Guest Post: Tough Lessons Learned from Shepherding in China

My friend Jym has been in China since around the turn of the century. He serves with his family of eight (wife and 6 boys!) in China's southern-most province. His updates and exhortations are always enjoyable and challenging to read, and this is one of his best. He has agreed to let me repost it here. May God use his words to encourage you in the Lord!

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Grace and Greetings from China,

The Bible has hundreds, possibly thousands of references referring to the rearing of sheep, goats, oxen and cattle. Most of these old testament references are related to the necessity of humans using animals as a food commodity or related to the law of God and its sacrificial system God gave his people, His first torch-bearers, Israel. Not only did the Nation Israel offer millions of animals on the alter in the Tabernacle as a foreshadowing of the ultimate and Supreme Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross (the Christ), but they also used the meat and milk from their herds as a valuable resource for food and nourishment.

The Book of Psalms, the Books of the Prophets and the New and Old Testaments also have hundreds of references to sheep, goats and cattle that are also spoken metaphorically,though, rather than said in a practical usage of such domestic animals. 

Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." Symbolically speaking, we are His sheep.

Jesus calls us His sheep. He said, "My Sheep hear my voice." Jesus is plainly saying that those who receive Him will follow Him like sheep following a shepherd. King David, the wonderful harpist and writer of poetry, said, "He (The Lord Jesus) leads me out to green pasture." In other words, David is simply saying he is God's little lamb and following the Good Shepherd in his comings and goings. David is relying on the wisdom, vision, and leading of God for protection, provision and power. 

Not only is Jesus referred to as the "The Good Shepherd," but in probably the most powerful metaphorical statement in the Bible, John (the one who baptized with water just before Jesus became famous/infamous and well recognized in Israel) referred to Jesus as "The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."

This powerful statement is the very essence and main point of the entire Bible. In this statement we find redemption, restoration and reconciliation with God. For God's people, all of us, this should be the message that we bring to the table with all of our dealings with unbelievers. Notice how I didn't say, pastors, missionaries, or church workers? When we boil it all down, and at the end of the day, we, those who have received Christ Jesus as LORD, are His children and people and all bear the burden (of love) to expedite this good news.

"I am the Good Shepperd that giveth His life for the sheep" – Jesus.
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Speaking of sheep and cattle……

Have you ever raised animals? If the answer is "no", then I recommend that you start!

No, I'm not taking about dogs, cats, birds or fish. I mean animals like cows or horses, or particularly goats or sheep. 

Moreover, have you ever reared animals that you had to lead out to pasture, watch over, protect, and Shepherd? Its far different than having lots of fenced off land and allowing animals to graze freely.  Anyone who has shepherded animals in this fashion knows what I am saying. The scriptures of God come ALIVE!, jump off the pages, and really bring new personal meaning to Christians who have experience as shepherds of animals. In addition, I believe that having experience with shepherding animals (leading them to pasture) makes a person a better Shepherd of God's flock.

A person who is tending a flock of sheep or goats has to spend great amounts of time, personal sacrifice in keeping the flock and providing for its every need. This translates well into those who want to commit to the work of God.

All Christians, especially those going to strange and new lands for gospel outreach should be required to "pastor a pasture" of sheep or goats for one year before hitting the mission field. One where they must lead the flock in all their comings and goings. This is the greatest training in humility, love and patience. There is a reason that in ancient Egypt shepherds were despised. It was considered beneath people to be workers of such a lowly occupation. However, we Christians can learn from this lowliness. Lowliness to God is considered greatness. Self exultation to God, on the other hand, is detested by God.

 

We have reared animals in this fashion for 4 years now. We have so many experiences, both highs and lows, that we have learned from. Some of our experiences seem almost laughable now!

 

I remember 4 years ago when we first got our goats. I was so concerned about them running away that we made lead lines out of chains. We had to lead them out to pasture so naturally we would just walk them out like taking a dog out and tie them up. No problem, Right? 

 

Not a chance!

 

The goats wouldn't budge. We ended up dragging them out by the chains with them stubbornly fighting us every step of the way. It was an awful experience for human and beast alike.

 

While I was "dragging them out to pasture" I heard the voice of the Lord in my heart saying, "Aren't you glad I don't lead you out like this?"

 

I started laughing. It really was a hilarious sight. After the humor wore off the lesson sank deep into my heart. This Scripture came flooding into my soul.

 

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul He leads me in right paths."

 

After pondering that scripture, with my moment of humor long evaporated, a sense of melancholy struck my soul.

 

"How far we human shepherds are from you O Good Shepherd Lord Jesus," I whispered. I really felt terrible in my leading of those animals. We were learning. 

 

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us and we are his, we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him. Bless his name.

In bringing the gospel of Grace to people, God wants us to be like Him. That is, teaching and preaching with gentle and loving methods. It takes great patience to train and lead sheep to pasture (literally and figuratively speaking). In the literal sense, an animal will follow its master to pasture because it has great trust in the one leading it. It follows the master not out of fear and force, but it willingly follows because it wants to and knows it is in its best interest. Likewise, we follow Jesus for the same reasons. We follow Jesus not of force but of our great love for Him and what He has done for us. And in missions work, we should never lose sight of this great principle. We want people to follow our example to the cross of Jesus – willingly – because of love. 
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We learned another important lesson the hard way too. Never leave the flock unattended.

There is no short cut in shepherding animals or God's people. It takes about 4 hours for a cow to get full grazing, and about 2 hours for goats. In a spiritual application, it takes a lifetime for a Christian to grow in God's grace and knowledge. Whether it is grazing on grass or on God's word, the "grazer" needs to be monitored by a shepherd.

While an animal is feeding in pasture, the shepherd needs to keep watch. In days of old, the Shepherd would protect the sheep from wolves, dogs, lions and other predatory animals including thieves. In China, the theft of cattle, sheep, and goats is a huge problem on the local level.

In the early days of our leading animals to pasture we would lead them out in chains (don't know why I didn't use ropes), and tie them up in the field. Eventually, after the goats got more use to us, we would lead them out and then let them roam around. We would return home and check on them every now and again, and finally we would bring them home.

We had two pregnant female goats. I had purchased them for about 2500 Chinese rmb. We grew very fond of them and we were looking forward to the goat milk they would produce after giving birth. After about 3 months, just before they were to birth, we led them out to the field. A couple of hours later we went out to bring the goats home. We searched high and low but couldn't find them.

The next day we heard a report that they were attacked by dogs. We heard another report from people in our village that some locals killed them and served them at a festival. We never found out what really happened, but the reality of the situation is that our goats were gone- never to return. 

It was a sad, sad day.

A Shepherd of God's people is to watch over the flock of God with great care, patience, humility and love. Like in shepherding animals, there is no short cut in shepherding God's people. Pastors, teachers, and even ordinary Christians have been called to watch over God's flock. The enemies to the gospel don't come in the form of wolves, dogs, or lions; however, like those predators, the enemies to God's flock are just as dangerous.  These enemies come in the form of false teachings, humanism, and the spirit of anti-Christ. These false doctrines, or "Doctrines of Demons", as the Bible calls them creep into gatherings, churches, and fellowship groups with the sole purpose of scattering the people and leading them away to devour them (spiritual death).  It is the duty of such spiritualshepherds to keep watch over God's flock so that one might not be lost to Satan (the thief). The greatest protection from these adversaries is for God's people to be well versed in His word, the Bible.

We now have 5 goats that follow us wherever we go. We built them a nice pen and have learned so much by taking care of them. However, it was a long journey of learning how to lead them to pasture. Our goats are flourishing now. We have come a long way since those chains of 4 years ago. You can't rush experience.
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Another time, our two cows disappeared. In times past, they had often got mixed in with a wild herd of cows that lived in the woods on a plot of land about 250 acres. When this happened we would have to stalk out that wild herd. We would sneak up on it and surround it. I would have the boys take position on several sides. We would charge to the center and divide the herd. After this we would have to try and separate our cows. This took great effort and energy. Sometimes it would take 3 hours or more, sometimes faster if our strategy was executed properly.

After our cows disappeared, we sought out the wild herd. To our horror, the cows were not with them. Two days went by, and then three. After five days passed, I counted the cows as gone or dead or eaten or stolen. My sorrow and grief were great. Eight days later, I was driving down the road with my son when we spotted the wild herd again. There were our cows!  With the wild herd!!  We parked the car and soon had our bull cornered and caught and later the female. Words can not express my joy!! Jesus summed it up best when he said:

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

And so there you have it. This is the greatest thing one can experience in the mission field – a lost soul finding Christ. There is nothing like it. It is God's gift. It is because of God alone. It is the miracle and the work of Jesus when he calls His child to Himself through repentance. Thank you Jesus for giving our lives purpose in a world gone mad. For allowing us, all of us, to be a part of your greater purpose and will.

May all of you continue to make an impact for God in all of your respective places. May we all continue learning from the Greatest Shepherd of all – the Lord Jesus.

Come Lord Jesus, come.

Amen.

Jym