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ShepherdLeader.com Forum Index -> While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks -> Day 15: PROTECTION
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Sam Park



Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 20
Location: Flushing, NY

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:58 pm    Post subject: Healthy Protection Reply with quote

“Some of us prefer mercy to justice, grace to law, the staff to the rod. Others prefer the opposite. But, as shepherds, we need to occupy both roles comfortably… shepherding involves our God-given stewardship in tangible expressions of nurture and protection. I’ve discovered this balance to be missing in Christian communities.” There seems to be such a fine line between protection and control. I’ve been wondering to myself what the difference is between the two? There does appear to be a need for a level of interaction between the two. Even the Great Shepherd Himself rules and reigns over all the earth and is in control of everything. But He seems to be the only exception to the dangers of control running amok. Where do we go wrong?

Could the difference be the motivation behind the two? Our own fears and insecurities drive our need to be in control. We say that we fear for our children, and that may be mostly true, but we cannot deny our own deep-seeded fears in the depths of our soul. We fear failing as a parent, what others think of us, what our children will think of us, etc. We mask the driving force of our fears by saying that what we do, we are doing for others—when it is really for ourselves. The driving force behind protection also involves fear. But this fear is a lot more natural… healthier. It is love-driven, compassion-powered. As in the case with Rabbi Leo Baeck, protection involves a deep level of self-sacrifice. Not everyone may need to do what Rabbi Baeck did, but if protection is going to be protection, the protector needs to be ready and willing to do so. That is the biggest struggle with control isn’t it—the struggle to release (or sacrifice) one’s hold over another? God offers the perfect balance of control and protection. He led His flock, commanding them with the truth, and yet was not overbearing with control. He released them to make mistakes and ultimately when He returned to the Father. When it came time to protect His flock, He did so… with His own life.
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