Self - Feeding Shepherds
“These are they who are hidden rocks in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.” – Jude 12-13
Jude wrote a vivid description of shepherds who feed themselves. It is chilling to think that such men can come to be recognized as shepherds among disciples. A shepherd is to feed and care for sheep. But the unregenerate are self serving, self justifying, feeding themselves. Beyond eating the food at the love feasts, receiving support may have been involved. Cf. 1 Timothy 5:17, 6:5. As sheep, we are vulnerable, but the living word of scripture protects us by warning.
The reality of self feeding shepherds was not new in the first century. Ezekiel prophesied in Judah in the sixth century before Jesus. The 34 th chapter is God’s word to the shepherds of his people of that time. They were self feeding shepherds also. It is a sad description, but there is also a promise of the coming of Jesus who would truly feed, heal and protect God’s sheep. We may not like to be called “sheep”, but that is how God has described us. If we resent that description, we must seek another god.
We also remember Jesus’ warning against false prophets in Matthew 7:15-23. Jesus seemed to use the word “prophet” in its wide sense, as anyone who speaks for God. Without claiming to have special revelation, many have spoken on behalf of God through the centuries. Every word is to be tested against scripture. “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” – 1 Peter 4:11 “Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.”- James 3:1
Luke records Paul’s word of warning to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:18-35. Verse 30 reads: ”and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” This sober warning comes less than 30 years after the cross. If first century shepherds (bishops) drew disciples away from Jesus, we should not be surprised by the same evil today.
Paul later wrote to Timothy, that he should publicly reprove elders that sinned: “Them that sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.” – 1 Timothy 5:20 It is clear that Paul expected Timothy to recognize sin when he saw it, and speak publicly against those guilty of it. Everyone who has received the birth from Above, has received God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 John 2:27) It is the indwelling Spirit that stirs an internal warning in the presence of self-feeding.
John wrote of, “Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence” (3 John 9). John continued, describing his behavior: prating against us with wicked words, casting out of the assembly, those who received them that John had sent (vs.10). To this day, “disfellowship”, or the threat of it, is used to keep people “in line”, quiet about sin.
Peter wrote as a faithful shepherd, exhorting the elders who read the letter to tend to others, making themselves examples, like the Chief Shepherd. Then he wrote that all should gird themselves with humility to serve one another. The reason is sobering: for God rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble. ( 1 Peter 5:2-5 ) The contrast between pride and humility distinguishes disciples, from pretenders. Jesus humbled himself to the cross. John W. Smith wrote “He never had to act humble – because he was.”
“Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spoke unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7
#39 August, 15, 2004