Most followers attribute qualities that are not to be found in most of the elders.
1. How many of those taking the lead could be accused of obeying Peter's words here (1 Peter 5:1-4)?
"1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor
Instead what I have found is, there are a loud group of men, (The good ones are overpowered by the bullies.) who are critical, oppionated on the smallest human 'Quarks' (Should be Quirks but those elders can see under the great electon-micro-sin-scope.) and show this attitude described by Ezekiel 34, someone mentioned "Sheperding Calls." those are what are talked about in theory but little done in real life practice due to finite time and resources. "Elder so and so says "Don't wear a blue shirt!" Don't wear a Jerry Garcia Tie, he is the devil!" Sister kiss ass you to say "Brother D must be of the annioted because he is so spiritual! unfortunately for her, he was a flaming homosexual living in West Hollywood now." "Don't allow men to judge you wicked, most are trying to hide their own human wickedness and accuse you of what they practice." Is a paraphrase of a christian apologist I am currently reading now.
" 1 Then this message came to me from the L ord : 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign L ord : What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? 3 You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. 4 You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. 5 So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal. 6 They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them.
7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the L ord : 8 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign L ord , you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. 9 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the L ord . 10 This is what the Sovereign L ord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey."
