Feed my Sheep P.1

The word of the Lord came to me [Ezekiel]: 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? ³You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. ⁴The 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. ⁵So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. ⁶My 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: ⁸As 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.

¹¹ “For thus says the Lord God:

Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:1-11 (ESV) (brackets mine)

To whomever this may concern, and whosever is drawn to read my thoughts; Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, from whose grace abounds as the ocean and from it flow rivers and streams of mercy and justice, patience and love, truth and forgiveness.

I am struck as to how insane and fooolish we tend to be, humans that is. It is amazing to me how easily led astray most are. I do not understand it, though I have ideas. What I am writing about is not going to be recieved well by many, and will, most likely, grant me hate and persecution. But I am not in this for those who will persecute me. I am writing this for those who have ears to hear, those to whom God has given new hearts. Persecute me! Shoot me down! God is a shield about me, I could care less. I may not be as great as the Apostle Paul was at it, but I surely will join him in enduring all things for the sake of elect. And what a thing for me to be so enraged at! How have we become so gullible!? How have the people of God become so vain and misguided and ignorant! Alas, this is a call. A call for the Church to WAKE UP! Yet behind this, is the more dire and urgent issue. Teacher, preacher, I am calling you out. Not because I am better, or more learned, or anyhting of that nature. I am calling you out because I weep for you, I fear for you, and because I love you enough to say these things. Let us now go to the issues of first importance. May I note, that when you look around at Western Christianity and see it for what it is rapidly becoming, you may cry out as I:

The Church is not in need of rethinking. It is in need of reforming.

This, dear reader, is what my flow will be, and to it I shall stay and speak, but I must apologize before-hand if I seem to steer of course or ramble on. This is indeed an area of deep concern and contemplation for me. What I am to hammer on is:

• The Pastor/Elder/Overseer, what this is and isn't.
  • He is a messenger of Gospel truth; he is a sound teacher of the Word; he is an example of godliness.
  • He is not a prophet; he is a not an self-help superstar; he is not carried about by every wind of doctrine (or lack therof).
• What the Visible Church should be concerned about.
  • Prayer.
  • Biblical study and doctrine.
  • The Sacraments.
  • The Great Commission

I hope as we get into this, much light will be shed on not just the state of the people of God in America, but also a spark of modern day reformation. Not to be brash, but we are in a mess.

Nevertheless,

our God is in the heavens and He does everything He pleases.

He feels indignation everyday toward those who take His name in vain;

and laughs at those who seek to set themselves against Him.

We must let the Scriptures speak, and leave our wicked desires out of them.