2006-11-23 02:22:23 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Metaphorically speaking:
sheep is used in relation to shepherd (leader, Jesus Christ) who guides and directs the sheeps (believers, faithful) to walk with Him in the right way back towards The Almighty Father (of course...Heaven).
sheep is also symbolically used to the faithful/believers (if they will behave like true sheep or like little children who is trusting, who can easily be led by Jesus Christ back to the Father) then the better... (anyway, Jesus Christ is also a God, so never doubt of His intention)...
...because when believers becomes adult, exercising his UTMOST freewill like adam & eve generations (all humankind), for sure, Jesus Christ will encounter too much resistance because in this world there will be so much INFLUENCE from satan/evil (because evil uses glitters [power,fame,money] of the world) which is very palatable to everybody and causes downfull of everyone...to hell... i.e...if you are not aware of it.
...sheep is also used firmly of little children because...a sheep is the pure form of offering to God (whom God gladly accepted) because they are very good, easily led and follows without commotions and resistance to fellow sheep and the shepherd
...while little children are innocent, pure in heart, undoubting to Jesus intention...thus they just listen,follow Jesus back to the God
But that is in terms of BELIEF and FAITH to Jesus and God.
But for the human leaders of belief & faith for God (since human inherited adam&eve original sin, and being is tainted with evil influence)...we should not expect everyone to act like a sheep/little children or unsuspecting one...because these leaders influenced by evil... might just misled everyone to hell.
...unless God specifically choose His wordly leader for Him...thats the time we can trust every WORD he uttered (that it comes from God and He is rightfully is God`s servant)
2006-11-23 03:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the context. If you just did it like that, the answer would be "no". If it were to make a difference between "the sheep and the goats" in the parable, then yes. If it were concerning my relationship to "The good Shepherd" my answer would also be yes.
Let's take another example: would being called a snake be a compliment? No, not normally. However Christ told us to be wise as serpents.
The same image can be used in both a positive and negative way.
EDIT:
You could make the same comparison with "fox". Sometimes the word "fox" is used in a negative way, other times it is a compliment.
The idea of being a child is sometimes referred to in the New Testament as being immature. That is negative. Other times we are asked to learn from small children in regards to the simplicity of our faith: we are encouraged not to complicate things. That is a positive comparison.
2006-11-23 02:27:53 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sheep need a Shepherd to stop them wandering off and getting lost, and as Christians have the Good Shepherd to guide them then the term sheep would be more applicable to those like yourself.
2006-11-23 02:28:16 · answer #3 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I know you wouldn't mean it as a compliment....you would mean it as an insult. However the bible says that Jesus is the good shepherd, and that His sheep know His voice. So in that context, I am happy to be one of His.
2006-11-23 03:06:32 · answer #4 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would depend on your implication. If you mean that I am like a sheep because I blindly follow others - then no. If you mean that I am cared for by the Good Shepherd - then yes.
2006-11-23 02:25:18 · answer #5 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I call you an a s s would that be a compliment?
2006-11-23 02:32:11 · answer #6 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd rather be a sheep than a goat.
2006-11-23 02:26:02 · answer #7 · answered by Shalvia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. It would mean that you're just someone who follows everyone around and does whatever they do without thinking if it's right or wrong.
2006-11-23 02:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by pzratnog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - it is a lot better than being called cheap!
2006-11-23 02:38:08 · answer #9 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are free to call me anything, It will not bother me one bit. I know where I stand at & what I stand on.
2006-11-23 02:25:46 · answer #10 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋