When Shepherding Goes Wrong — Spotting the Signs of a Bad Shepherd
When we hear the word shepherd, it often evokes peaceful imagery—green pastures, gentle care, warm relationships. But Scripture also warns us about shepherding gone wrong. Before we can fully understand what good shepherding looks like, we need to confront the reality of bad shepherding.
In John 10:12–13, Jesus makes a powerful distinction between a true shepherd and a hired hand:
“The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away… The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
The issue here isn’t just about action—it’s about the heart. A true shepherd stays. A hired hand runs. One is motivated by love and responsibility; the other by self-preservation and convenience.
This distinction hit me hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. I saw many faithful pastors pushed to their emotional and mental limits. Ministry became incredibly tough—there were articles everywhere about burnout, anxiety, and disillusionment in pastoral leadership. And yet, when I looked around my circle of friends and leaders here in the Northwest, most of us were still here. We were bruised, yes—but not gone.
Why? Because the calling is real. Real shepherds stay with the sheep, even when it’s messy, painful, or thankless.
Contrast that with a story I came across a while back—a high-profile pastor in New York whose ministry came crashing down after a moral failure. An affair, a double life, shattered trust. The aftermath? He had to leave everything. He abandoned his sheep—not because he wanted to, but because his actions gave him no other option.
This is bad shepherding. It doesn’t start with a scandal—it starts with neglect. With disconnection. With caring more about status, pleasure, or image than the people entrusted to your care.
But here’s the encouragement: even when people walk away, God doesn’t. His heart breaks for the sheep left behind—and He raises up new shepherds to care for them.
I remember driving a heroin addict to rehab, after weeks of organizing and praying. We were hopeful, but a week later he was back on the streets, high again. It felt like failure. But here’s the thing: we didn’t give up. We stayed. That’s what shepherds do.
Shepherding is hard. It’s painful. It will break your heart. But when it’s real—when it’s done in the Spirit of Christ—it becomes one of the most beautiful, powerful ministries in the body of Christ.
If you’re someone who’s experienced bad shepherding—know that God sees. And if you’re called to shepherd—don’t run when it gets tough. Stay with your people. They need you more than you know.
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