Understanding The Biblical Roles Of The Shepherd (Pastor) And The Sheep (Church Member)

A shepherd caring for and leading a flock of sheep is the analogy that God chose to use throughout the Scriptures, as a picture of how a pastor is in regards to the congregation he is placed over. In the western culture in the 21st century, we have strayed so far from the understanding and carrying out of these roles, to the point where pastors are rarely trusted, followed, or seen as visionary leaders, (unfortunately, in rare cases with good reason), and congregations have grown to believe it is their job, their role to steer, and at times correct, the pastor.

First off, that is not biblical and is never the case. When church members ask who a pastor is accountable to, the answer first of all; is God himself, and then those that the Lord has placed over the pastor. The pastor will answer to God, and to those he is under, for how he has led the flock entrusted to his care. Besides, if he is not cognizant and respectful of his responsibility before God, what worry would he pay to the people? Everyone must be accountable to someone over them in the Lord, and a Godly leader will not place themselves in a position of having zero accountability or true spiritual covering. But NEVER do you see sheep on a hillside or in a pasture correcting the shepherd!

In Jeremiah 3:15, God said, “Behold, I give you pastors according to MY heart that will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” The term “pastor”, is never used in description or identification of anything negative. The Scriptures refer to “false teachers”, “false prophets”, but never false pastors. It’s because the term “pastor” is reserved for those who genuinely care for and lead the sheep, while the bible identifies anyone who is selfishly motivated in it, not as a “pastor”, but as a “hireling”. And people are told to flee from them.

Some people who feel as though they are self-appointed “watchmen” over the pastor will often quote or use Matthew 7:15 which says to, “Beware of false teachers who come to you and appear in sheep‘s clothing, but are inside as ravenous wolves.” This will often be the key verse they will use in defense that they have been given a “God-given responsibility or authority” to police and scrutinize the pastor. That is taking that verse entirely out of context and twisting it into something that it was never intended to mean. To begin with, that scripture was given to leaders to care for and warn their flocks of those who would seek to come in, (disguised as one of the sheep), and cause harm through dividing and devouring the flock. It was not talking about a shepherd. A shepherd does not come to his flock dressed like one of the sheep, trying to blend in, he is clothed and recognizable as a shepherd.

One of the things that was the most recognizable and that identified a shepherd, was the “shepherd’s crook” that he carried. This crook was a multi-purpose tool that he was equipped with, to aid in his care and protection over his sheep. At one end was a hook, that he would use to gently pull the sheep back into the flock if they strayed too far away, lagged behind, or got themselves in or near a place of possible danger.

If that gentle pulling didn’t work, or if the sheep fought against it or didn’t learn, the crook was made of a hardwood and the shepherd would sternly, but not abusively, tap or strike the sheep. This was for the purpose of teaching and getting its attention more directly, and was also always for the care and safety of the sheep individually, and the flock as a whole.

At the other end of the long crook, was a straight end known as the “rod” or the “staff”. This end was usually pointed and was used to jab at and/or fight off any wolves or would be predators that would try to come and harm the sheep, as the shepherd would place himself between the sheep and the attacker, often at risk to his own personal safety, for the protection and preservation of the sheep.

One final and often misunderstood act of the shepherd in his caring for the flock, was that in extreme cases when a small or a young sheep would continue to stray, not heeding the gentle pull of the shepherd from the hooked end of his crook, and not responding or learning from the more stern tapping or striking by the shepherd, the shepherd may actually break one of the legs of that stubborn and self-endangering sheep. As brutal and abusive as that may sound on the surface, one must understand the nature and intent of this extreme act. It was not at all done out of cruelty or as punishment, nor was it out of anger, as the shepherd would not maim the sheep and then leave it behind to starve to death or be abandoned to be devoured by a wolf. Just the opposite, the shepherd would then literally take the immense responsibility of personally carrying and constantly holding that sheep close to himself, feeding and caring for it to demonstrate his love for that sheep, while at the same time keeping it safe until it was able to walk again on its own with the understanding of the shepherd’s love, care, and desire to protect it.

The shepherd had many roles and responsibilities in his care of; feeding, guiding, protecting, and caring for the sheep that were entrusted to him as part of his flock. But the shepherd however, was ALWAYS to lead and not be led by the sheep. For the shepherd to follow the sheep, or allow the rest of the flock to be led by one of the sheep, would reflect negligence in him carrying out his responsibilities, and would also ultimately result in the devastation of the flock, either in the loss of one at a time, or in many at once.

Like shepherds with their sheep, pastors help people in their congregations heal, grow, and become all that God has purposed them to be by “...equipping the saints to carry out the ministry, for the sake of the unity and the maturing of the body as a whole" (Ephesians 4:12-16). And that is exactly what pastors are to do in “walking worthy of the vocation they were called to” (Ephesians 4:1). Sometimes it is frustrating, can be resisted, and is often misunderstood. But sometimes it carry’s with it rewards that no one outside of that calling can imagine or relate to.

In the same way, being a Godly, fruit-bearing, productive member of a flock/congregation can also be frustrating, confusing, and difficult at times. That’s why the writer of Hebrews admonishes those in congregations to, “Have confidence in your spiritual leaders and submit to their authority, because they care and keep watch over you as those who must give an account to God. Do this so that their work will be a joy, and not a burden, for that would be of no benefit or advantage to you at all” (Hebrews 13:17). Praying for, encouraging, and supporting your pastor will always be appreciated and will result in helping them be who God desires them to be. Leave the "fixing" of them, up to God.

Whatever your role, shepherd or sheep, pastor or parishioner, we should all strive to know it, and to function or behave in unity, harmony and in accordance with Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians when he said, “...Whatever you do, do it all unto the glory of God.” (1st Corinthians 10:31).