Sheep

Mark 6:34, And Jesus saw the great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.

Can you see that flock of sheep in your mind?  What are they doing?  Yes, milling and in commotion.  You don’t see a calm flock bunched together with their heads down enjoying the green grass of the meadow.  Why?  There is no shepherd with his dogs.

I was recently told about a church start in another state where a group of over 100 set about to launch a church.  They found a place that would seat over 300 and started and some 400 showed up the first Sunday and the next Sunday something around 500 came.

That is interesting to me – or maybe troubling.  Where did those people come from?  I reckon the majority came from other churches.  But, why?  It feels like what Jesus was seeing as the crowds approached Him.

That 400 likely included some using it to bring a non-churched friend to a “neutral” setting or to support friends stepping into a new church experience.  There were likely some who were churched long ago giving church another shot as most all attending the new would be “strangers” as they.  But I think the majority were churched already.  So why did they show and then return the next Sunday?

Was it discontentment?  While their church was OK, there was surely something better, so they thought.  Or, the new was appealing as their church was pretty predictable and not overly exciting.  Or, was it the idea to try the new for a break with intent to return to the previous church once the new wore off?  Whatever the reason – Why?  Was the grass really greener?  Was what was their church home for months or years really insufficient?

So what should a sheep, a true Christian, desire in a church?  Five points:  God is exalted, the truths of the Bible are preached, the church people love and serve one another, it is well organized and accountable (programs, property, and finances), and the lostness of man is of great concern.  It is not about a fancy platform, exciting leaders, promotion of self, or something new.  Those attractions all wear off and then it is off to another church until it too wears off and then on to yet another.

Sheep milling around is NOT a good thing.  What did Jesus do in response to the milling?  He taught them!  He fed them!  May we hunger and thirst for righteousness and not get caught in the excitement of something new or the rush to join the crowd.