wise woman, "for you have been content and happy for too long and your brothers are growing and have become more mature than you. They are putting forth yellow flowers and some even have small pieces of fruit on them." With this the wise woman pinched off a few of the leaves on the tomato plant.
The tomato plant screamed with the pain and cried as the green juices of his stems swelled to the injured areas. "Now I will have to work to repair myself." cried the tomato plant. "Yes, said the wise woman and with reparation comes growth."
So the tomato plant grew.
WRITTEN BY LILA THE GREAT
The rain came through the roof and the Zen master told his 2 students to do something.
One student brought a bucket to catch the rain. The other brought a basket.
The master praised one and admonished the other.
( No doubt the admonished one went on to become a sheep in the next life, while the other became a shepherd. IMHO )
You know, I think one of the gravest manifistations of the Republican Revolution is that they have stolen Christ from the rest of us. I am as Democrat as they come, i hosted 10 Howard Dean meet ups, I voted for John Edwards in the California Primary, and I will most certainly vote for Obama in the fall. I also happen to go to Church twice a week. Most Democrats believe in God, but the Republicans have cornered the market on religion.
QUOTE (Danadude @ Jun 20 2008, 08:24 PM)
You know, I think one of the gravest manifistations of the Republican Revolution is that they have stolen Christ from the rest of us.
The only thing they have stolen is Truth and replaced it with ignorance, greed, desire and attachment.
QUOTE
I am as Democrat as they come, i hosted 10 Howard Dean meet ups, I voted for John Edwards in the California Primary, and I will most certainly vote for Obama in the fall.
You activist you... I voted Edwards too.
QUOTE
I also happen to go to Church twice a week.
By chance are there any teachings of being beyond servitude for all time and eternity?
QUOTE
Most Democrats believe in God,
Do they...? How about those of us who do not believe in God, and yet know that there is a state of something far greater than enternity trapped in servitude?
A state that can be obtained without Theology? Those of us who are highly spiritual, who believe that the ever lasting is greater than a simple Theistic sense of being?
QUOTE
but the Republicans have cornered the market on religion.
No... they have not.
Look, everyone is free to believe what they want to believe. This country is 90% Christian, and there is a lot more Democrats then Republicans.
Faith has nothing whatsoever to do with servitude. If you choose to serve God and lead a christian life, it is your choice, no one forces you to it. God gave us the free will to believe in whatever we want. All I am saying is it is OK to believe in God, or not, and be a Democrat.
The only thing God wants us to do is be nice to one another, take care of each other. That's it. That's why I'm a Democrat. The Republicans are way too mean.
Peace.
Faith has nothing whatsoever to do with servitude. If you choose to serve God and lead a christian life, it is your choice, no one forces you to it. God gave us the free will to believe in whatever we want. All I am saying is it is OK to believe in God, or not, and be a Democrat.
The only thing God wants us to do is be nice to one another, take care of each other. That's it. That's why I'm a Democrat. The Republicans are way too mean.
Peace.
This is what I have learned from sheep: No matter how nice they are, no matter how much they wag their little tails when you scratch under their ears, never, ever, turn your back on a mature ram. They just can't help themselves.
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