Christian Living

THE WANDERING SHEEP

by paul hoffmaster
05/19/19
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The Parable of the “Prodigal Son” has been dissected and examined from countless angles.  Sermons and teachings abound with complimentary books and tapes.  The Father and elder brother are also involved in this classic interpretation of a family torn apart by greed, suffering, identify crisis, jealousy, anger, unforgiveness, reconciliation, celebration, and of course forgiveness. (Luke 15:11-32)  In our eagerness to accentuate the third part of this chapter, we fail to see the significance of the other two parables in this chapter.  The first parable in Luke 15 deals with a lost sheep.  Somehow, one of the sheep in this shepherd’s flock had wandered away.  When the “pastor” realized that one of his hundred sheep was missing, he set out to find him.  Churches are so concerned with getting “new sheep” into their fold that they fail to notice when one of their sheep has wandered off.  I know pastors love their flocks, but what about finding those who have strayed from the fold?  I believe God is just as concerned with restoration as He is with the birthing of a new soul.  How do Believers respond when they notice that a certain person or family has stopped coming to church?  Are we concerned enough to leave our comfort zones and find out what happened to them, or do we rationalize their absence with unjustifiable thoughts?

People leave the church for many reasons, and I am sure they feel they have a valid reason, but sadly, those who remain steadfast in the church chose not to understand why they are absent.  I believe many that leave the church do not intend it to be a final resolve.  They have wandered away, not so much in search of “greener pastures,” but as a result of misunderstandings, disappointments, confusion, and neglected identity.  It would seem that the lost sheep in this parable was hoping that his shepherd would come looking for him.  It is the same way with some of those who have left the church.  They are hoping that someone cares enough about them to call or stop over to see how they are doing.  I have seen people leave their church because of a feeling of not belonging.  It is possible to feel alone in the midst of a congregation.  Every pastor needs to know his flock.  He needs to realize that no two sheep are the same.  Each one has a special personality and make-up.  To be fixated on numbers and not on individual needs is a dereliction of shepherding.  Sheep sometimes have squabbles and hurt each other.  The shepherd should be there to help straighten out their “misunderstandings.”  Sadly, Christians hurt each other with words, deeds, and by ignoring one another.  When we offend one another, we are offending Jesus, for He is in each and every Believer.

I wonder how many Believers are concerned with vacated chairs/pews in their church.  When is the last time a pastor sought out an individual/family that went AWOL from their church?  When is the last time someone felt a void caused by the absence of a brother or sister?  When is the last time Believers exhibited concern about those who suddenly dropped off the radar?  So many times Christians turn their eyes to the doors hoping for new families to enter, instead of being concerned enough to post an attitude of “no exit” from “this body of Believers.”

It is time the churches give more attention to the restoration of Believers.  A time to open our hearts and arms to the whosoevers that have wandered from the fold!  If we fail to do so, the revolving doors of our churches will continue to revolve.