I recently became curious about the difference between the terms sheepherder and shepherd. While doing a little research about the terms, I found that over time that they have become somewhat synonymous. But it wasn’t always that way. A sheepherder, like a cattle herder, was someone hired to herd the sheep for transport. Whether the sheep needed to get to the market or to mountainous areas where there was more grass, it was common for a sheepherder to be the one to transport them. A sheepherder (on his horse) and his sheepdogs would typically keep the sheep together by following behind or alongside, as the dogs barked and the herder made loud noises. The sheep were basically startled into submission.

We might be more apt to envision this scene from an old cowboy movie. But, instead of sheep, they would be herding cattle. We can picture the cowboy or cattle herder (these are synonymous 🙂 ) with his gun on his hip, herding the cattle across a creek with other herders on each side of the cattle yelling and whistling to keep them together and moving forward.

But a herder was a herder. Whether he was transporting sheep, cows, or even goats, he was a herder.

During my research, I found that the origin of the term herder is traced back to around the 1600s. Whereas the term shepherd can be traced back much, much further. It can be traced back at least as far as the book of Psalms which is estimated to have been written between 1410 – 450 BC.

And a shepherd was more than a transporter of sheep. A shepherd was the caretaker of the sheep. He was the one who was with them day and night. And he walked with them, not screaming and chasing them with dogs. He typically walked ahead of them and they followed along behind. They didn’t follow out of fear because dogs were barking or men were yelling. They followed because they knew their shepherd and they knew that where he was there was safety.

The best example we have of a shepherd is our Savior Himself.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. A shepherd would lay down his life to protect his sheep from a wolf or other predatory animals. And Jesus laid down His life for His sheep because of His love for us.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Another good, Godly example of a shepherd is a pastor. A pastor is a shepherd appointed by God over the flock of “sheep” under Him. And God charges him with overseeing and being an example to them. But not for status or money. They are to do it willingly because they care about the sheep. They care about the eternal lives of those sheep (their congregates).

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” 1 Peter 5:2-4.

Does that mean that every Pastor is a shepherd? No, some are not shepherds but sheepherders.

Some who have obtained titles such as pastor, minister, priest, preacher, or reverend are shepherds. They dedicate their lives to watching over, protecting, and leading the sheep that God places under them because they care about the earthly, spiritual, and eternal lives of the flock. Their sheep know them and follow them because they know the shepherd and his love for them just as those who love Jesus follow and know Him. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,” John 10:14.

Yet, others are merely sheepherders. They are who God talks about in 1 Peter 5:2 when He says “not by compulsion” (not because you have to) and when He says “not for dishonest gain” “nor as being lords over those entrusted to you”. If the purpose is because no one else will do it, or to make a good paycheck, or for status to feel important, then they are sheepherders and not a shepherd.

When I think of a sheepherder of a flock of God, I think about leaders of congregations who perform a service at multiple churches and then perform their “regular” job the rest of the week. They get paid quite a bit of money for overseeing multiple churches but a Sunday service is all they really do. A shepherd doesn’t leave his sheep unattended while he does his “regular” job. If a member of the body needs a pastor, that pastor should be reachable and there to tend to their need(s). The sheep/congregate shouldn’t have to be in peril until the next Sunday when the leader of the congregation returns to give a sermon. This type of “pastor” is a sheepherder, not a shepherd.

I also think of those who attain status for being the head of the church. Typically, the more members of the flock they have, the greater their chance to be promoted to oversee multiple churches (or a bigger more prestigious church). This is merely for status and personal gain. A shepherd is a servant of God and the flock, not a person of status who lords over his sheep/congregates. This type of pastor, priest, minister, etc. is a sheepherder, not a shepherd.

These are very important differences. And we need to ask ourselves whether we are serving under a shepherd or a sheepherder.

I can tell you that at the church I attend, we serve under a shepherd. He has a heart for his sheep. He meets with them when they have needs. And He watches over their spiritual lives and growth. His sheep/congregates follow him because they know his love for them. But I haven’t always gone to churches led by shepherds. I have served under a few sheepherders too. It can be difficult to discern right away. Sometimes it takes a little time. But we need to know which we are serving under, a sheepherder or a shepherd.

So, we know the difference between a shepherd and a sheepherder. We know what to look for. I think tomorrow we may talk about the difference between sheep and goats. 🙂

Seriously though, God gives us the example of a shepherd so that we will know who to follow. That means it is important to Him that we be cared for and kept spiritually safe. God’s desire is that we would be shepherded and cared for by someone who is in His service, not someone being paid to perform a service. Who are you following? And who is he following?

The apostle Paul explained the desire of a true shepherd’s heart when he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 11:1. We are not to follow our earthly shepherd blindly. We are to follow him as we see him follow Jesus.

I pray that God has placed you under a man who shepherds your congregation well and that you are serving under a shepherd whom you can follow, because — and as — he follows Christ.

Father, thank you for your love for us. Thank you for providing good earthly shepherds to lead us. And thank that you have given us Jesus’s example as The Good Shepherd so that we would know what to look for in an earthly shepherd. Help us to be good sheep who follow without straying and wandering. Father, protect our shepherds as they protect us. They are at risk from the enemy who prowls around like a lion seeking whom he can devour as much as we are. Protect them from his temptations, from sin, and from attacks from within the body, Lord. And bind your flock together with their shepherd, Father, so that we can be a testimony to your love. We pray this in your precious and holy name Jesus. Amen.

Have you wondered about the analogy of Jesus as a Good Shepherd? Have you wondered what it means to be a sheep or why you would even want to be? Jesus’s sacrificial love for us is why we would want to be sheep who follow after Him. Trusting Him and seeking His direction is easy — and our hearts desire — once He is Lord of our lives.

But we have to recognize what a mess we make of our own lives as we wander around like a lost sheep doing our own thing. We end up in filthy swamps; rough places that are hard to navigate and there are predators on all sides. But Jesus is The Good Shepherd. He leaves the flock to seek us out and find us. His desire is to bring us into the flock where he can protect, provide, and watch over us. But he won’t wrangle us like a sheepherder. We will either desire to follow him or we will wander further and further away from Him. He won’t force us to follow Him. He wants us to desire His love and protection.

All that God asks is that we desire Him with our whole heart and that we seek Him. He says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Our relationship with The Good Shepherd begins with one simple, heartfelt, prayer of repentance. We have a prayer like that outlined on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). Please click on the link and pray that prayer. And, once you have, reach out to me at Admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you. And I’d love to welcome you into the flock! 🙂

Luv ya!