Shepherds after My own Heart
As promised, if you decide to contribute to the intelligence of this blog by buying me a book from my Wishlist, I will read that book.The first book that a blog reader sent me via this wishlist is Shepherds after My own Heart by Timothy S. Laniak. I just finished reading it. My 2 cents on these 260 pages: if you're not a pastor, don't read this book because it's a dense, slow read. If you are a pastor, do read this book because it's a dense, slow read.This is by no means a practical book on what it means to be a pastor. Instead, this is a thick exegetical and theological survey of how shepherd imagery and metaphor is used throughout the Bible. As Laniak says near the beginning of the book:
pastors who have read this work have described a different benefit [in contrast with pragmatic pastoral works], a more subtle but profound change in their sense of identity...Rather than providing twelve 'steps' to shepherd leadership, here are twelve successive invitations to reconsider leadership from within the prism of pastoral imagery.
I attest that I've found it a great joy and benefit to "reconsider leadership" from this "prism of pastoral imagery."My favorite insight from the book:In the ancient world, shepherds had a broad range of responsibilities, requiring a broad skill set. One of a shepherd's main responsibilities was that of "scouting"--scouting out where and how to lead his flock to better pasture, provision, and protection. Thinking of my role as pastor through this "scouting" lens has been of help as I do spend a fair amount of my time looking/praying/thinking towards the future, towards where God is calling me to lead my flock. Pastors are, in part, scouts. That's been a helpful handle for better understanding my pastoral identity.My favorite quotes from the book:
The primary verbs for shepherding can mean feeding, leading, and general tending (oversight).For the sake of convenience we have in places summarized the inter-related pastoral roles as protector, provider and guide. Fundamentally, however, the task of shepherds is determined daily by the changing needs of the flock under their care. 'Pastors' are generalists...To be a good shepherd--and this is consistent with the biblical canon---means to be accountable for the lives and well-being of the sheep...Good shepherding is expressed by decisions and behaviors that benefit the 'flock', often at great personal cost. It calls for the benevolent use of authority...Some situations require militant protection and discipline, others beckon for gentle nurture...The shepherd image is especially useful for holding in tension these essential features for leadership. Authority without compassion leads to harsh authoritarianism. Compassion without authority leads to social chaos. Shepherds must be able to express their leadership in a variety of ways.Evangelism is a natural expression of the shepherd's commitment to the whole flock of God, especially those who have not yet found their true home.To be a shepherd is to be both responsible for (the flock) and responsible to (the Owner).Any person in 'pastoral' ministry is heir to a remarkable heritage that stretches back four thousand years.