Shepherds and Wolves

I have been reading with interest the various statements from churches and ministries apologising for their slowness in providing a public warning about the errors and abuses committed by men whom they supported and promoted.

Their apologies to the victims seem to be sincere and heartfelt. They declare that they will protect their people by not using the fallen person in their services and conferences. This is good, but one thing seems to be missing from all the statements.

None of these contrite Christians leaders seems to be asking how it was that they were able to work with the problematic prophetic minister in various places over many years and not realise that something serious was wrong with them.

This is not just prioritising gift over character as is often said. It is failure to discern a gift that is flawed and an abusive personality.

The Christian leaders who raised the problem person up and supported the expansion of their ministry claim to be spiritually-anointed prophetic leaders. Many of them call themselves prophets. They all claim to be experts on the gifts of the Spirit and leaders of the move of the Holy Spirit in our time. They all claim to be able to hear the voice of the Spirit better than the average bear. I presume that they all know how to move in the gift of discernment.

Given these claims, how could they not discern that a person ministering alongside them was operating fraudulently? How could they not discern that there was something perverted about the person’s sexual behaviour? This is not just an issue of slowness to give a ublic warning. It is a failure to discern the problem in the first place.

When Elisha’s servant cheated and demanded money from Naaman after he had been healed, the prophet knew what his servant had done before he got home (2 Num 4:19-27). If an Old Testament prophet could discern a problem so effectively, why can a New Testament prophet not do it.

A shepherd had three main roles.

• Ensuring the sheep are sufficiently fed to grow and survive
• Healing sheep that are sick or get injured.
• Protecting the sheep from thieves and predators.

Protecting sheep from external threats is a core part of an elder’s role. Allowing a thief or a wild dog into the fold where sheep should be safe is the worst thing that a shepherd can do.

When Paul was getting near the end of his ministry, he gave a warning to the elders of the church in Ephesus.

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! (Acts 20:28-31).

Paul warns the elders and shepherd that abusive people would come into their church. He warned that people that they trusted would begin to harm the disciples they were caring for. Protecting their sheep from abusers is an essential part of the role of an elder.

Paul did not say “Maybe”. He was certain that spiritual wolves would come and try to harm the flock. All elders and shepherds should be prepared for dealing with this problem.

Claiming ignorance does not work. It is not satisfactory for an elder of pastor to say that they did not know how to identify a threatening animal, or what to do if they encountered one. David was a just a shepherd boy and he knew how to deal with a lion and a bear that threatened his sheep. It was the essence of his job as a shepherd.

The failure of leaders to discern problems with people whose ministries they were platforming is a serious failure. They have failed one of the main tasks of every elder. They should be asking themselves if they are capable of continuing in this task of being a shepherd given the seriousness of their failure.