Labor Day
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28 ESV
There is a severe shortage of shepherds today. It’s not the result of automation or artificial intelligence. It’s not the result of a shortage of sheep or goats. It’s not because there are fewer sheep farmers. There are a number of factors. It may be that a shepherd retires. It may be that a shepherd just doesn’t have the energy to lead and feed the sheep from day to day. It may be that the shepherd’s health is waning.
I’m not talking about shepherds that watch actual wooly and cloven-hoofed animals in the fields. I’m talking about men who serve as under-shepherds of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. We call them pastors today, but the word often used means shepherd. (Ephesians 4:11) It’s a good term, one that well-describes the loving care that a man should have to serve in this capacity. It’s been said that there are a handful of occupations that require compassion: doctors, undertakers, and pastors.
There is a shortage of men willing to serve as shepherds in the ministry. It seems that there are fewer men in our seminary and fewer “coming down the pike.” In the meantime, the shepherds out in the field are growing older. What can we do about it? We can pray to the Savior Jesus about it. We can encourage our young men to consider the preaching ministry, even as we encourage our young women to think about becoming teachers in Christian schools. There is plenty of work to do. There are plenty of people who need to be visited and encouraged and served a diet of God’s Word and given to drink of living waters.
O blessed ministry Of reconciliation,
That shows the way to God and brings to us salvation!
By Thine evangel pure, Lord, Thou preserv’st Thy fold,
Dost call, enlighten, keep, Dost comfort and uphold.
The Lutheran Hymnal 485:3