The Fathering Spirit – 6

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 4:15(KJV); For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, there was an influential movement in certain Charismatic churches in Britain, Australia and America.

It was called the shepherding movement that taught and emphasised greatly the biblical principle of submission to spiritual authority and the need to account one’s life to a spiritual father or mother.

Over time, it was courted by the harsh winds of controversy, heavily criticised and denounced by leading figures within the charismatic movement itself.

It was said to have committed the Galatian error, ‘began in the spirit and quickly degenerated into the flesh.’ (Galatians 3:3).

But what really went wrong in the shepherding movement? Were they right in principle and merely failed in method?

The shepherding doctrine was not wrong. It can be proved through various passages of scripture such as Hebrews 13:17, 1 Corinthians 4:15 and many others.

However, the error of some of the proponents of this movement is that they themselves were not fathered and as such, they sought to reap as fathers, what they were not sowing as sons.

This is evident even in the church today, fathers taking the place of God and grossly abusing spiritual authority.

The lessons from the shepherding movement are numerous but most importantly, as a man of God, you cannot demand submission when you are not submitted; you cannot demand accountability when you are not accountable; you cannot demand to be served when you do not serve another.

The scriptures cannot be broken, you reap what you sow.
God’s name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:17, Proverbs 11:25

GOLDEN NUGGET:

As a man of God, you cannot demand submission when you are not submitted; you cannot demand accountability when you are not accountable; you cannot demand to be served when you do not serve another.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this truth. I know that by scripture, I cannot reap what I have not sown. In this wisdom, I plant and cultivate respect for spiritual authority; I plant and cultivate diligent service to ministry and the gospel; I plant and cultivate giving in accordance to the patterns laid out in your Word. To the glory of your name, Amen