Under-shepherd of Christ

What does it mean to be an under-shepherd under the “good shepherd”?

By Danny Zachariah, Superintendent, Asia

The indelible image of Christ washing the feet of the disciples is a powerful reminder that we are to be servant leaders to our congregations. We learn this by following the example of our good shepherd who set the model for church leadership.

God’s people are referred to as “the flock” (Acts 20:28). Peter specifically exhorts elders of the church to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you …” (1 Peter 5:2). The Lord is identified as a shepherd in Psalm 23. Jesus refers to himself as the “good shepherd” who would take the effort to know and lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Interestingly, “… the Lamb of God called Himself the Good Shepherd — rather than the Good Servant or the Good Fisherman, the Good Carpenter or the Good Stonemason?”[1] muses author, Holly Culhane.

The Biblical metaphor of shepherds tending sheep is clearly endorsed as a leadership pattern for church elders. Peter’s reference to Christ as the “chief shepherd” makes it clear that we are his under-shepherds. How do we understand the role and function of an under-shepherd? A few pivotal ones are highlighted in this short article.

Love and care for the sheep

Jesus leaving the ninety-nine and tending to the one is indicative of how genuinely he cares, even if it is just the one. Simply put, this is relational leadership — a leadership pattern that pursues a relationship of love. Jesus wants to know every person and to make himself known. That care is not superficial. He will not stop even if it means sacrifice on his part.

Jesus’ question to Peter before he asks him to tend his sheep is, “do you love me?” It is that love which should motivate Peter to lead him to the task of feeding the sheep. It is this love that will instill trust in the sheep to follow. Under-shepherds must recognize that a loving relationship with the sheep makes the task a passionate calling — not just an occupation. In this paradigm, the flock never becomes an inconvenience or a project, but a precious mission in loving care. As Mark Adams warns us, “If you love your vision more than you love the people you lead, you might even do them harm, rather than good …”[2]

Feed the sheep

Following Peter’s response, “you know that I love you,” Jesus said,  “feed my lambs.” The obvious intention of Jesus is that Peter’s love for him should extend to the sheep. This love manifests in leading the sheep into spiritual pasture to nurture their spiritual health and wellbeing. Under-shepherds have the crucial responsibility of providing a quality mix of teaching, preaching, pre-marriage counselling, and equipping. Discipling them so they not only gain and grow in knowledge, but also to provide opportunities to translate that discipling into practical participation in the larger ministry of Christ.

Paul expands the function of under-shepherds to include protecting the sheep from predators. Wishing farewell to elders from Ephesus, Paul makes an emotional appeal:

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! (Acts 20:28-31, NIV)

Notice that Paul warns the elders to “keep watch over yourselves … Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” Tying this up with Jesus’ response to Peter, “feed my lambs” — it’s important to understand the inherent danger that under-shepherds might succumb to the temptation of feeding themselves, instead of the lambs! Enough evidence is found in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, how under-shepherds could corrupt their role and turn against the sheep (Ezekiel 34:1-6, John 10:1-13). The other extreme is when under-shepherds lose focus of their role and become police instead. Joseph Tkach offers sage advice in this matter, “In times past, pastors often did function as moral police. Thankfully, those days are largely gone, except (regrettably) in cults that seek to control their members … If we’re not careful, we can momentarily forget that our calling is to participate with Jesus, the great Shepherd, in his ministry that extends to his sheep the transforming love and grace of God.”[3]

“Shepherd leadership doesn’t replace servant leadership, it deepens it.” This statement, by Culhane, is a good summary of how servant leadership and shepherd leadership works together. This combination promotes healthy leadership, which leads to healthy church.

By loving and feeding the flock, we are participating with Jesus in nurturing the sheep into spiritual wellbeing and making them competent for ministry. Servant and shepherd church leadership enables us to move towards the healthiest expression of the church of Jesus Christ.

[1] Culhane, Holly, Why Shepherd Leadership? Presence Point, presencepoint.com

[2] Adams, Mark, Pastoral Leadership: It’s About The Sheep, kingdomupgrowth.com

[3] Tkach, Joseph, Shepherds, Not Sheriffs, GCI UPDATE, April 2016