One of the greatest revelations I ever received was the realization that God only has One Flock and One Shepherd. Just as there is One Body with many members, so there is One Flock with many sheep – and one Shepherd. At least, that is God’s intention. What we see instead reflects the divisive spirit of religion and denominationalism: 45,000 denominations globally, not counting all the non-denominational and independent churches. Someone has said that Sunday morning is the most divided time of the week.
How do fix this? I don’t think we can. I don’t think we should. I don’t think we’re supposed to revive or reform something God never intended to begin with – we must repudiate it, not repair it.
In The School of Christ we teach the Three R’s: Remember, Repent, and Return (Rev. 2:5). That is: Remember the height from which you have fallen, Repent, and Return to your First Love. A Christ-centered faith is based on a relationship with Jesus, not a religion about Jesus.
And the “One Flock, One Shepherd” motif is a useful way to consider the uniqueness of this love relationship that triumphs over religion.
