Church Governments

Lesson 9

Natural Shepherding

This lesson has been included to teach the truths and allegory of natural shepherding. Most modern Christians are quite removed from any form of animal husbandry and are therefore ignorant of the implications of the pastor/sheepfold allegory God chose to use in the Bible. A brief lesson on the life of sheep and shepherds will prove most invaluable. The following points were taken from books written by men who had lived their lives as natural shepherds over multiple decades and in many countries around the world.

THE SHEPHERD

A well-managed flock can restore derelict land. For this reason, sheep were of ancient times called “the golden hooved ones” because of their tremendous contribution to the world around them. Where they go, the land is fertilized and weeded. They prefer higher ground, and so, fertilize that area too.
A shepherd is both an owner and a manager of sheep.
The shepherd knows where he is going. He has direction for the flock. He knows the range and where the flock should go next.
A shepherd’s sheep come first, above all else.
A good shepherd spares no pain for the welfare of the sheep.
As it goes with the shepherd, so it goes with the flock.
Under one shepherd, a flock could starve; while under a different shepherd, the same flock would flourish.
The welfare of any flock is entirely dependent upon the management afforded them by their owner.
Indifferent shepherds produce foragers (not good).
A good shepherd has an eye for injured sheep. They survey the flock every morning.
The presence of the shepherd will stop all inter-flock abuse.
A shepherd knows his flock. He knows the stubborn, the laggers, the leaders, the runaways, and the strays.

SHEEP BEHAVIOR

Sheep are marked by their shepherd.
Sheep are very contented with their shepherd. They know his call and his whistle.
Sheep are very leery of new shepherds.
Sheep are the least self-sufficient of all of the livestock animals. They require meticulous care and endless attention.
Sheep would remain sedate and stationary if not for the shepherd’s leadership.
Sheep are the only animal that can be lost within a few miles of their home.
Sheep panic easily and give up easily, baaing in circles.
Sheep can overeat and become obese.
Sheep can eat the wrong things.
Sheep cannot discern poisonous plants.
Sheep do NOT just take care of themselves.
Human/sheep behavioral parallels include mob instinct, fear, timidity, stubbornness, and stupidity.
Sheep require four things to lie down:

1. No fear

2. No herd friction

3. No pests or parasites

4. No hunger

Sheep are so timid that even a jackrabbit can cause a stampede. When one is spooked, a dozen will blindly follow it.
Nothing quiets and reassures the flock like the presence of the shepherd.
A flock of sheep under one shepherd’s care are very alike and very content to be together. They are marked and have a life together. If you put a stranger among them, they would all know it and be uneasy. It takes months to be accepted by the flock.
There is an order among sheep. It is called the butting order.
A hungry, ill-fed sheep is ever on its feet. They are not content and will not thrive.
During “fly time,” parasites, flies, and nose flies lay larvae in the nose of the sheep. The worms then hatch and crawl through the sinus cavity into the brain, tormenting the sheep literally to death. Oil salve is needed with multiple applications to prevent and relieve the pestilence.
Some sheep choose to feed on barren, inferior forage.
Sheep cast (lie down without the ability to arise) for three reasons:

1. Too comfortable

2. Too fat

3. Too wooly

If the sheep is not rescued soon (within about 24 hours) after casting, they will die. They must be manually set upright on their feet to prevent their stomach gases from killing them (they are ruminating animals with 4 stomach compartments). Then, the cause of the initial casting must be remedied, i.e., wool sheered, fat walked off, or the comfortable sheep disrupted.

TYPES OF SHEEP

“Wanderers”—The distant sheep, the roamers, and the wanderers are the ones that get picked off by the predators.
“Fence-Crawlers”—Some sheep are called “fence-crawlers.” These are discontent sheep that are eager to move on to any place else. As soon as a flock is moved into a new pasture, these sheep will begin walking the fence line looking for a way out. Sadly, they will teach the other sheep (including their lambs) their routes and their fence holes, and they will lead some sheep into dangerous terrain. They must usually be put down by the shepherd.
“Hermits”—Often a sheep will choose to live alone, shun the flock, and not come when called to muster. This sheep is called a “hermit.” He is also called “stupid,” “silly,” “cranky,” and “crazy.”
“Pet Sheep”—A shepherd can have no “pet sheep.” A pet sheep is unnatural to the flock and will not be happy among the flock. It will prefer to be alone with the shepherd where it can receive full attention, care, and spoiling. Allowing a sheep to become a pet sheep essentially ruins that sheep.

With so many obvious parallels, it is no wonder why God chose to relate to us as sheep and why He chose this allegory to describe the local church and its shepherd. Selah!

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Church Governments

Lesson 9

Natural Shepherding

THE SHEPHERD

A shepherd is both an owner and a manager of sheep.

The shepherd knows where he is going. He has direction for the flock. He knows the range and where the flock should go next.

A shepherd’s sheep come first, above all else.

A good shepherd spares no pain for the welfare of the sheep.

As it goes with the shepherd, so it goes with the flock.

Under one shepherd, a flock could starve; while under a different shepherd, the same flock would flourish.

The welfare of any flock is entirely dependent upon the management afforded them by their owner.

Indifferent shepherds produce foragers (not good).

A good shepherd has an eye for injured sheep. They survey the flock every morning.

The presence of the shepherd will stop all inter-flock abuse.

A shepherd knows his flock. He knows the stubborn, the laggers, the leaders, the runaways, and the strays.

SHEEP BEHAVIOR

Sheep are marked by their shepherd.

Sheep are very contented with their shepherd. They know his call and his whistle.

Sheep are very leery of new shepherds.

Sheep are the least self-sufficient of all of the livestock animals. They require meticulous care and endless attention.

Sheep would remain sedate and stationary if not for the shepherd’s leadership.

Sheep are the only animal that can be lost within a few miles of their home.

Sheep panic easily and give up easily, baaing in circles.

Sheep can overeat and become obese.

Sheep can eat the wrong things.

Sheep cannot discern poisonous plants.

Sheep do NOT just take care of themselves.

Human/sheep behavioral parallels include mob instinct, fear, timidity, stubbornness, and stupidity.

Sheep require four things to lie down:

1. No fear

2. No herd friction

3. No pests or parasites

4. No hunger

Sheep are so timid that even a jackrabbit can cause a stampede. When one is spooked, a dozen will blindly follow it.

Nothing quiets and reassures the flock like the presence of the shepherd.

A flock of sheep under one shepherd’s care are very alike and very content to be together. They are marked and have a life together. If you put a stranger among them, they would all know it and be uneasy. It takes months to be accepted by the flock.

There is an order among sheep. It is called the butting order.

A hungry, ill-fed sheep is ever on its feet. They are not content and will not thrive.

During “fly time,” parasites, flies, and nose flies lay larvae in the nose of the sheep. The worms then hatch and crawl through the sinus cavity into the brain, tormenting the sheep literally to death. Oil salve is needed with multiple applications to prevent and relieve the pestilence.

Some sheep choose to feed on barren, inferior forage.

Sheep cast (lie down without the ability to arise) for three reasons:

1. Too comfortable

2. Too fat

3. Too wooly

TYPES OF SHEEP

“Wanderers”—The distant sheep, the roamers, and the wanderers are the ones that get picked off by the predators.

“Hermits”—Often a sheep will choose to live alone, shun the flock, and not come when called to muster. This sheep is called a “hermit.” He is also called “stupid,” “silly,” “cranky,” and “crazy.”

With so many obvious parallels, it is no wonder why God chose to relate to us as sheep and why He chose this allegory to describe the local church and its shepherd. Selah!

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