Taking up your own cross.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
- Luke 14:27 (KJV)

 
The gift of eternal life is free. Discipleship has a cost. Count the cost for being a disciple.

Luke 14:28-33 (KJV)
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 
This is with you willingly having Jesus as lord of your life, going where He decides, doing His will. It is no longer living with you as lord of your own life, going where you want. The Lord calls us personally to follow where He leads us each individually.

John 21:18-22 (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

 
Never mind what the Lord has some other Christian to do, we are to obey the Lord’s personal call for each of us. This is what it means to live as Maverick Christians. As for those in the hall of faith mentioned in the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 11…

Hebrews 11:37-40 (KJV)
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 
This is the call to discipleship by our Lord.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
- Luke 9:23 (KJV)

The balance between Word and Spirit ministries is found through the proactive emphasis of both. This is the model for spiritually healthy and vibrant Christian ministry.

When the Word of God is misunderstood and misused to minimize the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit, dry orthodoxies develop. The “rules” become more important than the spirit and intent of God’s Word. Relationship with Christ may yet seem personal but turns less interpersonal with God. As if God may hear your prayers but He will not speak back to you. This can result in a dead faith.

When the ministry of the Spirit is done with a minimizing of the Word of God false doctrines and religious excesses can result. Believers may turn to a wrong spirit and follow every wind of doctrine and popular fad spiritual movement. Faith may become strong but will tend to be a groundless faith and turn counterfeit.

We dare not leave off either the Word of God or the Spirit of God. We need to be emphatic and zealous for both lest we drift away. Nations need to have breathed in them the awakening given by God’s Spirit and to be built up by the Word of God. Lest mere human understanding be the rule of the land. Without a strong basis of God’s Word and Spirit a spiritual vacuum develops inside. This will only be left to be filled with demonic and unclean spirits and worldly philosophy which is not after Christ.

Take heed and embrase the fullness of God through Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:38-42 (KJV)

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The important and essential element in Christian home fellowship is the presence of the Lord Himself and that attention is given to Him. All too easily home fellowships can become a matter of who has the nicest house, who serves the best food or serves the most filling dinner, or yet whose home is the cleanest. Also with questions such as if the host has a swimming pool or a game center for the kids.

The Scriptures speak well on this…

1 Corinthians 11:20-22 (KJV)

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

The world will standardly and generally be the best at entertainment since it is the speciality of worldly people at serving worldly things. Who do you think throws the most alluring parties, Christians? I don’t think so. So if entertainment is used as the draw for outreach, do know that it can severe limitations in effectivity. That is just feeding the fleshly nature. Though generosity is encouragable, it is needful to demonstrate Jesus as the supplier of all our needs.

Should we use food as a means to draw people to the fellowship?  There is a drawback to this…

John 6:26-27 (KJV)

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

We should not be imitators of the world but imitators of Christ Jesus. Serving something simple will suffice for home fellowship and not become a distraction to become the main attraction instead of Christ Himself.  Promote the motive of fellowship with Christ lest fellowship be having him only as another of various guests or yet left outside the door.  Let Jesus be the guest of honor.

It is encouraged to do a simply breaking of bread in rememberance of Jesus as He commanded us to do.  The Bible does not teach that only ordained ministers can serve the bread and cup as Holy Communion.

The most common Bible verse quoted about Holy Spirit revival for nations is found in the book of 2nd Chronicles.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

However, simply seeking the Lord in prayer is not enough for believers in the Lord to live the life God desires, we must have the word of God also. The word of God must be shared for true national revival.

And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
- 2 Chronicles 17:9-10 (KJV)

How else do you expect the nation to turn to God except by God’s Spirit though His word? Therefore, do not be quiet, share the gospel. Pass out tracts, give out New Testaments and Bibles.  Get the word out about the saving grace through faith in Jesus!

Seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is what God commands but that is not to be a means to its own ends. We are filled with God’s Spirit for a purpose. We must share the good news of salvation. The Lord sends us out to do miracles in His name and to do good works without neglecting the sharing of the gospel.  Trusting faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved.

Are you praying for revival for the nation or are you still praying for your own revival?  Repent already, be revived, and go, be, do!

Do you pray simply for your church to be revived?  Do you want the Holy Spirit to move in your church so you or your own local group can be looked upon as the beacon for God in the community so others by be made jealous of you?  Whose glory do you seek?  Oh yes, God knows how very proud you would all be of yourselves for something He would be doing.  God does not seek to give you the glory.  Holy Spirit revival is not about your local church or favorite denomination.  Look beyond the four walls of your church’s building, go out, and behold the fields ripe unto harvest for the Lord.  Yes, for the Lord!  Do not let church recruitment be the emphasis.  Lead souls to Jesus.

Finally, stop letting the devil get in the way with distractions.  Do your duty as believers in Jesus and go out and win souls in His name.

Vieux Carre Assembly of God is in the Heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans, just a block from Bourbon Street. This is the meeting place for a street ministry outreach team.

Bourbon Street is known for its heavy drinking and other wild living. Young runaway girls have wandered here and, sadly, been caught up into prostitution. Various tourists come here and is quite active even in the daytime and even when it is not Mardi Gras. Indecent drunken disorderliness appears to be common place there.

A street evangelism team meets at the church as their base to step to do ministry outreach sharing the good news of Jesus while holding a cross. By use of gospel tracts, megaphone, conversation and prayer these Spirit-filled Christians do effective outreach right at the key most location in New Orleans.

I was invited by their ministry team leader and welcomed by the team to join in an ad-hoc manner for the day. Committed believers in Jesus know how to recognize others in the Lord in the body of Christ. Being welcomed readily as such by believers shows the characteristics of true Maverick Christians. Fortunately, I had my tracts in hand ready for what opportunities the Lord would lead me to.

Paul Gros is pastor of the local church. Members of the ministry team expressed their devotion to the Lord and their love for the Lord Jesus, their love for the universal body of Christ, and for the lost. They are out on the street many days sharing the word.

This church is located at…
433 Rue Dauphine
New Orleans LA 70112
Phone: 504-524-6401
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vieux-Carre-Assembly-of-God-Church/108179555890505

*** Click here for more pictures. ***

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
- Romans 13:11-14 (KJV)

Previously, I spoke with Troy D. Bohn who is pastor with Raven Ministries ( http://www.biggrace.com ). Troy does weekend evening outreaches to Bourbon Street and prepares large organized outreaches during Mardi Gras. Various believers coming in large numbers from around the country come for the Mardi Gras outreach. But how many believers would be enough? God can use the few, even the individual believer mightily, yet Jesus said…

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
- Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV):

If you are a committed believer in Jesus, coming to visit the area of New Orleans, and have a burden for the lost, the poor, and the broken, I encourage you to contact these ministries. They are worthy of support.

UPDATE 9/18/2012

Police in New Orleans have put a stop to evening preaching on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  Bible-believing evangelical preachers from Raven Ministries have been arrested for preaching after sunset.

http://christiannews.net/national-evangelistic-group-denounces-arrest-of-christians-in-new-orleans-calls-for-doj-intervention/

Christian friends, please pray for your brothers and sisters in these street ministries mentioned here and for the gospel to continue to go forth during evenings on Bourbon Street.

The strength of the believer in Jesus is found not through human ability or powers of persuasion but is found in weakness.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

When Jesus came to this world, He operated in the power of God but not through his nature as God. Jesus operated according to human rules regarding signs, wonders, and miracles. Though as Divine he could have healed all the sick in His hometown of Nazareth. However, due to the unbelief there, he could only heal a few sick people. Jesus Christ is the example of the power of God that comes through weakness in fasting, in humility, sufferings, and faithfulness to go to the cross.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 (KJV)

Paul used his weakness to strengthen others.

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
- 2 Corinthians 10:10-11 (KJV)

Consider the example of the apostle Paul as he desired the Corinthian Christians to imitate. God was mighty with Paul since Paul sought not trust in His own ability but in God’s ability. When a believer in Jesus demonstates his weaknesses, God’s strength is demonstrated more. Such is like Samson, who though he looked like any other man in appearance of strength, displayed supernatural strength wherein people could not tell where his great strength came from.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)

Do not take credit for what you do in the Lord. Give all the glory to God both in word and in deed. More than that, let your conduct demonstrate that what God does through you, He really does and is not you. Do not even quietly let people glorify you.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.  30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (KJV)

Whose approval do you seek? To whom do you desire to look good to? Men or God? Do we conform ourselves to the image of God or do we project a worldly appealing image of ourselves? For the power of God to abide with us, we must allow ourselves to be transparent with our weaknesses and things that may not particularly make us look good to people. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Let God work through you. Rely on His Holy Spirit through His Son Jesus to be your strength.

“Hate the sin and love the sinner”,
This maverick King of Jews declared.
He was like no king before him,
And none could be to him compared.

“Let he who has not sinned,” he said,
“Cast the first stone, should he so dare.”
And all the guilty parties stayed
Their deadly missiles in midair.

This King had no powerful weapons.
He ruled by purest love alone.
He feared not to touch a leper,
Nor die for our sins to atone.

At betrayal in the garden
He kindly healed the soldier’s ear.
And before it even happened
He had forgiven Peter’s fear.

On the cross, he asked forgiveness
For all of those who caused his death.
Forgiving of the wicked sinners,
Was this maverick with last breath.

Mavericks have punctuated the Assemblies of God from its inception. The 300 people who assembled in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914, were considered mavericks by many in the church world. We have made room in the Assemblies of God for people who color outside the lines. The classic story that surfaces among ministers is about one of our well-known preachers who made some less than complimentary remarks about his spiritual leaders. When confronted by the cadre of leaders he replied, “It’s amazing what you say under the anointing.” We laugh nervously wishing we had been clever enough to create such an answer. But this person, who was sometimes considered a maverick, had a profound impact on this church and the extended evangelical world. Mavericks are accepted when they have an effective ministry and there is an obvious anointing on their lives. We seem to be less tolerant with lower-impact ministries and ministers.

Mavericks are not the same as rebels. Rebels defy the system and have no regard for spiritual authority. Mavericks challenge the system by pushing the boundaries of change, but they respect those in spiritual leadership.

I applaud the long overdue effort to assess and train church planters. The statistics on church openings and closings are like a revolving door. We expect the results to be more like an ascending staircase. As we take these important steps to use a filtering system to choose the right kind of leader (a person with the appropriate gift mix–people skills, passionate, spiritual, emotionally stable, adequately prepared), it is critical that we leave room for the mavericks.

MAVERICKS FOCUS MORE ON VISION AND EXPERIENCES THAN ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

“You work your side of the street, and I’ll work mine.” These were tough words for a young visionary church planter to hear from a veteran pastor. That’s how I was greeted at the first sectional fellowship meeting I attended in 1969 as a church planter. Perhaps my fellow pastor was reacting to the longer hair or the untested confidence of a 26-year-old. On the other hand, maybe my seasoned colleague was reflecting some frustration in his own life.

The district had approved the church plant in Richmond, Virginia, but I was not tuned into the policies, methods, and general culture of the district. My attitude was not rebellious, but I was thinking outside the box of the traditional Pentecostal church. Our vision was to plant a church to reach people in the western suburbs. We wanted to be a Pentecostal church with a worship experience and teaching format that made sense to the community. Our intention was to be a bridge church–a place where people who were curious, searching, or seekers hungry for spiritual truth could feel welcome and accepted. While some colleagues may have questioned our methods, they were affirming of the growth and outreach of the church.

Several times when I met with the district presbytery to respond to their questions, I began to understand the importance of denominational structure. Now that I am sitting on the other side of the table as district superintendent, I try to make room for those who focus more on vision and experience than on policy and procedures. The reality is, it can be both/and rather than either/or.

MAVERICKS WALK ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE

We approved a church plant several years ago in the Potomac District, knowing the pastor was one of our mavericks. The presbyter of his section strongly supported him and asked us to work with him. The church had a fast start and gathered about 100 people. The pastor reached out to hurting people, including a couple of pastors of small churches who needed some attention. In the process, however, the pastor became more aloof and even critical of the district leadership. Without permission, he merged his congregation with another church and then moved to another part of the country. In less than 2 years, I began receiving E-mails from this brother indicating he wanted to come and make things right with the district leadership.

It was a beautiful day when he and his wife met with the district presbytery, and in model humility, asked for forgiveness and pledged his support and loyalty to us. With our blessing he became interim pastor of a very dysfunctional church and has led the church through a time of repentance with a seminar entitled, “Setting Your Church Free.” Vision and hope have been restored. There is every evidence the church will make him the permanent pastor this year.

What happened when he slipped? He was going through a season in his life where he had challenges with his children; he was bitter about a district leadership decision in the past; he was struggling with a theological issue; and he was experimenting with a new model of pastoral leadership. God has graciously brought him through that season and now he is reaching a new level of leadership.

If we believe in the Lord of the harvest, we can know He will lead us in working with mavericks who slip on the slippery slope.

MAVERICKS HAVE A PROTOTYPE IN BIBLICAL MODELS OF LEADERSHIP

I like George Barna’s definition of leadership: “A leader is someone who effectively motivates, mobilizes, resources, and directs people toward the fulfillment of a jointly embraced vision.”1 Leaders are complex, multifaceted beings who possess a unique blend of three special elements:

Calling or anointing

Godly character

Leadership competencies2

Some biblical leaders are compulsive like Moses, narcissistic like Solomon, paranoid like Saul, codependent like Samson, or passive-aggressive like Jonah.3

The Scriptures are replete with prophetic mavericks who took risks. It may be surprising to think of David, Peter, and Jesus as anointed mavericks. Let’s take a closer look at them.

David, the youngest son of Jesse, was anointed king by Samuel. When David volunteered to take on Goliath, he tried on Saul’s armor. He wisely said, “I cannot go in these…because I am not used to them…. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:39,40*). The rest is familiar history.

David also protected Saul, refusing to lay his hand on him because he was the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 26:9). Mavericks may not always use the company armor, but they do kill giants and respect God’s anointed leaders.

Peter was an impetuous maverick. He was constantly in trouble. Jesus predicted Peter’s denial and was not surprised by his return to fishing after the Crucifixion. It was the experience at Caesarea Philippi, however, that galvanized his place in the Kingdom.

I’m not sure how to make room for people like Peter at the church-planting assessment meeting. It does make me pause to think that Peter could have been overlooked for the Day of Pentecost. This tension between the impetuous maverick profile and the model leader profile may be one dilemma that keeps us on the cutting edge.

Jesus challenged the system and associated with publicans and sinners. He threw His critics a curve when He said, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37—40).

Jesus always submitted to the will of His father, no matter what the cost. Some might resist calling Jesus a model maverick. But for the point I’m making, it is appropriate.

Thinking of mavericks as a category may give a negative connotation. Seeing them as individuals can help us appreciate their value. We need people who will challenge us when we merely rearrange our prejudices and call it thinking.

May there always be room for God’s anointed mavericks in our Movement.

H. Robert Rhoden, Fairfax, Virgina, is superintendent of the Potomac District of the Assemblies of God.

*All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version.

ENDNOTES
1. George Barna. The Second Coming of the Church (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 106.
2. Ibid. 107.
3. For further reading on these descriptions see Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima, Sr., Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997), 85—137.

Article provided courtesy of Assemblies of God USA Enrichment Journal.

There are many Christians who have asked, “Who is my covering?” The word covering has not generally been found in historic Christian literature, but it has been brought to people’s attention through the teachings of the shepherding movement that was popular in the 1970′s and 1980′s.

Some of the shepherding movement’s teachings are present today in various Christian groups, thus it is important to examine these doctrines. The shepherding movement was an attempt to solve some of the church’s shortcomings, the most important being that many Christians were not properly “discipled,” or taught how to grow in the faith. In the traditional church many new believers had been left on their own to study the Bible, learn how to pray, and learn how to have a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord. The shepherding movement believed many new converts became “casulties,” and soon dropped out of the church.

The shepherding movement attempted to correct the situation by saying that each Christian should have a shepherd over them to guide their everyday lives. This shepherd became the person’s spiritual leader, counseling him and even making decisions for him. It was taught that the shepherd was “God’s delegated authority” and therefore his advice was always to be followed. The shepherd was like “God’s ambassador” who communicated God’s messages to us. To disobey God’s messages would be to disobey God, and therefore we were to trust in the shepherd’s judgment rather than our own.

Because of the tremendous amount of authority given to a shepherd, Christians were taught to seek God to find the shepherd the Lord wanted for them. It was stated that when we find the right shepherd, he becomes our covering, or protections. Because of our “divine relationship” with this shepherd, we are supposed to be protected from him making wrong decisions that affect us. We are also supposed to be protected from Satan, since by obeying our shepherd the devil cannot ome in and cause us to make foolish decisions.

Before we accept a teaching which has such total control over our life and our spiritual well-being, it is only reasonable to find out what the scriptures say. Is shepherding really a great spiritual truth that most of the church has missed over the years? What does scripture have to say about covering?

Definitions of Covering

First of all, we should examine the meaning of the word covering. The shepherding/discipleship movement is presumably trying to use the word in a biblical sense, since all major shepherding teachers use the Bible as their basis of authority.

Covering is an Old Testament concept. To discover its meaning we must study the various Hebrew words translated as “covering” in their proper contexts.

The first Hebrew word is “sakak” which means the following:

Sakak means “to cover or hedge in” (Young, p. 209). Figuratively, the word means “to protect,” having the meaning of “to cover, defend, hedge in, join together, set, or shut up” (James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, p. 82).

In other words, men can protect themselves by joining together, shutting themselves up or fortifying their positions, or hedging themselves in so that the enemy cannot see or reach them.

The Bible says the Lord is our covering in the sakak sense (and not a man). Psalm 91:3 says the Lord does the following things:

He rescues you from the snares of fowlers hoping to destroy you; he covers you with his feathers, and you find shelter underneath his wings. (Jerusalem Bible).

The second Hebrew word is “kasah” which means the following:

The primary meaning of kasah is “to cover for clothing or secrecy” (Strong, p. 56). It also means “to cover over, conceal” (Brown, Driver, and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, p. 491).

Proverbs 10:12 says that “love covers all offences” (Jerusalem Bible). A leading biblical commentator says that by love we will “overlook the offence that is given us, and cover it, and by this means strife is prevented” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on The Whole Bible, p. 749). The sin thus is not removed, but merely concealed.

The third Hebrew word that we find is “kaphar”. The King James Bible translates this word as “to make atonement,” and from the same root comes Yom Kippur, or “Day of Atonement.” This root also means:

“cover over, pacify, make propitiation” (Brown, Driver, and Briggs, p. 497).

As opposed to kasah, which is “to cover something over,” kaphar means to completely “wipe it out, annul it, and make it non-existent.” (John Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation, pp.221, 222).

The word kaphar is used in context with the blood offering of the Old Testament. Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, was commanded to slaughter the goat of the sin offering for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. This was to make atonement for the holy place, because of the sins of Israel (Lev. 16:15, 16).

The Implications of Covering

As Christians we must ask ourselves: To what sense of the word covering are people referring when they say “I am the covering.” If you read the material published by the shepherding/discipleship movement, it is apparent that covering is used in the sense of “protection” (sakak). According to the teaching, having a shepherd is like having a “divine insurance policy.” If you suffer loss by making a mistake, you are “covered” because you are in submission to your shepherd. Although the shepherding movement does not guarantee that your shepherd will never steer you wrong, it does say that God will repay you and make things right because you are “in submission.”

It is obvious, however, that the claims of shepherding are not only for sakak covering, but also for kaphar covering. In New Wine magazine the following statement is made:

Also, as Christians, we do not obey those in authority because they are right; we obey them because they are in authority, and all authority ultimately stems from God Himself.
- Derek Prince, “Discipleship, Shepherding & Authority, New Wine, Feb. 1976, p. 13

If this is true, the implication is that we could do something that is normally considered sin, i.e. something that is out of God’s will. We may not know it is sin, but we do not have to worry about it because we are “covered” by our shepherd. In other words, for us this action would not be sin, because we are being judged for our submission rather than for our action.

In the Old Testament, sin was blotted out through covering. Shepherding teaches the same concept through its system of submission:

Why is it necessary to be so harsh against shepherding? It is to be expected that a shepherd, living the way of the Lord, teaching a disciple the way of the Lord, would not lead his disciples astray, causing them to commit sin. The answer is because of shepherding’s own teaching, saying that someone who is not in submission is in sin (NOT that disciples are judged for their actions based on whether the actions are in accord with the word of God).

Continued rejection of God’s delegated authority results in finally rejecting God and going our own way–a rebel! (Bob Mumford, The Problem of Doing Your Own Thing, p. 71).

Christians, whether they are “submitted” to someone or not, need to take personal responsibility for their actions. If they are being discipled by someone they should use this as a tool to help them grow spiritually, and not to be led into an unhealthy and unbiblical “authority” structure.

Christ is Our True Covering
Christians should recognized Jesus Christ as the true covering as it is described in the Bible. God did not set up shepherds or anyone else to be a covering instead of Christ, and the misunderstanding of this truth is one of the gravest errors of the shepherding movement.

We have a role in kasah covering. God wants us to cover the sins of others through love. We acknowledge that a person has sinned, but we forgive that person just as God has forgiven us.

For the concept of sakak covering, shepherding starts to get into dangerous ground. Shepherding teaches that our submission to a shepherd will protect us from evil. The Bible says: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped…” (Psalm 28:7). In contrast to this, the Word says: “Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalm 146:3).

The shepherding movement puts fear in people by saying:

Efforts to by-pass or side-step a shepherd and “go it alone” will end in frustruation, deception, and spiritual ruin.
Editorial, New Wine, May 1974, p. 3

However, in I Corinthians 2, Paul instructs the church about how Christ speaks to us. The Lord does this through His Spirit (v. 12) “that we might know the things freely given to us by God.” If we are spiritual, then, we can appraise all things (v. 15). To top it all off, Paul says that “we have the mind of Christ” (v. 16). All Christians have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), and thus have the capacity to know the mind of Christ.

Moreover, we know that Christ speaks to us (Rev. 3:20), and that He has promised to be with us to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit will “guide you into all the truth,” and if we are led by the Spirit of God, we are sons of God (Rom. 8:14). Our relationship with Christ, then, is a personal one, not just an indirect one that comes through submission to the shepherds.

It is legitimate for Christian churches to have elders, or shepherds. They are to teach the word of God. Since Christians have the Holy Spirit, we can judge all things, even what the church leaders are saying. We should be humble and open to what God is saying through our leaders. These shepherds can provide protection, or an extra safety net to ensure that when we study the Bible we are interpreting it correctly. It is totally wrong, however, to say that our protection comes through our submission.

The most egregious error, however, is in relation to kaphar covering. This occurs because shepherding teaches blind obedience. The shepherd does not have to be right, we just have to obey.

The shepherding movement has applied to men what rightfully belongs to God. Instead of saying the Lord is our covering, it claims that shepherds are our covering. While the Bible says we can trust in God for our strength and guidance, the shepherding movement says we need a man also. Shepherding fills people with fear and doubt about whether God can really take care of them.

By saying we do not obey those in authority because they are right, but because they are in authority, shepherding comes dangerously close to claiming kaphar covering. As we have seen from the Hebrew lexicon, the words covering, atonement, and propitiation have the same meaning. Romans 3:25 says Jesus Christ was displayed publicly “as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” If we substitute the synonymous terms we see that:

Our propitiation comes in the blood of Jesus through faith.
Our atonement comes in the blood of Jesus through faith.
Our covering comes in the blood of Jesus through faith.

A Better Answer
Over the years the shepherding movement in its original form has largely died out, and some of its original leaders have had to modify some of their teaching and denounce some of the “extremes” that occurred in the movement. It is doubtful that any of these teachers ever intended to replace Christ as a Christian’s propitiation. Nevertheless, this could be the result of shepherding if it is followed to its logical conclusion. The best course is not to “play with fire” in the first place, and not get into false teaching even if it sounds “spiritual.” The same types of teachings about shepherding, discipleship, and spiritual authority exist today, and Christians should not fall under them.

Instead, we should trust in the Lord as our covering. Proverbs 3:5 and 6 says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

When people have their total trust in the Lord, we can then give them the help and advice they need to learn how to grow as a Christian. Then we will see strong Christians develop, rather than weak and fearful ones.

Copyright ©2005 Steve Coleman

Article provided courtesy of A Biblical Response to the Shepherding Movement.
Please go to this link for more information on this topic.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (NIV)

Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5a (NIV)

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
- John 14:9-14 (NIV)

~ PRAYER ~

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

~ ANSWER ~

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

-Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
- 1 Corinthians 14:31 (NIV)

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
- 1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
- Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)

Most of the miracles that Jesus Christ did were not done out of His nature as God, but done to show us what believers in Him can do preaching His Kingdom.  A study of the gospels, with this understanding, you will find quite edifying.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society . Used by permission.