Preacher or Shepherd?

¹⁵ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 KJV)

It was one of the encounters of Disciple with Resurrected Christ that the Gospel of John has mentioned. Though the majority of even the Disciples of Jesus were waiting Christ to restore the Kingdom of Israel it was plan of the God of Israel to hold on the Kingdom until the fulfillment of gentiles. When the chosen people denied to receive their Messiah, It was God who brought the believers in the Salvation through their faith in Jesus despite of their race, color and country of origin. And the worldwide body of the saved ones, whom God has chosen before the foundation of the world is Called Church of Jesus.

Many Christians are in misunderstanding today that there is no Salvation in any Religions except Christianity. But the Biblical Truth is there is no salvation in any Religion, nor even in Christian Religion. Salvation is of the God and it has only in Christ Jesus, it doesn't matter which Church some one goes and how long he has attending the Church, until and unless some one comes into repentance of his/her sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he/she can't be saved just being part of the Congregation which is in broad way called Church today.

Here we have to understanding the fact that Christ didn't come into this world to establish the Local Congregation or Local Church, the plan of God is to united an Universal and Unseen body of Saved ones. Which can in both rich and poor nations, in strict or free nation, in Urban or rural whom God has chosen and whom God knows personally as their Father. The very simple Christian principle is this called out body gathers together in a locality to thank God for his goodness and greatness, and encourage and support each other, to pray and share to each other. Because of differences of Culture, traditions and language these groups can be some times separated on the language that the people spoke or culture they follow. Still the common in world-wide brotherhood of Christians is they worship and exalt Same God in Christ Jesus our Saviour in their own language, culture and way.

God loves his elected ones, because Christ has paid their ransom of sin through his death on the cross. It was a single individual like you and me for whom Christ died, and a single soul is so much precious on the sight of Lord. Even when Christ was resurrected, the question he asked to Peter was " Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" . It was not a doubt of Jesus that led Him to ask Peter either he loves Jesus or not, but it was a responsibility Jesus was going to give to His disciple till His second coming, "Feed my lambs". Three times Jesus asked same question and the command three times was to feed the lambs if on the condition of they love Jesus.

The love of Disciples of Jesus was shown on the action that they perform if they love Jesus. It was not the salary they get in order to do it, but it was the act toward the love to Jesus who died for His Church. The very simple fact of being follower of Jesus is to take care of His flock, and Jesus has called his followers to feed His lambs and to be Shepherds not just the preacher of the word on Sunday morning from the Pulpit. A preacher preaches the moral lessons and finishes his duty, but a Shepherd gives his life for the betterment of lambs. He would be with the lambs on the time of difficulties and cares for lambs in every situation, not just preaches and leave. Jesus Himself explained how much does a shepherd do for a lost sheep on His parable of the lost sheep. Because a shepherd knows the value of a sheep for whom Christ has given His own life.

Unfortunately, many times knowingly or unknowingly we forget the truth that beside the ministries in pulpit there are a lot more responsibility of a Minister which is not just for salary but his love toward Christ compels him to do for the believers. It is not the job some local congregation has given him, but it is a call that Christ Himself has entrusted him. A Pastor (Shepherd) is life long Spiritual leader of the believers, a mentor, a comforter and a friend of life. The relationship of a Pastor and a believers is life long bondage of Love that is joined with Jesus, which starts with dedicating a child in God and ends only on giving mud on the grave.

We should understand the Biblical authority that a minister is not called just to preach half an hour sermon each week, but to dedicate his life in the service of Jesus in the lives of believers. As a shepherd gives his life for lambs he/she should be toward the believers who are honoring him/her with the tithes and offerings that they are giving to the authority of God the Creator.

Always an Empty Church

As a Nepali Christian, I have seen Christianity in Nepal in the midst of Persecution and on the freedom, believers in physical torture and in the light of Citizen right. One thing I have realized that Church of God is always marching on towards the Victory, toward the Multiplication and toward the growth. Just handful Churches were there in East Nepal when I came to know Jesus, just limited number of believers who used to walk miles in order to join the worship service every Saturday. The political situation changed, countless Churches came into existence, the key Cities of East Nepal like Dharan, Itahari, Damak, Biratnagar got more Churches on itself, then there were once in entire Eastern Nepal, still one fact remained same, the Churches are always full. It doesnt matter either they have their own building or rented room, the believers are full on the Church during their Saturday Worship.

I visited four different Churches in including today for worship on different Sundays here in Madisonville, KY. I wanted to find a Multicultural Baptist Church and make my home Church here in United States, but one thing I realized in this town, is Churches are more like Ethnic Club rather then the Community of Jesus Christ. There is the Church of Whites, there is the Church of Blacks there is the Church of Hispanic, every one has their own Church, but where there are Churches in every Corner of the streets, I couldn't even find a single Church for the people of God. I realized there is still a need of a Church in the City, where there wont be any black nor white nor Hispanic or Asians, where there would be only people of God, the chosen ones of Christ Jesus.

The saddest fact of American Churches I have always faced is emptiness, because most of their members are sleeping on the graveyard. When one Generation slept on the Lord, they couldn't attract the another Generation inside the Church, because of that many of the Building became empty Historical Landmarks. There are huge building with nice decoration, very few who are inside it to worship the Lord. The real beauty of the Church of Living God is not how large and Historical the building is, but how much sinners have repentant on it. But the truth I have seen is the Church today gradually turning as a club to keep on membership and secure the tithes and offerings rather then reveal the sin of the people and lead them to salvation through Jesus Christ.

When I observed my own experiences in past for weeks, I have found that the Shepherds of the flocks are more responsible to make the body of Christ so weak. I visited four Churches in Past four Sundays, but none of the Pastors ever contacted me when I came out the the Church. In fact, none of them tried to be in touch with me in any way during the week, and assist me in my spiritual life or address my spiritual needs, the very simple understanding I got about the Shepherds of the flock of the God is they have no more responsibility beyond the pulpits.

What ever the reason might be, as a Convert of complete non-Christian family, as a believer of world's fastest Growing Churches, it was really bad impression for me. Bad impression of empty Churches, bad Impression of on the pulpit shepherdhoodness but always positive aspect that even in the midst of Apostasy, Lord will send his Mercy upon His people. The time will come, Lord will fill out the workers of Harvest with the fire of Revival and Empty Churches with full of saved souls in Jesus.