The fact that Scripture often compares God’s people to sheep ought to humble us. We need godly shepherds to lead, feed, and protect us from the world and from ourselves. We are irrefutably sinful (and often stupid) creatures, willing to throw ourselves off a cliff of self-destruction. This truth about God’s sheep, however, can tempt shepherds to overstep their role. Sometimes the most difficult part about pastoral ministry is knowing what is not our responsibility.
