Cheryl Schatz

I also think that when we as the body of Christ “look to the leaders” i.e. see them as rulers instead of seeing them as the example for us to follow, we become pew sitters and the body becomes anemic instead of raising up warriors for the faith.

In the proper balance the servants of the church are our cheer leaders as we “do” and “go”. In an unhealthy church the leadership uses the sheep for their own purpose. In the Old Testament God gives a “woe” to these shepherds who dominate the sheep:

Eze 34:1 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,
Eze 34:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?
Eze 34:3 “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.
Eze 34:4 “Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.