Comments on: When the Sheep Shear the Shepherds–4

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:55:30 +0000

Sometimes u need to be strict with children, but that doesnt mean you should hit them. Being strict and hitting children are two different things. What hitting does is makes the child more stubborn. Many a times, we hit a child not coz of his fault but coz we are frustrated about something else in our life. That is very unfair. Would we have liked something similar to be done to us when we were a child? Even if we have gone through it in our childhood, it does not give us any reason to do the same to the little budding flowers. Keep calm, give them love and they will be just fine and listen to you even more.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:51:34 +0000

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By: Alan Bell

Alan Bell — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:18:06 +0000

Rex definely hit another key ingredient-open 2-way communication.

By: K. Rex Butts

K. Rex Butts — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:18 +0000

I would say that a bigger problem(s) exists if the congregation does not know/must be reminded of the boundaries (theological, operational, etc…). Has the leadership not communicated the boundaries with precise clarity? Does the congregation not trust the leadership enough to respect and adhere to the boundaries that have been set even if the congregation does not understand every reason behind the established boundary? Does the leadership have a greater desire to control than serve? What is the spiritual maturity of the congregation if it wants to rebell against the boundaries?

Here is where I think a parent-child metaphor is helpful. If the parent has sucessfully taught the child and the child has willfully learned, then eventually the child no longer needs to be told “yes or no”, “do or don’t”, etc… because the child knows what is expected as well as what will not be tolerated. And in many multi-child families, the older children help teach the younger. In the church, the leadership teaches the other members and as those members mature they set the tone for the younger and less mature children.

Grace and peace,

Rex

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:57:50 +0000

That is so sad. Just be man enough to deal with the problem. This is not leadership, but being cowards. Hope the best for this situation.

By: David Kirk

David Kirk — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:19:05 +0000

I am saddened because a church eldership in my area is doing everything they can to run the preacher off without actually firing him. He is a biblically sound man, but their attitude seems to be “This is OUR church!” I hope your readers will pray for this man and these elders … and the church!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:29:51 +0000

Great thoughts and great add ins to the discussion.

By: Alan Bell

Alan Bell — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:08:21 +0000

As I have read your post and contemplated I see 3 levels of decisions:
1) Those not affecting the entire flock( ex do I eat/water right here or 5 feet further) Individual decision OK
2) Those that may affect the entire flock( the grass looks better on the other side of the fence but watch out for the passing trucks) May or may not affect the flock but wise to stay within the boundary
3) Do we go to the valley 5 miles away( this does affect the whole group)
Shepherd better decide
Seems to me we have to use the best parts of all 3 at the proper times. Just my thoughts.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:46:54 +0000

Does this seem like a better method than the other two most used ways?