what if i dont want 2b FOUND & something bad happens to the Rest of the FLOCK(get killed by a PACK of WOLVES or jump at the CLIFF out of CONFUSION)....
am i that PRECIOUS?
(parable of the good shepherd)
2007-06-06 11:54:24 · 22 answers · asked by enki 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
as Usual i posted it in Philosophy section to avoid bias answers....
do you find the parable inspiring for such benevolence or believe it's nothing but a hyperbole, exagerated or an act of irresponsibility?
Thanks!
:-)
2007-06-06 11:57:49 · update #1
Hmmm.... I'm a teacher, so I'll try to relate my response to my experience. Every child in my classroom I hold the same responsibility for. I must educate, help them discover, make sure they are safe, make sure they are in as happy an environment as I can possibly provide them. My role is to love and understand (though some disagree with that). Some need me more than others. But I have a responsibility to all. Is there a least among them? No. They are all precious. So... yes... when one is in need - lost in all the ways one can be lost - I must seek them out and try to make things better.
Is that irresponsible? Only if I leave the others wanting. I think that is the message of the story... the group is made up of a series of 'one'. For the group to be valued, all must be valued. So, no, I think, NOT unwise: NECESSARY, when necessity calls.
2007-06-06 12:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by Mikisew 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The point that you're missing is that God is omnipresent. That means, he can watch over his flock while rescuing the one who strayed. The parable of the shepherd and his flock is meant to demonstrate the love of God. There is a bigger chance that a wolf would go after one lone sheep that a large flock...the whole safety in numbers thing. Think of it as a father going after his child. He leaves all the others in one spot and tell them to watch out for each other so that they do not get lost looking for the other. God knows that His sheep, or in better terms, Christians, grow and learn when they spend time fellowshipping with other Christians. But, that one that strays from the flock into the world all alone needs the help of the shepherd to find his way back to safety,shelter, and food. God goes after the one to show that He loves His sheep all the same. Hope this answers your question.
2007-06-06 17:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by jassie192000 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Each one is precious. While He is off searching for the one, some of the other 99 will stray also. When He gets back from rescuing the one, He will go after the next, and then the next, and then the next. God is more than busy searching for His lost sheep. And the thing is, by the time He gets all of them back under His watchful eye, that first one will probably get itself in trouble again, and again, and again. Even if you lose your way a thousand times, He will always come looking for you.
2007-06-07 02:39:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It does seem unwise but they always seem to care more about the lost one than the ones who stayed.
I always hated the parable of the prodigal son. I thought it was unfair that so much fuss was made of the bad son who comes back & the good one who never left is just taken for granted. I could related because I was the good kid & I always felt like the least loved because my siblings who got into trouble seemed to get the most love & attention. I was taken for granted because my parents didn't have to worry about me. Yes the lost ones seem to be the most precious but it does do a disservice to the others who are neglected while the shepherd searches for the lost one...
2007-06-06 20:57:39 · answer #4 · answered by amp 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the circumstances of the situation! Like the point you are trying to make, saying maybe you left because you sensed doom was coming to the others! I assume though you are speaking in a religious sense. In the old bible days they would go looking for just one sheep, as sheep were the animal by which they survived! You know got their food , money, clothes etc. etc. from. Every sheep was important! If the bible is using the term sheep to refer to people, which it does a lot, then they would go look for that one person that strayed from God and try and bring them back! If they could convince the person to come back into the fold, they would get brownie points with god!
2007-06-06 12:14:43 · answer #5 · answered by tonal9nagual 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are that precious. God is everywhere, therefore the 99 and the 1 are in his safe pasture. I think we all got the answer when Jesus died for us. If that doesn't make you feel precious and loved, then nothing will.
How, I just don't understand, could you not want to be found?
2007-06-07 08:39:50 · answer #6 · answered by suthurnbabe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the 99 are not lost...the 1 is valuable because it is missing
the 99 are being protected
the 1 is all alone
the 99 are being watched over by the Lord
the 1 is out of the picture.
why bother to go after the 1?
because the Lord wants all to be protected.
2007-06-07 08:13:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
take some time off.....we'll be ok without you ...for a little while =)
I edited to say:
We all need to be blessed in order to be a blessing. If that means doing something that could later be interpreted as selfish based on an unintentional outcome.....well that's life. We don't know how our good intentions are going to manifest, let alone be able to conceive of how our 'personal needs' might affect others for the negative.
People can work themselves into delirium, trying to self sacrifice for the sake of helping others.
There is a time for everything, and when we need a 'coffee break' we have to sometimes go with the flow.
There is a difference in letting a wolf go in the heard while you step out and making sure the gate is closed before taking a breather. We are only accountable for ourselves when it comes down to it. Then when our hearts are full and in tune with God's purpose (not ours) we are able to be responsible with more.
2007-06-06 11:57:48 · answer #8 · answered by someone 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Is it wise to leave 1 in search of 1? If the answer is yes
then isn't it rational to leave 99 in search of each other.
If the answer is no then why should 99 be left to wander.
It seems to me that the direction of the search should
be proportional to the number of searchers who value
the finding of mutuality.
2007-06-06 12:22:46 · answer #9 · answered by active open programming 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I love your questions, they are so deep and cool. :)
And well, yes actually you are that precious, each and everyone is precious and its always all for one and one for all, so yes...you cant leave anyone behind...and i know there´s always a possible risk of safety in leaving the 99....but its just a risk you have to take....every person is too important to be just counted as an acceptable loss. Or at least i think so.
2007-06-06 13:41:37 · answer #10 · answered by Jaded 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋