During my own times of study, I've become increasingly aware that the Bible was written in an agrarian context, but I live in modern suburbia world. When the Scriptures talk about themes of harvest and seasons, I understand them with my head but not my heart.

In a journey dubbed Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, & Wild Honey, I travelled to Oregon to spend time with a shepherdess and her flock, Nebraska to visit a farmer and his nephew, southern Colorado to peek inside a beehive, and California to learn about viticulture. Along the way, I opened the Scriptures, asking each person how they read various passages, not as theologians, but in light of what they did every day. Their answers illuminated passages of the Bible in a whole new way and deepened my relationship with God. My time with the shepherdess illustrated three lessons that are particularly helpful for pastors and leaders.

1. Sheep are not dumb as much as they are defenseless. This was one of the most profound lessons the shepherdess taught me. Though sheep are not the most intelligent creatures, much of their behavior can be attributed to the fact that they simply cannot defend themselves. From the outside, a lot of sheep's behavior looks silly – and it's true that they aren't always aware of the consequences of what they're doing – but to assign all of their behavior as dumb is a broad generalization.
   
   More than an issue of intelligence, sheep are primarily defenseless. They don't have sharp teeth or pointy claws. The sound they make, “baaa,” isn't the least bit scary. While it's easy to assess their behavior as dumb, often it's a matter of being defenseless.
   
   Why does this matter as you shepherd God's people? Because it's all too easy to look at followers of Jesus from time to time and bemoan their dumb behavior. Sometimes we do it in our own lives. I've been known to wonder, “That was so dumb! Why did I do that?” But really the issue isn't one of intelligence as much as it is one of feeling defenseless. When one feels defenseless, we'll reach for anything – an unkind word, a foolish decision, a rash choice – to protect ourselves. That's one reason why it's so important to gently remind your flock that God truly is the Good Shepherd – the One who will guard, protect, and lead you through any situation.
   
   
2. Good shepherds lead from the front. One of the principles the shepherdess taught me was that whenever a sheep is pushed from behind, they'll respond in fear or anxiety. Pushing a sheep forward produces agitation. But when the shepherdess goes out ahead of the flock and call them by name, they follow peacefully. She was quick to point out that anyone can lead by agitating, but leading in way that those behind you want to follow is an art form.
   
   As leaders we must remember that caring for God's people means more than simply getting people from point A to point B. We must constantly ask the question, “What's the best way to lead them there?” Like a shepherd among a flock, this will require knowing your congregation and allowing them to know you. Often it may mean waiting a little longer as the flock responds. Good leaders know how to lead their people without agitating them unnecessarily.
   
   
3. The best possible place for a sheep to be is in a flock. If left to its own devices, a sheep will always wander into harm's way. The sheep's fate is predictable. The animal will be devoured by predators, overindulge or starve to death, or be infected by parasites. The result is always the same: death.
   
   In an age when some people are choosing a lone ranger approach to the faith, they need to gently be reminded of the importance of gathering together with other believers. Just as sheep are meant to be among the flock under the watchful eye of a good shepherd, so, too, we are meant to live and flourish in a flock under the watchful eye of our Good Shepherd.
   
   Among the flock, I was reminded of just how much we need to nurture healthy flocks of followers of Jesus. At the same time, we need to remember that though shepherding and pastoring can often be a lonely profession, we need to be intentional about nurturing our community of those who know us, love us, and can encourage us along the way.

To learn more about Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, & Wild Honey visit www.margaretfeinberg.com.

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Posted Wed, Nov 4 2009 3:53 PM by MTBEditor