The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
May 3, 2009
Vol. 12 no. 17

Everything But...
           This fourth Sunday after Easter has become known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus declares in John’s Gospel, “I am the Good Shepherd,” and we say Amen by reciting the 23rd Psalm.
          If the Christian Church were to have a sports mascot it should be the Sheep or the Lambs. Ministers and priests are pastors; their congregations are a flock, full of sheep. Many a Biblical warrior began like David as a shepherd. There are many universities and teams that have the nickname, the Rams, such as the University of Regina. But I do not know of a single team in the CIS or NCAA - and there are plenty of Christian schools out there - who dare to call themselves the Sheep!
          Is it because that image of ovine passiveness and gentleness is still so prevalent that even conservative Christian institutions shy away from adopting it? After all, no football or basketball team wants to be known as “sheep being led to slaughter.” As Christians, we should affirm our legacy and shout “baa” for our teams at every opportunity. If the faithful of Mosaic Stadium were to bleat ‘baa’ in unison, no opposing team would ever hear their quarterback’s signals - probably because they would be laughing too hard to listen.
          Sheep, however, are not that nice or clean or passive, so all the more reason to adopt the name for a tough and stubborn team. Off the playing field and back in the sanctuary, where does all this leave the pastor and his/her flock? What’s a minister/pastor/shepherd going to do with all these unruly sheep who won’t go anywhere willingly? I don’t believe the Bible ever refers to a Good Sheep. An unsettling thought. Sheep need to redeemed, not just counted.