Shepherds in the divided kingdoms

[caseylok]

It is sad that during Israel’s monarchic rule, most of the kings were bad shepherds who led the people astray into apostasy and who governed unjustly. The irony is that it was the people who asked and insisted for a human king instead of God to reign. God in His mercy and patience, acceded to their request and even warned them about the liabilities that might result when a bad king was in power.

Not only did many generations of people suffer under the wicked reign of most of the twenty kings in both Israel and Judah, but also their agony peaked when the northern kingdom fell to Assyria in 522 B.C.E. and the southern kingdom to Babylonian in 786 B.C.E.

My church is rooted in Brethren traditions and has been governed by lay leadership since its inception thirty years ago. While the founding leaders hold on to the denominational principle of operation, increasingly number of concerned members feel that the church needs full time leadership to come in place. Though the reason for pastoral care and renewed leadership is valid, may our leaders and members discover together what is best for our church so that the Lord’s will be done for our church and in His perfect timing.