"Feed My lambs . . . My sheep" (John 21 :15, 17). "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, . . . to feed the Church of God " (Acts 20 :28). " Feed the flock of God which is among you " (i Peter
The above-mentioned scriptures contain much that is of a deep and searching character for all who have any true care and concern for the welfare and blessing of the Lord's dear people.
It is scarcely necessary to say that the terms "lambs – sheep," and " church," refer not merely to the few or the many with whom we may be in Christian association, but to every member of the body of Christ on earth, without exception. To take any narrower view of it would be sectarianism, more or less bigoted in character; yet is there not constant danger here ? How easily do we look at a Christian askance because "he followeth not with us" (Luke 9:49).
There is nothing that God is more jealous of than His truth – His doctrine; and it is only by doing His will that we know that doctrine (John 7:17). Nor has He greater joy than to have His people
walk in it. There never was a time when they required to be faithful and true to it more than at the present, when so many are seeking to "remove the ancient landmarks" (Prov. 22:28).We are assuredly in the Laodicean state described so fully in a Peter, chaps. 2 and 3; Jude, and Rev. 3; and to "contend earnestly for the faith once [for all] delivered to the saints " should be our chief care and earnest desire, by the help of God.
Hardly a Protestant system stands today but what is honeycombed with evil of a more or less glaring character; and, sad to say, true Christians in those systems, in many cases, are blind to it; others are at a loss to know what to do, or where to turn to. Even if they learn of a company of Christians who have departed from these evils, and are gathered together according to God, they are liable to be met there too with most puzzling difficulties and discordant sounds. One would not for a moment ignore the fact that, in the main, divisions occur among God's people because of evil coming in, and a firm refusal of it. The injunction, "Let him that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness, " necessitates division at times. Again, "There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."May the spirit of faithfulness ever be maintained! Nevertheless, under the existing conditions, pride becomes none; heartfelt humiliation is the only befitting mind in all, and in each one who has at heart the interests of the Lord Jesus and the welfare of His beloved people.
Two articles in September help and food-" Repairing the Breach and Restoring the Paths," and
"A Needful Lesson"-seem most timely and true, and have given help to the writer of this paper. Laboring in a small city on the Pacific coast, and being brought into close contact with tf1311^ of God's dear people, his heart has gone out to them with pity because of their being placed in such circum-stances, and with yearning love too, he trusts, for their welfare. He has been told by them repeatedly, "We are being starved; we get no food for our souls." In looking back, one pleads guilty of having used his knowledge of truth at times to smite the ignorant and those who are out of the way, rather than to lead them in it; of having, Pharisee-like, stood off at a distance, rather than physician-like, having drawn nigh. This humbles one, and the forgiving grace of God turns to a better use of His precious truth. What then should be our first thought when meeting fellow-saints in their difficulties and needs ? Seek to bring them in to association with ourselves ? or occupy them with, and worry them about, their ecclesiastical position? Has not this been one of the causes for the very great weakness now prevalent ? There are various other causes, we are sure:-how little depth of the sense of sin by many of the rising generation; how little conviction of truth, and how little therefore under its governing power; how many motives of a self-pleasing nature are at work, instead of pure obedience to Christ, cost what it may:these are after a better ministry, others after following their special friends, and others again are after the greatest numbers. What but weakness and worldliness can result from such things ?
What, then, we ask again, should be the first care and concern of every true-hearted servant of Christ ? We say unhesitatingly, in the language of our text, "Feed the flock of God which is among you"; feed them first with milk; and then, as the spiritual capacity increases with the desire, feed them with stronger food:feed them with Christ, and for Christ's sake; see to it that Christ's ends toward them are kept in view-not yours.
The great mass of Christians of to-day are profoundly ignorant of the main and fundamental truths of Christianity, such as New Birth, Eternal Life, Justification, Sanctification or Holiness, Two Natures, the difference between Law and Grace, New Creation, the two Adams, the Holy Spirit's presence, the Lord's Second Coming, the difference between the Church and the Kingdom, etc., as well as the fact that the special gifts of tongues, healing, etc., were simply sign-gifts at the inauguration of Christianity, to establish its identity. Hence the reason that so many are carried away by such extravagances as the Pentecostal or Tongues movements. Shall we not bestir ourselves to make known abroad what we have learned in secret with God ? Shall we not do all which, with good conscience toward God, we can do to make them sharers with us of the good things we have received ? Shall we not as one man assemble at our prayer-meetings with deliberate purpose to plead with God for His deluded and misled people ? True, they have the word of God, and they may read it for themselves; but for what reason do the Lord Jesus, the apostle Paul, and the apostle Peter, give utterance to the words quoted at the head of this paper ?
Our Lord has ordained a ministry, not for a section of His people, but for all. Every man gifted by Christ for the ministry of His word has received this gift, not for a particular congregation, or circle of congregations, but for all His people. Whoever refuses such, refuses Christ's gift to them; and whoever refuses to minister to any of His people unless they bind him with what obedience to Christ should refuse, is unfaithful to his calling. And the better Christ has equipped any servant of His with gift and knowledge, the more responsible that servant is.
Christ calls His people "My lambs," "My sheep." For them He laid down His life. For them He works from on high now. For them He will appear soon. Blessed then will they be who are found having fed and shepherded them for His sake while they were in this scene of need and of abounding evil. We may not all have the special gift of a pastor, with the holy qualifications belonging to it; but if the ruin of the Church is realized, and we love the brethren-not some of them-as every one redeemed by the Lord should do, our hearts will warm toward the poor, scattered, bewildered flock of God, and we will, each in our measure, carry the good things we have to them. Nor will this make us forget the special care needed by those who are brought together into holy association through such ministry. The dear apostle never neglected them; the care of them was ever upon him; the salutations at the end of his epistles show plainly that not only the assemblies as such were dear to him, but the individuals who composed them as well. But he pushed on; what he had received of the Lord made him a debtor to all. Oh for this devouring zeal; this unsectarian heart; this protecting care for those whom Christ loves!
Another thing:Our depositories are stocked with printed ministry of a most valuable character, containing the exposition of every line of truth already mentioned, and much more besides. Men of God have labored prayerfully and in self-denial to make available to all a ministry full of spiritual riches. All cannot preach, all cannot go with the things of God to all the corners of the land. Do those of the Lord's stewards who possess earthly things realize their responsibility in this line of ministry ? Do they know how much more that ministry could be extended by furnishing the hands of the servants of Christ who oftentimes are unable to purchase, save in small quantities ? What an opportunity to invest for eternal profits! We are all fellow-workmen; we need one another; we are all members of one body; the lack of one member makes room for the other.
False shepherds are abroad, and their number is legion. They are after the fleece and the milk of the flock of God. What are we after ? May God exercise our hearts as to all this! Let us serve patiently and devotedly. What they who are helped and fed by our ministry will do with it is their responsibility :ours is to be faithful toward them, ministering to them according to our measure as they are able to bear. If we but deliver them from the growing errors of the age, we have been to them "the salt of the earth"-the preserving element from corruption.
In conclusion, one scarcely need say that that part of the word of God which applies to the salvation of the sinner and his being established in grace is by no means the limit of the faithful ministry of Christ. Once established in grace, our relations to one another as members of the body of Christ, our individual and ecclesiastical responsibilities, most surely follow :to keep back any part of the word of God because it brings conflict with existing institutions of any kind would be practically denying that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
May the Lord give the tender and gracious spirit as to all this-exercising our hearts as to the welfare of the whole Church of God-thus proving the reality of that blessed tie that binds us all together to Him, and fulfilling the will and good pleasure of our God! F. J. Enefer.