Articles
Shepherds vs. Leaders
“Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son” (Acts 20:28, NRSV).
What do you look for in men who “shepherd” God’s people? Faithfulness, blamelessness, ability to teach God’s truth and fending off wolves are a few job qualifications that come to mind. What about “leadership” appearance and skills? Should we appoint a man to be a shepherd/elder/bishop because he “looks” like a leader? We know being a “shepherd” always includes being a “leader,” but does being a “leader” make a man a “shepherd?”
In Acts 20:28, when God used the word “shepherd” He used the Greek verb poimainō. Henry Thayer says this verb means “to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep.” Poimainō is from the noun poimēn meaning “a herdsman.” It is translated “shepherd(s)” 17 times and “pastors” once in the KJV. Both of these Divine word pictures represent the spiritual work of shepherds over God’s saved people — the church.
A shepherd’s divine work is to oversee/feed/protect the “souls” of God’s people, that is, to lead God’s saved people to Heaven! Sometimes we hear it is said this is their primary work — as if it’s the “bigger part” of rest of their work. We need to remember overseeing the souls of people IS their work! An earthly shepherd’s work is to oversee/feed/protect physical sheep. A doctor’s work is to care for sick people. A fireman’s work is to put out fires.
In 1 Timothy 3:1, the King James Version says, “If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” While this is a good translation, the word “office” is actually not in the text. The passage literally reads “If anyone overseership aspires to, a good work he desires” (The Interlinear Bible) or “If anyone aspires to be an overseer” (HCSB) or “If someone aspires to be an elder” (NLT). Notice how God draws attention to the “work” of the “overseership/overseer/elder,” not to holding an office/position like an office administrator, politician or civic leader.
How Is Being A Shepherd Different From Being Just A Leader?
A “shepherd” sees his spiritual work as caring for souls of people, “for they watch out for your souls” (Hebrews 13:17a). They do this work with godly respect and fear, “as those who must give account” (13:17b). They know their personal lives, behaviors and attitudes must be “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). They see this in the serious exhortation of Paul to “Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...shepherd the church...” (Acts 20:28). They know their work will involve the unpleasant task of guarding the flock from “savage wolves” and false teachers whose “mouths must be stopped” (Acts 20:29-31; Titus 1:10-11). They view their work “as a steward of God” (Titus 1:7). They do their work knowing they will “receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). Finally, they desire to work “with joy and not with grief” knowing they “will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:4).
A mere “leader” sees himself as holding the “office” of a shepherd in the local church. He reads the same Bible passages we have referenced, and he agrees with them. But, he fails to apply these Scriptures to his personal life and work as an elder. He sees his “leadership position” as authority to “run the church” with human wisdom, like an office manager runs a business. He may let his position “go-to-his-head” and to be filled with sinful “pride” (1 Timothy 3:6). He gets along with members as long as they agree with him and his decisions, but to those who dare to disagree he retaliates by becoming “quarrelsome,” “self-willed” and “as being lords over those entrusted” to his care (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:3). He “polls” the congregation and uses “public opinion” to decide matters of truth and error. He is more concerned about the building’s appearance, landscaping, and how the community sees the local church, rather than how God sees it (Revelation 3:1)
I’ve observed examples of each of these kinds of men. Both were elders in two local churches, but one was a shepherd and the other merely a leader. Both men fulfilled the descriptions and view of themselves as we have already described. Both of the congregations in which these two men served as elders displayed the fruit of their leadership. The first is a spiritually thriving congregation, and has a joyful membership of 150-200. The second was plagued by strife and division for over three decades, and its membership has declined from 65 to 15. What made the difference between these two men?
Shepherding involves something greater than mere leading. It “implies the whole office of the shepherd as guiding, guarding, folding of the flock as well as leading it to nourishment” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). Both God and Jesus are “Shepherds” (Psalms 23; 1 Peter 2:25).
When was the last time you thought “He looks like a leader, let’s make him an elder”? Remember King Saul? When Israel wanted to appoint “a king...like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5), Saul looked like a leader! He was “more handsome” than all “among the children of Israel” and from “his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (9:2). Although he looked like a leader, he failed because of his pride and repeated disobedience to God and His word (1 Samuel 13 and 15).
Joshua made a good spiritual shepherd and leader, because he first was a good follower! He was willing to follow Moses and to trust God’s commandments (Exodus 17:9; Numbers 14:6-9). He followed and obeyed God’s instructions, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8-9).
David, although his appearance was “ruddy” and not leadership material, was a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). David had faith in God and the ability to follow God’s lead and instructions. He made a good shepherd because the Lord was truly his Shepherd (Psalm 23). Sometimes appearances can be deceiving to all of us. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
The Lord wants shepherds to lead His flock in every congregation. “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23; cf. Titus 1:5). The Divine prerequisites given in both 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are qualifications for shepherds, not corporate religious leaders. God is looking for godly and spiritually-minded men to oversee/feed/protect the “souls” of God’s people, to edify and encourage, and to help lead His people to Heaven.
Can we see the difference between a shepherd and a leader?
