S O LI D GRO UND
CARE and LOVE of MEMBERS
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Ch r ist calls c h u r c h le ade r s to lov e th e ir mem be r s at all c o st s .
DON MCFARLANE
W
hen tempted to promote the church in ways that are more appropriate to commercial enterprises, I am usually reminded that while the church can and should be run according to sound business principles, the primary responsibility of leaders is to care for the believers God has entrusted to them. They are precious, not on account of an organizational label or an elevated self-definition, but because they have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus. In this brief article, I will share four “shepherding” principles that when embraced by church leaders, are likely to lead to a more giving and generous church. One can sense the tenderness and love in Jesus’ words in John 10:27: “ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (NKJV). Christian shepherding at its core has to do with the manner in which leaders relate to members. It is not a doctrinal or transactional thing; it’s relational. If members are seen merely as a source of resources that
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April - June 2020
can be tapped for whatever projects the leaders conceive, they will soon develop resistance to the leadership’s appeals. Experience has taught that an ever-present danger for pastors, evangelists, and local church leaders is the temptation to act more like unprincipled salespeople than shepherds in “serving” the church. There are many good salespeople who are ethical in their work, but there are others who will use just about any strategy, including shame, fear, guilt, and false or misleading promises, to get people to buy their goods or services. Christ calls church leaders to love their members at all costs. On the surface, this sounds hackneyed, but it is true. Members are likely to tolerate an average preacher, or even a poor one, but they will seldom accept a leader who does not really care about them. A spiritual leader’s genuine care for his or her flock is fundamental to members’ sense of belonging, worth, and connectedness. Caring means that leaders are with their members in their celebratory and joyful events as well as in adversity. Caring takes time, but that is what good shepherds and good leaders do. That is what Jesus did. “I feel compassion for the people because they
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