I thought we were humans not sheep
2007-08-23 17:04:08 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's called an analogy. We are to Christ, as a sheep is to a Shepard.
Edit: To those above me who have mistakenly asserted that sheep follow the herd, you are wrong. Sheep follow the Shepard, not the herd. You are thinking of lemmings, which more accurately describes the unbelieving world.
2007-08-23 17:09:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I've heard Christians referred to as sheep in two contexts. The first one is the analogy that God/Jesus are the shepherds and Christians are the sheep, because a good shepherd cares for his flock, protects them from danger, and wants what's best for them. The other context, however, is more negative toward Christians, and uses the analogy that Christians are sheep because they blindly follow wherever they are led, with complete and total disregard for their own personal well-being. They would willingly follow their shepherd into the slaughterhouse. Sheep are often referred to as one of the stupidest animals in the animal kingdom because they have very little instinct of self-preservation. See where I'm going with this? Depending upon who is calling Christians sheep, it could be either of these meanings, positive or negative.
2007-08-24 00:16:11 · answer #2 · answered by Molten Orange 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'll assume you are referring the words of Christ and as such realize that he often spoke to the people so that they could understand and a shepherd and a flock of sheep were very viable examples to them. Here is why I believe he used sheep as an example.
1. He often referred to himself as the shepherd. Sheep followed the shepherd, they were not driven by him. They followed him because they trusted him to lead to water and food and away from danger. That should be our attitude toward Christ, trusting in Him and allowing Him to guide our lives.
2. It is also a good contrast between His knowledge and ours. A shepherd knows the way and understands the dangers that need to be avoided, sheep do not. So it is with us, though we like to believe in our vast knowledge it is but a drop in the ocean of all that is truth. Look to physics if you don't believe me, just when we are starting to think we have licked the natural world and are able to compute it all out something to the tune of quantum mechanics and uncertainty principle has to come along and mess it all up.
Though I understand how it can be considered insulting to be a sheep realize, to Christians, this was no ordinary man telling them to be sheep, it was a God and in contrast we are. Though we tell ourselves that we are independent and smart for not following Him we are not and just like the sheep that get lost we will be subject to spiritual starvation and death. But happily He is always looking for us, seeking the one that is lost.
2007-08-24 00:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by The U.P. 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus referred to his followers as sheep because sheep are able to be shepherded and listen to their shepherd's voice, unlike goats. You will see references to sheep and goats in the Greek scriptures. The "goats" are representative of nonbelievers, those being hard-headed and wanting to follow no one but seek their own way.
2007-08-24 00:15:23 · answer #4 · answered by Lydia H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you need to view and study sheep to truly understand this concept. Sheep are very trusting animals that rarely fight back. There is a book that was an excellent example Called Psalms, something, can't remember.
2007-08-24 00:14:00 · answer #5 · answered by . 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Gee, ever think it might have to do with calling your imaginary leader the shepherd and his followers a flock? Act like a sheep, get confused with one.
2007-08-24 00:09:47 · answer #6 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and his followers are His sheep. I am so glad that I am one of His sheep.
2007-08-24 00:09:55 · answer #7 · answered by Jlk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
everyone follows something.
there is absolutely no instance of a single human ever, that has thought entirely on their own.
Of course to understand the term 'sheep' one must understand the principle of what is known as an 'illustration'.
It is a common and effective teaching tool to explain a subject in terms that drive home a point.
Sheep, are well known for following their Shepperd, whereas goats, refuse to follow, which is why they typically need to be fenced in or tied up.
Sheep in regards to Christians, is those that follow the teachings of Jesus.
2007-08-24 00:07:49 · answer #8 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Actually, it is an analogy .....
In that time, Shepards and sheeps are common. Therefore the theists used Shepards as the an analogy for the controller, which is their god and sheeps as the followers.
2007-08-24 00:11:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Is a reference to a shepard and his sheep flock liking us as sheep to the Lord our shepard.
2007-08-24 00:09:18 · answer #10 · answered by zindimale 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋