{"id":501,"date":"2015-01-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-25T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/?p=501"},"modified":"2015-01-24T11:29:36","modified_gmt":"2015-01-24T16:29:36","slug":"what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-needs-of-sheep-like-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/2015\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-needs-of-sheep-like-people\/","title":{"rendered":"What does the Bible say about the needs of sheep-like people?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righeousness?\u2014?by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24–25—NKJV)<\/cite> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There are multiplying voices out there calling Americans \u201csheeple.\u201d It is a sarcastic term invented to identify the masses of people who just do not seem to be the slightest bit aware of the dangers that are mounting all around our nation, dangers both within and without. The sheep-like nature of our neighbors is alarming to the rest of us. They are asleep in their self-centered stupor and cocooned in an existence with every immediate need met, blissfully unaware that both the nation they were born to inherit and the free lifestyle they have lived is hated by ever more powerful enemies. The minds of the enemies are entwined with the mind of the \u201cprince of the power of the air\u201d and this is why they have no regard for the sanctity of every human life or sanctify any God-granted freedom. <\/p>\n

Sheep are easily exploitable. It is bound in their nature and determined by the lack of tools available to them. Sheep are defenseless creatures, easily frightened, dependant upon husbandry, always at the mercy of those who will genuinely care for them or of those who would fleece them and who would butcher them for the next meal. Sheep have need of a shepherd. Sheep in the form of people need to awaken to the fact of their own vulnerabilities and follow a true shepherd, one who is a shepherd by nature and by choice. <\/p>\n

The reason people need to reckon with, and react to, their own vulnerabilities is because God has given us a nature that can grasp the fact that we need a shepherd. Animal sheep are fortunate when they fall into a kind shepherd\u2019s flock. In the realm of men, it is a different story. A thinking man recognizes that he cannot possibly know everything in order to assure his success. No one lives long enough to gain the requisite full body of knowledge on his own. As an illustration of how long it takes mankind to gain wisdom, all one needs to do is read chapter 4 of Genesis. Those men lived hundreds of years each, and the words recorded of their \u201cwise\u201d conclusions concerning the meaning of life are woefully lacking (13–24). Is that all the further they got in their moral sensibilities in the ages before myths and erroneous dogma? <\/p>\n

We all must stand on the shoulders of other wise men who have gone before us in order to gather the building blocks of knowledge with which to build our life. We need earthly shepherds because we cannot hope to start from scratch investigating everything—our time on earth is just too short. There are things that are beyond our control, and knowledge beyond our reach, the most crucial of which is the determination of the eternal destiny of our own soul and the souls of all whom we love (2 Timothy 1:12). <\/p>\n

\u201cSheeple-dom\u201d is a fallen man\u2019s natural state. Isaiah 53:6 plainly states, \u201cAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all.\u201d Our natural condition begs the question, \u201cJust what characteristics do we need to search out in those we would desire to be our shepherd?\u201d The Bible plainly teaches every listening ear what to look for in those we would have lead us, by looking to the One who was sent to lead us, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord\u2019s example of shepherding is applicable in every realm of leadership, whether parenting, politics, or church: <\/p>\n