The first two verses in Jeremiah 23 set the tone for the rest of the chapter in which God blames the very people who are supposed to watching out for His people for not doing their job and that he will greatly punish them for the straying people.
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2 NKJV)
The King James Version renders the passage...
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2 KJV)
How do shepherds and pastors, those who are supposed to be watching out for God's children and keeping them in the flock according to God's Word, scatter the sheep?
I listen to religious programming, I read religious works, I even listen to and read anti-religious works. I do it because I want to be examining the things I believe and I want to examine the things others believe and hold both what I believe and what they believe against the scriptures and see whether or not there is agreement. If not, I need to reject what I think or what others think and possibly even reject both.
Why?
Because if what I'm teaching to whomever is not in keeping with God's Word then the flock will stray and God will hold me responsible for the straying. God holds all the guilty parties responsible for their part in the straying. He holds the ones who lead astray responsible and He holds those who are led astray responsible.
How is the flock led astray?
One can be led astray by following the teachings of men rather than God...
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (Mark 7:7)
which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? (Colossians 2:22)
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1)
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. (Hebrews 13:9)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
One can be led astray by adding to or taking away from what God says...
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV)
Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (Deuteronomy 5:32 NKJV)
Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32 NKJV)
Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:6 NKJV)
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV)
One can go astray by ignoring what God has said...
For some 1600 years the church has taken Mark 16:15-16, commonly called The Great Commission, literally. And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. The Bible also teaches obedient baptism for the remission of sins, Acts 2;38 says Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 22:16 Paul himself was told, And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. These and numerous other scriptures testify to the necessity of baptism.
The overwhelming percentage of Biblical Shepherds and Pastors teach Sinner's Prayer obedience for salvation in direct opposition to The Great Commission even though there is NOT ONE PLACE in Scripture where ANYONE was told to pray ANY type of the Sinner's Prayer for salvation after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
Not one place.
The shepherds and pastors have led the people astray and the people have followed them with out questioning.
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2 KJV)
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