The use of the word “sheep” by Christ to describe his followers is misunderstood.
Sheep are mindless, docile, slow-witted and weak followers of the crowd (herd).
Is that what Christ meant when he called us his sheep? Is it our duty as Christians to become and behave more like sheep? Is that a necessary requirement when choosing to become a follower of Christ?
That doesn’t make sense!
And it flies in the face of Apologetics and the foundational scripture that supports it.
1 Peter 3:15 2 Corinthians 10
Matthew 22:37.
It’s all a misunderstanding
Who wants to be a docile and mindless follower of anyone?
I once visualized Christians as human sheep or “Sheeple” led to intellectual slaughter by their decision to follow Christ.
Yet it was my own intellect feeding incorrect data to my imagination that created this visual! My imagination in turn seized the intellect by the throat and choked further inquiry. My intellect was attacked and overcome by the monster it had created!
It wasn’t until I was 46 that this barrier was overcome so I could begin to see the real message of Jesus and the massive corroborating evidence that supports that message.
Here are the facts:
-We are already Sheeple by default.
-We already follow the herd.
-We are already intellectually and conceptually slaughtered whether self-directed or led by another.
-The so-called leaders that arise from the herd are a product of the herd itself and are afflicted themselves at the outset.
-Therefore a leader that can lead us to freedom and from this inevitable slaughter cannot come from within the herd.
-That leader must come from outside the herd.
-There is only one.
-Every one of us remains a Sheeple without Him.
-He is the only leader that doesn’t lead us to slaughter. He heals us then leads us away from the eternally destructive influence of the herd. To freedom.
He is the only one who can.
Sheeple are those who do not put their trust in and follow Jesus Christ. We all start out this way. But those who remain behind choose instead to blindly trust and follow a Frankenstein monster of the truth hidden within a pleasant philosophy, religion, lifestyle or hypothesis invented by the herd.
Those who are willing to follow the evidence where it leads will be led to Christ… Those who won’t and don’t are left behind.
So the popular view held by Sheeple that Christians are mindless, docile, slow-witted and weak followers of the crowd are speaking of themselves. Their contention that Christ requires this of his followers is in serious error.
Otherwise why would he tell his disciples…
“Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Mathew 10:16
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ” Matthew 22:37 [Italics Mine]
Excellent Mark! The Apologetics message must go out to all believers! We live in an age where it is not an option anymore and its not only necessary but should also be mandatory training for every Christian!
Love it, Marc! Apologists.. well that shouldn’t be a kind of Christian.. we should all defend the faith cause we are all Christians and that’s what we should do! All young Christians need this in their upbringing as there are eternal consequences to having the antichrist-spirited world mold your children’s mind through certain aspects of the school system and through other sources.
About sheep.. they are actually emotionally aware and can forge tight nit relationships with one another and with the Shepherd. They are always banding together in all they do, but they do need a shepherd to guide them, or else they will all do the gerbil-off-the-cliff pattern. They are gentle, they never fight and do not have the hierarchy system goats have. Goats scatter when trouble arises and some even faint, doing the opossum thing. Sheep band together and depend upon the Good Shepherd because he is always looking out for them and they love one another!
Excellent Mark! The Apologetics message must go out to all believers! We live in an age where it is not an option anymore and its not only necessary but should also be mandatory training for every Christian!
Hi Valerie!
1 Peter 3:15 has always been an important command. You are correct that in our age it is even more critical.
For you and I it isn’t a command; it’s an encouragement! How do we pass along this attitude to other Christians?
By setting them on fire with the passion and love of Apologetics!
We can do that!
Marc
Love it, Marc! Apologists.. well that shouldn’t be a kind of Christian.. we should all defend the faith cause we are all Christians and that’s what we should do! All young Christians need this in their upbringing as there are eternal consequences to having the antichrist-spirited world mold your children’s mind through certain aspects of the school system and through other sources.
About sheep.. they are actually emotionally aware and can forge tight nit relationships with one another and with the Shepherd. They are always banding together in all they do, but they do need a shepherd to guide them, or else they will all do the gerbil-off-the-cliff pattern. They are gentle, they never fight and do not have the hierarchy system goats have. Goats scatter when trouble arises and some even faint, doing the opossum thing. Sheep band together and depend upon the Good Shepherd because he is always looking out for them and they love one another!
Hey Richard!
YES to your statement “That shouldn’t be a kind of Christian”!
Since the average Christian doesn’t get it, you and I are privileged with the purpose of helping them get it! What could be more exciting?!
Thank you for the insights into sheep behavior and psychology!
Interesting and humorous distinctions between sheep and goats!
Marc