False shepherds
I was preaching yesterday on John 10:1-15 (which is 2/3 of the Good Shepherd passage). Naturally, Ezekiel 34 was the OT reading. In both there is criticism of false shepherds who abuse and harm the sheep; in Ezekiel the particular charge is that the bad shepherds “eat the curds, clothe [themselves] with the wool and slaughter the choice animals” without care for the sheep.
Later I was reading the Sunday Telegraph and found this article about some of Iran’s clerics. The summary says it all:
“The Ayatollah Khomenei brought millions on to the streets of Iran to overthrow the decadence of the Shah. Now the late leader’s grandsons and other Iranian clerics face a backlash over their families’ fondness for fast cars, big houses and hot tubs.”
(NB the sermon is here)
Tags: illustrations, In The News, Islam, sermons
February 25th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
“Dying, to give us life.
Weak, to make us strong.
Tormented, to give us peace.
Broken, to bind up the broken-hearted.
Lonely, abandoned and naked, that we might have life in all its fullness.”
Preach it brother!