Calling All Shepherds
What is a shepherd?
If you look it up in the dictionary, it’s someone who takes care of sheep. In Hebrew, it’s connected to the verb meaning “Feed on grass.” A shepherd is someone who helps animals to eat.
In our church culture today, what is a shepherd?
Well, if you use the synonym “pastor,” then it means: the head pastor. The person with the theology degree. He (or she) has the personality of a shepherd. The pastor preaches. The pastor visits. The pastor gives bible studies. The pastor has a connection with God.
But in a Biblical sense, what is a shepherd?
If you look at the life of Jesus, He was a shepherd. He took care of people’s needs. He had a “church” community, and He took responsibility for the spiritual welfare of His disciples. He called them, taught them, encouraged them, and served them. When they were hungry, He fed them. When they were bruised by their own sinfulness, He bound up their wounds. And before He returned to heaven, He passed His shepherd’s rod to His sheep. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me? Then feed my lambs” (John 21:15).
Jesus still asks the same question today. If you love him, you’ll take up the shepherd’s rod and do what He did – feed His lambs.
Our churches are struggling today, because our sheep-to-shepherd ratio is out of balance. Our churches are full of young lambs. They are weak, quiet, struggling in their sins, discouraged, backslidden, and on the verge of dropout. They need to be fed.
In the meantime, some sheep are overweight and need exercise. They’re full-grown, well-fed and content. Though they’re capable of feeding others, they never learn to become shepherds.
It’s become the norm for a church to lean on one shepherd to feed all their sheep. But it never adds up. There’s not enough food, time, nor shepherds. In many churches, the shepherds pretend to be strong, going around feeding as many members as they can. But in the end, it’s impossible for these few to feed everybody. The shepherd, too, is only a sheep, after all. His or her abilities are limited. The pastor must also be fed by the Good Shepherd and teach the sheep to depend on Him.
As the flock is fed by the Good Shepherd, they will learn how to be shepherds too. Since the entire flock is well-fed, they will exercise through service. When a flock is well-fed, the members can go out and seek out lost sheep. That’s how a church can truly grow.
The Korean-American Seventh-day Adventist churches today need more shepherds than they can pay for. Our churches need shepherds with Bachelor of Arts degrees as well as those with Master of Divinity degrees. Our churches need shepherds who like the spotlight as well as those who work behind the scenes. Our churches need shepherds who are talented in teaching, organizing, and socializing, as well as those skilled in music, hospitality, cooking, and art.
Our churches need the entire Body to work together to serve each other, build each other up, and grow in Christ (Ephesians 3:13, 16). No matter your talents, personality, or shortcomings, you are needed to serve God in His church. If you are a disciple of Christ, you are already called to serve others. If you spend time with Jesus, He’ll create in your heart a desire to do this. He himself will train you to be a shepherd for His sheep.
Lately, I’ve been confused about what to do with my life. I’m in between careers, so I’ve asked God to show me what He wants from me. I mean, I went to Andrews Theological Seminary and I have a Master of Divinity degree. I should use it, right? Shoot. But what if I don’t get a pastoring job? What if no church wants me? What if I don’t have the skill set to do it long term? What if I get married to a girl who doesn’t want to be a pastor’s wife? If things don’t work out, I can always go back to teaching, I thought.
But I had to ask myself, “Why does my service to God depend on a church’s paycheck? Or my education? Or on others’ perception of my qualifications?”
The truth is, right now, I’m looking for a pastoring position, but that’s my career.
I’m looking at serving youth in a Korean-American church, but that’s my calling.
Lately, I’ve realized that no matter what, God wants me to be a shepherd. That’s my identity. I’m a shepherd, because I’ve experienced God’s love. To feed His sheep is my service to Him. It has nothing to do with how much money I make, who pays me, or where I’m working at the time.
Jesus came to show us the example. He’s sent us His Spirit to give us the strength. He’s coming soon to gather His sheep and take them home. He needs shepherds today.
So God is asking you now, “What’s your career? What’s your calling? What’s your identity?”
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Pastor Chris Choi is a graduate of Andrews SDA Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a missionary in Laos.