The Church as the Flock of Christ

By Pastor Chad

I once read a social media post that maligned anyone who considered himself a sheep; such a depiction, the author of the post bemoaned, means one is weak and a slave. To the charges as credited, I say: guilty! I am weak and in need of someone other than myself to guide me along the path of righteousness. 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are part of the flock of Christ. What does that mean? What implications follow from such a position? One of the most significant truths this implies is that Jesus is your Great Shepherd, and you should listen to His voice. 

Many Christians are tempted to listen to social media influencers more than to biblical teaching and instruction. Random internet personalities, spewing TikTok theology or pop psychology, make some question long-held beliefs and assumptions. In other words, there are a lot of voices vying for your attention. Admittedly, it can sometimes be difficult to wade through the noise and discern the righteous path. Thankfully, all who follow the Great Shepherd know His voice. In John 10:16, Jesus states, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” 

How do we know the voice of Jesus? We know primarily through one source: sacred Scripture. If Jesus is your Great Shepherd, you will be obedient to the word of God. As the flock of Christ, we must follow the teachings and instructions we receive in Scripture. 

I get it: there are some things in Scripture that seem archaic and backwards to a contemporary, fallen world. There are quite a few doctrinal stances and ethical positions within Scripture that spurs the scorn of the lost world. Yet, we are not called to live a life in accordance with the wishes of those who reject the Great Shepherd. We are called to listen and obey Jesus. 

I am told that sheep know the voice of their shepherd. When he calls, his sheep heed his command. Of course, a shepherd doesn’t herd sheep, he leads them. And it is the job of the shepherd to guide, protect, and feed the sheep. As part of Jesus’ flock, we are guided, protected, and fed by Him. And since He is the Good Shepherd, we can rest assured that wherever He leads, it is for our good. Thus, we should follow.