May the mumbling commence!

Christian leaders and Christian brothers and sisters, it is time for accountability before the Lord.  As one who has been called to leadership in the church, the words of Ezekiel 34 burn upon my heart.  Read verses seven through ten below:

"'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’”

It is a wake-up call for all ministers – especially for those that are compensated financially for their services.  Pastors are paid to serve not to be served.  They are paid so that their days are open to following the call of the Lord within their contexts without the hindrances of a nine-to-five job.  This freedom must NOT be misused to feed off the vulnerable or to take the free time as leisure only.  God will hold all Christian leaders accountable for their actions.

Those of you who are not in positions of spiritual leadership may be sighing a sigh of relief.  But no Christian is off the hook.  Read from later in Ezekiel 34 verses 17-24:

"'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.  Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?  Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.  Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.  I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.  I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.’” 

It is not only the shepherds that will be held accountable.  The sheep will also be held accountable.  God will judge between the sheep and the rams and the goats.  Watch out if you are sleek and fat!  If you have advantages were you live, you are to use those advantages for the benefit of the vulnerable.  No, the laity is not off the hook here.  They, too, are held accountable for living in accordance with the Christian name.  All Christians represent the name of Christ to the world at large – whether they want that role or not.  Everything that we do should be for the sake of the people around us in our daily lives.  Read from Ezekiel 36:22-32 –

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.  I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. 

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out