Pastoral Abuse

For the last two weeks I have been working my way through John 10, the passage where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. It is a wonderful description of Christ's magnificent love for the flock as demonstrated by the giving of his life. I believe that this passage forms the foundation for understanding the pastor's role in the church as we serve as under-shepherds to the Good Shepherd.

Perhaps that is why I find myself so distressed by the trends I see in pastoral ministry today. The first of these is an increasing narcissism among ministers. The flock exists for the minister's ego and the only thing that will satisfy that ego is reknown and reward. The church has to get bigger. It has to be a trophy to the pastor's abilities and talents. The church exists to make a name for its leader. I can't help but think that this pictures the robbers and thieves that Christ describes in John 10. They break into the sheepfold for their own profit rather than for the benefit of the sheep. Rather than feeding the flock they are feasting on lamb chops. Rather than asking "What's best for the sheep?" they only ask "What's best for me?" "Who cares if a few sheep get trampled in the rush, as long as the my flock is bigger and better tomorrow." If an individual sheep has the audacity to disagree, throw it out of the flock! Somehow I have a hard time seeing the Shepherd who searches the wilderness for the lost sheep believing that any sheep is expendable in order to accomplish the plan.

The second trend that distresses me is the faith-healing movement. This is not because I don't believe God can heal. It is because of the abuse that is heaped upon the sheep. Most so-called healers today follow the same formula - having enough faith = healing. To me this involves kicking the sheep when he's down. "You are suffering. You are sick. And by the way, you don't have enough faith." How is that bringing the comfort of the Good Shepherd to the wounded sheep? It is not! In fact, it is abuse of the sheep to protect the healer's reputation. The failure never is the fault of the healer. It is always the fault of the poor sheep who "lacks faith." So not only is the sheep miserable because of the illness being suffered, but the so-called shepherd does not lighten that load, but instead heaps guilt onto the burden for the supposed lack of faith. How is this consistent with the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions (2 Cor. 1:2-3)?


Jeremiah 23:1-2 ¶ "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.