Shepherd the Flock

You’ve heard it all before: Americans are big fans of everything ‘instant’. We want our burgers in 2 minutes, our pizza in 30 or less; we want instant rewards, instant approval on that new car loan, and instant results from the diet plan, etc.

In fact, not only do we like instant results, our culture demands instant results, and unfortunately, spiritual things are no exception to this (40 days of purpose, anyone?).

So when we come to the topic of Shepherding, i.e., the topic of teaching, leading, mentoring, serving, and making disciples, how has this ‘instant’ mindset affected the church?

12 step programs
Of course, I shouldn’t have to convince you how the American church is addicted to spiritual self-help programs that promise big results. Just take a trip to the local Christian bookstore. There you’ll find all sorts of ‘keys’ and ’steps’: the key to a successful marriage, 3 steps to better relationships, the path to living a fulfilled life, etc. These fads come and go by the dozens, and most of them miss the gospel almost completely (and rather teach a false gospel). But the reason I mention them is to point out how addicted to ‘instant’ our society is, even the professing Christian society, as these massive book sales evidence.

Our Temptation to Instant Results
But just because some of us see right through these Christian fads in no way means that we are absent from this ‘instant’ way of thinking. I’ll be the first to admit that I often expect instant results when it comes to the Christian life. Not only do I catch myself expecting instant results in my life, but I sometimes expect instant results in the lives of others as well. Here are two quick examples of this:

1) When I teach/preach/shepherd others, I find myself expecting those under me to immediately ‘get it’. That is, I personally see the truth and application of the message, and I expect others to see it as clear and plain as I do. But that’s not all: not only do I expect them to embrace the truth I’m teaching, but I expect it to change them, sometimes instantly, sometimes dramatically. Ah, the folly and arrogance of such thinking! May I/we resist such thinking and lay our trust in our Sovereign God!

2) When I sit under teaching/preaching, when I’m being shepherded, I sometimes find myself expecting to glean amazing truths, life-changing revelations, and principles that will fix all my sins, weaknesses, and struggles! Again, how foolish is such thinking! I’ve caught myself so many times leaving a sermon or other teaching time with a sense of frustration because I ‘didn’t get anything out of it’. This kind of attitude is sad, and I believe it is ignorant of how the Spirit works in our lives. (Side note: How often do we hear the ‘I’m not being fed’ complaint now days? Especially in the age of digital media and superstar preachers, where each layperson expects every sermon to be as powerful as the men on their iPod!).

The Reality
Although the majority of this Christian culture believes that life-changing experiences happen overnight, that salvation is some kind of instant decision similar to ‘what am I going to have for dinner tonight?’, that 4 steps or 40 days of whatever is all it takes to get on the right track, the truth is that real, deep, gospel-centered/spiritual change takes time, lots of time. Habits may be kicked externally, but inward change (which is the real change) is a painfully slow process.

The word of God and the gospel do indeed cut to the heart like a two-edged sword, and they do often bring instant repentance. But instant repentance is a long way from life-changing, no matter what testimonies people give you of their experiences. Furthermore, when we’re talking about sanctification instead of justification, that is, when we’re considering spiritual growth in an already-regenerated heart rather than spiritual life in a dead heart, the change is even slower, and even more unnoticeable.

Guard Yourself
The Lord has ordered our growth and sanctification so that He receives the utmost glory for it all, so do not stress when you –or those under you, do not grow as quickly as hoped for. Here are a few things I strive to remember in this regard:

• The Lord will often hide our growth and the growth others under us in order to keep us low, humble, and dependent upon His grace.

• Any change/improvement/growth (if it be a real growth instead of an emotional manipulation or fad), is to be rejoiced over. The question should never be ‘How fast are we growing?’, but rather, ‘Are we growing at all?’. And when there is growth, even tiny almost unnoticeable growth, then there is cause to rejoice, especially when you see this in others (this is a long way from the unrealistic expectations of many pastors of this day).

• When teaching/preaching and shepherding, do not waste your time striving to word things just right (in order to have that perfect effect on your hearers); don’t strive tirelessly to pull out that jewel of truth that you think will change lives and have the most impact. Instead, teach the simple truths clearly and forcibly, just as scripture lays them out; teach the plain truths from a variety of different angles, and trust the Lord that the simple truths, truths as simple as the gospel itself, will spring forth fruit when watered by the Spirit of our God.

• When sitting under your pastor or teacher, do not expect to hear that jewel of truth that will supposedly change you life; do not be discouraged if you hear nothing new or profound; do not worry when you feel as if you’ve heard it all before. Instead, take notes of the simple truths, the truths that you already know in your head, the truths that you’ve heard a thousand times. It is these simple truths, repeated, re-repeated, and burned into your very soul that ultimately lead to change. It is the Spirit taking the facts of the gospel and the simple truths of scripture, presenting them to your heart in slightly different manners, convicting you slowly and surely (and sometimes without much notice), that ultimately ends up transforming our lives into Christ-likeness.

My friends, expecting instant results will only lead to anger, disappointment, arrogance, and ultimately, bitterness. Instead of being angry that those under you don’t grow as fast as you liked, instead of being disappointed at your own spiritual growth, instead of being bitter over the poor preaching you think you are under, be patient, be longsuffering, and be confident that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation…and sanctification. Embrace the simple truths, and embrace them fully, and as you do and teach others likewise, these simple truths will yield profound results.