Lording it Over the Flock

1 Peter 5:2-4 (ASV)

2Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

I have found that there is a lot of confusion surrounding this phrase used by Peter to describe what elders are not to do in shepherding the flock of God. Lording it over is a term which means: to enforce one's own will and opinions as a matter of law (heretic); to use coercive and abusive tactics to get people to comply with directives or rules; to rule as a dictator or tyrant. The Lord is our Shepherd. Christians, as the flock of God, are to follow Him and obey his voice. Under shepherds (elders and evangelist) must speak with the voice or authority of the Chief Shepherd in leading the sheep of God. Their words must not be their own but the words of Christ. They must teach no other doctrine but the doctrine of Christ (1 Tim 1:3). They are to lead by example and let their lives be a testimonial to their faith in God. The people of God are not servants of their leaders but they are servants of Christ. The leaders (elders and evangelists) are servants of the people. They are helpers of their joy and not lords over their faith (2 Cor. 1:24). The flock will hold every leader who serves them faithfully and lovingly in high esteem. This was Jesus' solution to his disciple's quest for greatness in the kingdom. He taught them that that the way up is the way down (Matt. 20:20). Commanding and controlling is not the pathway to greatness--loving and serving is. Love does not seek its own. If a man really loves the Lord and the church of Christ he will submit his will to that of Christ and esteem others better than himself.