Are your church leaders genuine shepherds?

Are the people over you in the church genuine shepherds?  How can you tell?

Here's how you can tell objectively. 

Ezekiel 34: 1-10

34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

So we have shepherds who:

v2. feed themselves

v2. don't feed the sheep

v3. exploit the sheep for their gain

v3. attacks the sheep

v4. don't help the weak brother or sister

v4. don't heal the sick

v4. don't fix up the injured

v4. don't help the stray to return

v4. don't direct the lost

v5. don't show leadership

v5. let the sheep be eaten by wolves

v6. don't gather the scattered sheep

v6. don't go out to seek after the lost sheep

v8  look after their own interest instead of the sheep 

So how does your pastor(s) or elders or deacons fare when compared against this criteria?

If your leaders never make personal contact with the congregation to find out about their spiritual welfare, you can be sure they are not genuine shepherds. 

Some pastors think they only have to preach to fulfil Jesus' command to 'feed my lambs'. Preaching is good, but feeding the sheep requires more than that. it is all the things stated above.

I have come across a pastor who failed everyone of the criteria above, yet the majority of the church cannot see through his mask and vote him in every year. But if they were to look at what he has done instead of the front he puts up, it will become apparent immediately.  The members are not taught the bible and ignorantly follow the leader ..like sheep! Perhaps that's the way the pastor wants it.

Here is another criteria:

Matt.20:25-26

Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. NOT SO with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” 

Do your leaders bully members or serve them?  Do they listen and have a servant attitude?  Do members fear to raise any thing controversial or or even raise honest questions without being labelled as causing disunity or not supporting the leadership?    

Another criteria here:

John 13:12-17

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

Can you see any of your leaders willing to wash the feet of members of the church?  I know foot washing is not practised in most churches, but if it were, will the pastor or elders do it?

This will tell if they are true servants of God or themselves.

John 10:11-13

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

Is your pastor driven by a desire to serve the Lord no matter what the role is, or does he treat his ministry like a job?  Does he pour himself out to take care of the sheep, or does he expect the sheep to serve him and adorn him with praise and flattery? 

I hope this little article makes it clear whether your leaders are genuine shepherds or not.