“The Elders (Pastors) who are among you I exhort (pertains to Pastors of local churches), who am also an Elder (proclaims the fact that the great Apostle was a Pastor as well, pastoring then at Babylon [Vs. 13]), and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ (who was with Christ throughout our Lord’s Ministry, even unto His Death), and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed (if the Cross is
accepted, the Glory is revealed): “Feed the flock of God which is among you
(preach the Cross [I Cor. 1:21, 23; 2:2]), taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly (privileged to do so, and not because we have no choice); not for filthy lucre (money must not be our motive), but of a ready mind (not swayed by money or anything else, only to do the Will of God); “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage (the Greek Text speaks of a high-handed autocratic rule over the flock, which is forbidden of a true Shepherd), but being examples to the flock (presents instruction which the Apostle had lived in a most unique way).“And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear (the
Lord Jesus Christ, at the Rapture of the Church), you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away(refers to the victory crown)” (I Pet. 5:1-4).
I’m sure you have found the title of this month’s article amusing, and I wish I could take credit for it, however, I can’t. The title came from a short article written over 100 years ago by the famed English Pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I came across this article, which I have included below, during research on the trends in the local church today. I was specifically researching the influence of the “Seeker Sensitive” movement, and their embracing the thought that people today can no longer be preached to. The old way of church expository preaching, strong doctrinal stands, etc., is no longer for today, they say.
The Seeker Sensitive movement stresses that people must be entertained today; They say that Bible preaching is too narrow, too offensive, and won’t hold the attention of modern society.
We must be “culturally relevant,” therefore, we must embrace what is “culturally relevant” for today’s “postmodern Christian” (whatever that means). We should use secular TV programs, movies, worldly music, etc., to reach people and to keep them. Entertain them; amuse them that is the mantra for too many churches today.
As stated, when researching, I came across this article written over 100 years ago. The first thing that struck me was that Satan doesn’t really have any new tricks to deceive; he just wraps them up in a new package, the same old lie in a new box. For this problem was just as real in the church of that day, as it is today.
FEEDING SHEEP OR AMUSING GOATS? BY CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON (1834-1892)
“An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.
“From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses
“My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, ‘And provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel.’ No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him
“Then again, ‘He gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors and Teachers . . . For the work of the Ministry’ (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because concert has no martyr roll.
“Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? ‘Ye are the salt’ (Mat. 5:13), not the sugar candy – something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, ‘let the dead bury their dead’ (Mat. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.
“Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, ‘Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people.
Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow.’ Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.
“In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, ‘Come out, keep out, keep clean out!’ Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.
“After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, ‘Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are.’ If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They ‘turned the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.
“Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God’s link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today’s ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.”
THE PASTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of the Pastor to preach the Word of God to the people, and not entertain them or amuse them as Peter will bring out in I Peter 5:1-4. Pastors are shepherds who are to tend first of all to the Spiritual needs of the flock. The Spiritual Development of the people is a million times more important than physical or emotional needs being met. Never forget it’s easier to feed the flesh than feed the Spirit.
ELDERS
Peter begins Verse 1 addressing his comments to “Elders.” The titles: “Elder, Shepherd, Bishop, Overseer, or Presbyter,” all mean Pastor. So he was addressing himself to “Pastors” of local churches.
This book was written in Babylon (I Pet. 5:13) somewhere between 58-61 A.D. “Elder,” as stated, meant Pastor, but today the title “Elder” means something different because, by and large, today’s church government is wrong. One of the biggest problems in the church today is that men go beyond Scripture. It is important to note that Peter did not address his letter as from some type of spiritual headquarters, nor as some type of “Superintendent, Bishop, or Overseer,” having some type of authority over the early church, but it was written as an Apostle giving instruction as it regarded issues affecting the local church.
FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU
This statement refers to the duties of a Pastor. The word “feed” literally means to “Shepherd” the people the Lord has given us charge over. A Pastor’s responsibility as it regards the sheep can be summed up in three words: Feeding, Guiding, and Guarding. Let’s look at these three responsibilities.
Feeding: Pastors are to feed, to nourish the flock by preaching Christ and His Word. This is the Bread by which we feed upon to live, there is no other pasture than the Lord’s, nor bread to eat except the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. I believe it is safe to say that far too many Pastors are guilty of “food poisoning” as the bread they serve is not the Bread of Life. As the shepherd of old brought the sheep to a place of grazing, we too are to bring the flock to a place of grazing. We are to feed our flocks “spiritual food,” “Manna” from Heaven.
Guiding: As Pastors we are to point the sheep in the right direction. We are to provide moral and Spiritual absolutes. Our preaching must not only emphasize the positive, but also the negative aspects of sin and false doctrine.
We are to guide, not drive people as a dictator, but guide in love, tenderness, compassion, but never sidestepping issues because they may offend.
Guarding: As shepherds we are to be “watchmen” (Ezek. 3:17; 33:7) standing guard, protecting the sheep from “ravening wolves” who seek to sneak in under the cover of darkness and destroy the sheep.
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST
Peter, in Verse 1, said he was “a witness of the sufferings of Christ.” Notice he didn’t say a witness to “miracles,” “good works,” etc., but “a witness to Christ’s Sacrificial Offering on Calvary’s Cross.” As great as the Miracles of Christ were, as great as His good Works were, those things within themselves could not save or deliver anyone from the vice grip of sin.
I believe this tells us that the emphasis of our preaching must be the Cross of Christ. The emphasis must not be the “signs and wonders,” “money,” “social responsibility,” “good works,” but, Christ and Him Crucified. The Cross, Christ Crucified, and Resurrected is the only message that will save the sinner, and sanctify the Saint.
NOT FOR FILTHY LUCRE
We are to do what we do as it regards the pastoring of the flock, not for material or financial gain, but to please the Lord and mature the sheep. We are to “feed the flock” not “fleece the flock.” We are not to “manipulate” or “exploit” the people for our own gain.
NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD’S HERITAGE
We are not to “lord over” the people, or use highhanded autocratic rule over the flock. While the Pastor does have some authority that is God-ordained, and must be used at times, it is to be done in love and not as a dictator.
BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK
Simply put, we are to be an example to the flock, an example of how to live a godly life.
CONCLUSION
So, as Pastors and Ministers of the Gospel, we are to do our best to “Feed, Guide, and Guard” the sheep, but not amuse the goats.
Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart
Publication Date:
09/01/2009
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