Striking Shepherds

Scottish audio version here

Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. (NIV)

This is one of my least favorite verses from the Bible. It disturbs me and every time I go through some trouble or turbulence in ministry, this verse keeps popping up at the back of my mind.

I’ve seen this happen in other churches. I’ve watched pastors lose their position at a church because of their theology. I’ve seen congregations become divided over denominational issues that the pastor couldn’t stop. I’ve known sessions and elders to be split over money, ministry or mission conflicts. In most of those situations, the pastor has left, defeated and demoralized. The shepherd has been struck, so the sheep begin to scatter.

Ministry is not easy, just like any other caring, counseling or teaching profession. On any given day, you can go through a whole gamut of emotions. Every phone call can be a crisis. Every email can be demanding. Every visit can be serious. The church is never quiet, for there’s always someone, somewhere in the congregation who is carrying painful burdens and facing personal problems. To be a good shepherd means to lead people through tough times, as well as celebrating the joyous moments in their lives.

What I fear is happening across the country is that pastors are becoming the scapegoats in a theological tussle that is presently splitting every mainline denomination in America. We are loading our leaders with an unbearable burden of trying to please and satisfy everyone, which cannot be done. The shepherds are showing fatigue and losing their energy. They’re being struck by discontent and malcontent. They’re being paralyzed by people who use churches to feed their ego and slake their thirst for power. Pastors are easy targets, so the shepherds are being struck, causing the sheep to disarray and scatter.

Maybe we should pray for our pastors today and ask God to uphold them.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call women and men from different places, backgrounds, and cultures to serve Your Kingdom as pastors in the church. Their lives are different from most folks and the demands that are sometimes placed upon them are unbearable. Pastor our pastors and save them from being struck; for without our pastors, the sheep would scatter all over the place. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.