LTRP Note: The following article is written by a long-time Lighthouse Trails reader who is a lay preacher and evangelist from Canada. He encouraged us to post this specifically on behalf of the many dedicated commentators, authors, readers, and contenders of the faith who stand for truth and are devoted to warning others.
By Dick Leppky
B.C. Canada
SHEEPDOG: Sheepdogs help to identify and prevent the ‘wolves’ (often dressed in sheep’s clothing) from hurting the sheep. Sheepdogs understand that truth is powerful, at times painful, and equally unpopular. However, truth is necessary . . . and it sets the Christian free. Sheep who ‘tolerate’ the sheepdog learn to appreciate that they keep the wolves away.
SHEPHERDS and SHEEPDOGS: Some shepherds cannot tell the difference between a sheepdog and a wolf and chase the dog away. The loss to the shepherd and the flock can be tragic. Other shepherds think they are sufficient by themselves. In spite of their preoccupied schedules and workload, they are often too proud to accept assistants. This attitude can be disastrous. Every shepherd needs a sheepdog. Moses needed helpers, and God sent them. One of his greatest was Caleb – whose name in Hebrew significantly, means ‘sheepdog.’ (It may also mean devoted, faithful, whole hearted, brave.)
We are aware that wolves and sheepdogs can look much alike and that shepherd/pastors must proceed cautiously; but we also know it can be spiritual suicide for a pastor to pretend he is God’s sole gift to the church.
If the church does not have sheepdogs, it indicates the pastor’s failure to recognize and encourage the development of spiritual gifts in his flock. Churches across North America are literally dying and/or falling victim to false teachings because pastors are not accepting and mentoring their Calebs. Pulpit preaching does not usually fill this role. Good shepherding success requires the recognition of spiritual gifts within HIS church, encouraging them and helping development of the ‘body’ gifts. The proof of a church being a true biblical organism is that God has “the whole body fitly joined together” (Ephesians 4:16) with different parts working together in harmony. Paul had Timothy, Barnabas, Silas and other sheepdogs and helpers. He explained it as: “according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (v. 16).
A healthy church is a gifted church. If there is no spiritual gift recognition, it is clearly not God’s fault. The best example may be like a good football team: A captain or two, defense and offense, lineman and line backers, receivers and defenders. When they work in harmony, you have a winning team. (Not just because of qualified quarterbacks, captains or coaches.)
Having visited hundreds of evangelical churches across North America and several other countries, combined with 1000s of hours of research, I have a basic analysis that at least two core biblical mandates are almost completely absent in the majority of denominational churches. (1)The lack of discernment within evangelical churches and their leadership. (2) The second is like unto the first. There is virtually no doctrinal discipleship happening in the congregations. To put some descriptive details to this two-fold contention would require several conditions to be met: (1) A willingness to spend some serious time to watch and listen to our research conclusions, and (2) A willingness to accept that there would be some identification of the denominations who have allowed this to come about and unapologetically identifying many of the so-called evangelical leaders who are in fact ‘the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
As servants of the Master, this ought not be a deterrent. As Christian leaders, our first obligation is to our Lord and His Word. (“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:10-11) Who are the ones to whom Jesus will say: “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23)?
One of the essential qualities of true leaders is that they recognize their own limitations – and supplement that lack, by enlisting others. Paul would say – as another body part. Successful Kings, Presidents, and Prime Ministers always surround themselves with gifted assistants and delegate certain authorities to them. The burnout rate of pastors is disproportionate to almost every other leadership profession largely because they are unnecessarily flying solo most of the time.
If what I am saying sounds somewhat intolerant, it is because we grieve for congregations that are being endangered by the heresy and apostasy that has swept into evangelicalism in the past thirty years. Today, the growth of ecumenical falsehoods is exponentially compounding—while the pulpits remain silent! (Is this the church of Laodicea?)
Every shepherd needs a sheepdog. A shepherd without a Caleb is spiritually handicapped. Any flock of sheep, large or small, healthy or infirm, will attract wolves. It’s become much too obvious that a shepherd without a sheepdog is vulnerable to the wolves that come to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).
With the variety of our experience and research, we have witnessed this repeatedly. We have all met pastors and heard from thousands of sheep who feel powerless and frustrated by creeping (and now rushing) heresy that is ambiguously described as Purpose Driven, Willow Creek, Alpha, Spiritual Formation, Contemplative, Emergent, and other evolutionary humanistic language. In fact, most of this teaching is ecumenical universalism sprinkled with socialist Marxism, Roman Catholicism, Buddhism, and New Age type Hinduism. (Regardless of what their ‘token’ faith statement says.)
If that’s not enough, much of this is originating from denominational head offices, most Bible Schools and Seminaries, plus hundreds of heretical authors and their publishers. Aided by TV programming and the Internet. Worst of all, individual churches and denominational conferences etc. are compromising their own people by featuring and endorsing these false prophets in their pulpits and on their podiums.
(There is a growing need for sheepdogs that have the God-given gift and commitment for biblical discernment.)
We are not saying that sheepdogs will function perfectly . . . we are all imperfect vessels. What we are saying is that we can do much better; God has commanded us to do much better; and, in fact, His Word promises the diversified spiritual gifts to do much better. These are not self-proclaimed gifts. Our responsibility is to seek the Giver and Distributor of these gifts “to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Pride, ego and self-seeking must be set aside. Brothers and sisters in Christ must be able to accept the deeper heart/soul and eternal issues facing HIS church in these last days. Being honest, open, and non-compromising is clearly taught in His Word. Who are we to re-interpret that, as we cover-up and/or ignore the false teachings that are turning biblical Christianity into a shallow social-cultural religion that is no longer separated from a broken world.
If you are a pastor, we pray God will bless your ministry with disciplined sheepdogs. If you are not a pastor, we pray God will confirm the spiritual gifts He has ordained for you. If sheepdog discernment quickens His Spirit in you, we would be pleased to hear from you. Either way, you are the winners, Satan is the loser – because, ultimately, God is in control.
Thank God for the Calebs in the church, for spiritual sheepdogs and shepherd pastors who recognize the contributions of assistants in their Kingdom work.
Thank you for your attention. (Truth is powerful – not popular)
AMEN!
Dick Leppky . . . on behalf of sheepdogs everywhere
We would love to make contact: kerygma@cablelan.net.
This is only a New Testament sampling:
2nd Timothy 3:16 & 4:3-5; 2nd Peter 1:19-21; 1st Thessalonians 2:13; 1st Corinthians 2:12-16; 1st Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 1:9&13; Colossians 1:9-12 & 2:4&8
(John 17: 20-23: A careful word study that reveals the real unity that our Savior desires for us – as opposed to the false ecumenism practiced today)
(photos from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
Excellent article, Dick! You & I were having a chat on another website and you mentioned that you write here, so I was pleased to see your article on the topic you identified yourself as — a sheepdog! Although you are spot on with your observations, I hate to say it but it saddens me that so many of us are having this experience with our churches today. I attend a large Methodist church and, while it is filled with people each week, I’m fairly confident that is more due to the fact that it’s a huge building with lots of “benefits” and fun things to do, a virtual light show going on while the loud music is pumping onstage, and a pastor who literally REFUSES to take a stand on anything he deems as a “social issue”!! He says many times he has been asked to do so but that his job is to preach the gospel and let GOD take care of the rest 🙁 Ugh, no wonder the majority of people in the congregation are spiritual infants and embrace positions on things like homosexuality, abortion, and other hot topics that are completely opposite of what the Bible says! As T.I. Miller, Anna, Chris, and J Parry all have experienced, it seems that my pastor too is more concerned with tickling ears and not “offending” people than with preaching ALL of what God’s word says. No wonder our world is a MESS!
Amen, and Amen! Thank you for this and all the comments as well. I’m learning from you all and is not that what it is all about? Growth & Edification. That’s why I come here. Blessings!
Great examples J Parry, regarding the dogs senses being superior to the senses of a man; and the superiority of the strength and cleverness of the wolf. Entering a church as a sheepdog the wolf or wolves in the flock of God’s sheep recognize you, and are promptly at the front door to greet you! And without the backing of the shepherd of the flock, you are overwhelmed by the darkness and hidden evil of this person (or persons) – sometimes in leadership. Without naming names you mention to the Senior Pastor that there may be a problem that is preventing the church from growing. But as many have written, these pastors are dismissive, or find you, a mere lay person, not as discerning as themselves – as T. I. Miller clearly points out.
Yes, I too am a ‘sheepdog.’ I have sent out many warnings in many ways. The results are the same as they are with others, they fall on deaf ears and blind eyes, which is pretty predictable by now. But onward we march… !
J Parry I can totally relate with you. I am also in the same situation as yourself. When as an elder in my church during my three year term ,my suspicions were confirmed that we were not just Flirting with seeker- Sensitive/Purpose Driven but we’re in deed sold out to it. We were required as elders to read church growth leadership related material. During my three year term we read eight books on church growth. My three years was spent as an information gathering period , there were times when it seemed we didn’t fit the seeker/Purpose Driven mold so as a result I didn’t speak up as much as I should have, though I did make it clear to the pastor what my position was concerning seeker-Sensitive/Purpose Driven. Now I am exposing our involvement in this movement to all the leadership and all of my friends who will listen. I wrote a detailed letter Confirming my claims that these concepts have been promoted not only in the required reading but also within the sermons. The ignorance level throughout the church is staggering. All that I can hope for is that people will do their own research as I have done.Along with my lengthy letter I have included 12 articles exposing various issues of concern which I mentioned in my letter. I will probably be viewed as divisive.
What is being described is more of a livestock guard dog (which protect) than a sheepdog (which herd). A shepherd knows who his sheepdogs and livestock guard dogs are, because he put them there & appreciates their purpose. Some pastors & church reject this kind of help. From my experience with such dogs, livestock guard dogs can both blend in and stand out. It depends on the needs of the flock. A Christian gifted in discernment and alerting to danger also blends in, or stands out depending on the need at any given time. Most of the time, the guard dog blends in and you hardly notice him. But, when danger is sensed, the dog alerts & gathers the flock. If the threat persists, the dog begins to come out in front of the herd and confront the threat directly and if necessary is willing to take on the attack itself and even die for its flock. If a livestock guard dog is introduced to a flock that’s not used to having one, it can be soundly rejected. If it stays, some will eventually except it, but not all. Those who understand and appreciate the dog’s purpose will come to trust it, love it & seek it out to be near it, knowing they can rest and relax because it is always watching out for them. I’ve witnessed similar reactions in churches to those gifted in discernment & warning.
There is really nothing that I can add to this exhortation. I can only confirm that neither pastors or elders are open to receiving warnings from me. All spiritual gifts are God given for the good of the entire church. Pastors are quenching the spirit when they work against a sheep dog. Is it pride is it insecurity? After all they have a degree from a seminary and I do not. They are loath to admit that they could be deceived by things a layman can discern. Irrespective of how respectfully and lovingly i am they all are either dismissive at best or hostile at worst. As a result I have no church family. My only means of exercising my gift is through LTRP and other like minded stewards. We are warned that a great delusion will be sent. I believe it is presently being sent.
Dear Brother, Thank you for the affirming words. The Lord’s peace upon you and your household. Another Sheepdog working in Japan.
Thank you so very much for this! I am in a situation where the shepherds seem reluctant to take my warnings seriously. The question, “Why are you the only one…?” (who was seeing danger) was a trouble at first – was I mistaken after all? Yet the Lord’s warning was very clear and impossible to ignore But with the sheepdog analogy it becomes obvious. A dog is a “Lesser creature” than a man, yet the dog’s senses are far sharper, as they need to be, in order to do its job. Neither is a dog usually as strong or clever as a wolf, but, with the shepherd’s backing) can still help to keep the sheep safe. Without that backing it can be rather lonely But pleasing the Chief Shepherd is the main thing. So I thank Him for where He has placed me and try to do as He instructs.
This important, timely posting brings to mind what someone once said: “The person who enters the fold with pretense, being no one but a wolf in sheep’s clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside.” Most likely an experience most have encountered in churches these days.