How to Identify a Hireling

A quick survey of the hundreds of churches of God that were formed since the break up of The Worldwide Church of God in 1995, will show that Jesus’ teaching on the nature and character of hirelings has been ignored: or what is more likely, not understood by the laity or the so-called ministers peddling their brand of Christianity in cog-land.

I take no credit for this, but I am the only former member of WCG, who have spent the last 15 years pointing out that the vast majority of WCG’s former ministers were actually hirelings. You see, the hireling can remain hidden among the flock for years! The hireling conceals his duplicity, treachery and ultimate betrayal of God’s elect under “good words and fair speeches”(Romans. 16:18). But when the wolf pack comes over the hill to attack the flock, the hireling’s pretense of love and concern for the flock are then exposed. Note what Jesus taught, “But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep”(John 10:12). And then he added with emphasis, “The hireling flees, because he is hireling, and cares not for the sheep”(John 10:13).

The behaviour of the vast majority of the former WCG ministers fit into the description Christ gave on how a hireling behaves. When the wolf pack led by Mr.Tkach attacked the flock, the vast majority of WCG ministers fled, leaving the flock to fend for themselves. Not one single UK minister spoke out against the doctrinal changes, or warned the brethren that they were being fed spiritual poison. Yet, they now want sensible people to believe that they are faithful ministers of Christ, and that God is using them to preach the gospel. Nothing could be more blasphemous!

However, in contrast to the duplicity of the hireling, note how the good shepherd behaves thus, “The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep”(John 10:11). The good shepherd possesses the the nature and character of Christ, and as Christ was willing to lay down his life for the brethren, the love of God constrains his faithful ministers to do the same on behalf of his flock.

So none of God’s people have been deceived into following those who started UCG, LCG, PCG, RCG, COG/Hulme or any of other hundreds of COGs, masquerading as churches of God. For Jesus was very emphatic when said: “A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers”(John10:5). Have you fled from the voice of the hireling? If you haven’t it is because you are not one of Christ’s sheep!