Getting Fed

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

The most common complaint of those who are disgruntled or who have even left a church is that they were not “being fed.” Since Jesus clearly told Peter to “Feed my lambs.” this seems a compelling condemnation. However, I suspect that it is based on a misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian or a “follower of Christ.” We seem to think that Christianity is primarily an intellectual pursuit. This is understandable in one sense. God is so infinite and deep that if we spent every minute studying Him and His ways we would never completely know Him. But the gospel is simple. It was designed to be easily understood. Great intellect or learning is not required.  

Consider, Jesus didn’t call his disciples to be great teachers. He didn’t pick those who were intellectually superior. Christianity is primarily experiential. The depth of our walk is not determined by what we know, but by Whom we know and by what we do as a result of that knowledge.  A good sermon shouldn’t be measured by the information that is put out,  but by the motivation it contains. What we DO as a result of what we hear is much more important than what we “learn.” 

There is no lack of sources for Christian knowledge. Check out a Christian bookstore, Christian TV or the internet. Although much out there isn’t worth much, we are blessed with a ton of good Christian teachers and great resources. I think we feel unfed because much of what we hear isn’t converted into a change in what we do. Our food isn’t converted into fuel. The problem isn’t with out food source but with our digestion. 

A Pastor is great not so much by how well He speaks or preaches but by how much he makes us want to be more like Christ. He leads by example. He feeds by taking the sheep into green pastures. He provides opportunities for service. The purpose of feeding is not to make one fat, but to supply energy for activity. 

If you are not doing anything, maybe you are in the wrong church, or maybe you are just getting fat. 

Our shepherd and our flock should motivate us to be feeding sheep ourselves.

Be blessed.

Nick