Shepherd care

 

What about the many Christians who are not members of a church?

At our regular market stalls, we meet many whose faith in Jesus Christ the Lord is real. However many are not members of a church denomination or assembly. Some have suffered difficult experiences in churches. Others dissent from unscriptural teaching or practises. Others feel discriminated against because of nationality, language or plain lack of welcome.

It is so great that Jesus Christ our Lord, when He lived on earth, tasted these very problems. He understands!

The Good Shepherd gathers all His sheep to Himself. By the Holy Spirit, each child in God’s family can enjoy intimacy with the triune God. The Great Shepherd desires all of His own to be one in life, light and love – one flock. (Read John 17). I delight to meet all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, irrespective of nationality, tag, language or culture.

The Chief Shepherd has called and enabled some to be shepherds of His flock (Ephesians 4). You can pick them easily – they serve Christ for no wages, they selflessly love all Christians, they give of their time and means to edify God’s flock and are distinguished by their imitating of Jesus in seeking the lost sheep.

So what about church? Is it an institution, is it a business, is it an incorporation, is it a platform for performance, is it a holy huddle of likeminded people, is it a school for learning or is it a flock where all God’s children are cared for? Maybe I should survey the New Testament with you someday, on this topic.

I find it very uplifting to find people of all nationalities, who belong to the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12), who hold intimacy with the Good Shepherd. He cares for all – some dislodged as refugees, some bound under repressive culture, some with no education, some locked away in prison, some limited by sickness, some who have had no opportunity for Bible teaching etc.  Does Jesus care?  Do we care?

John 10:16 “There will be one flock with one Shepherd”

And His name is Jesus Christ the LORD, and He invites us to love and care like Himself!