State of the Church: The Celtic Revival ()
Hunger for the food of the gospels stalks among you, eating out the vitals of your souls…
– Gildas, The Ruin of Britain
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
– Ezekiel 34.1, 2
God of the belly
Paul wrote that, even in his day, many were teaching and living a false gospel that allowed them to enjoy the “good life” of Roman self-indulgence, feeding themselves by the gifts and offerings of God’s people and feeding the souls of God’s people with the poison of spiritual torpor: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3.18, 19). This will always be the case; there will always be false teachers, self-serving teachers, among those who name the Name of Jesus.
It was certainly true in Gildas’ day. The shepherds of God’s flocks in early 6th-century Britain were living the high life off the offerings of the people of God. Meanwhile, the people of God were starving for the gospels and all the rest of God’s Word. We must remember that this was a time when people did not have their own Bibles. Indeed, many, if not most, of those who came to faith in Jesus at that time were probably illiterate. They couldn’t have read a Bible even if they had one.
Which is why they needed faithful, daily teaching and preaching from their shepherds. And the shepherds were not providing this soul-nourishing food. They were shepherds in name only, like the shepherds God denounced in Ezekiel 34. Where believers could not feed on the Word of the Lord, they became prey to every worldly temptation or false wind of doctrine; they strayed from the church, and none of the shepherds cared enough to seek and recover them (Ezek. 34.7, 8).
Gildas’ rebuke of the shepherds of Britain offers a mirror for each of us in the care and nurture of our soul.
A dangerous irony
The people in Gildas’ day did not have Bibles so they could not read them on their own. The followers of Christ in our day have Bibles—plenty of Bibles. But do we read and study them as we should, daily searching the Word of God for the truth about how to follow Him? Do we depend for our spiritual nourishment mainly on the preaching of the Word on Sunday mornings? Are we just not all that hungry for the Word?
A shepherd of God’s flock must aspire to fulfill two images. The first is of the faithful and caring shepherd. He walks before the flock, leading the way, gently calling his sheep by name to keep up and follow along. He knows the path because he has trod it often, knows where the green pastures and still waters are that can refresh and renew his flock; and he leads them faithfully there. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him, and he would do anything to keep them safe, healthy, and growing.
But a second image of the shepherd also applies—that of the border collie or other sheep dog, following along behind the sheep, urging them on, nagging them to stay together, chasing back any strays, and putting the pressure on the sheep to keep to the sure path.
The shepherds in Gildas’ day were doing neither. Ironically, many of today’s “shepherds” do little leading, know very few of their sheep, and don’t urge them to greater measures of Christlikeness. They aren’t concerned about making disciples, only church members. We have all the resources we need for proper shepherding, but we prefer to preach, run programs, counsel—anything other than lead our flocks or urge them along the path of God’s Word.
And what about us as sheep? We know where the Path is. Do we walk it daily? Are we eager to be refreshed and renewed by God’s Word? To be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ? Or do we allow our weekly serving of the Word to satisfy our diminishing hunger for the truth?
As Gildas examined the churches in his day, we need to examine ourselves. Are we following the Good Shepherd as He leads us into the truth that sets us free and creates a hunger for more in our soul? May God encourage and direct each of us—shepherds and sheep alike—with greater hunger for His Word and the power of His Spirit to feed on it daily.
For Reflection
1. How would you explain what it means to hunger for God’s Word to a new believer?
2. What are the primary distractions that get in the way of daily feeding on God’s Word?
Psalm 19.7, 8(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Need some help in reading and studying the Scriptures? Order your free copy of The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart and gain the skills and incentive you need for daily feeding on God’s Word.
Men, check out our Spring Men’s Reading Groups. Great reads, sound learning, warm fellowship.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Church” we consider the vision of Church presented in Scripture. Our Read Moore podcast is working through our book, The Kingdom Turn. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
