The Hireling Runs Away!

I posted the below message in May 2008, and in view of the continual fighting among the hirelings in PCG, LCG, RCG, WCG, GCI, COG/Hulme and especially UCG, I believe that my growing worldwide audience would welcome reading what I wrote at that time.

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Well, I didn't invent the term hireling, it was Jesus. Note what he says: "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). Where are the sheep today, if not scattered, and have become prey for discredited men who have started their own churches? And why have the sheep been scattered? The answer should be obvious to anyone who has not been struck by supernatural blindness. It is because those who were once called ministers were actually hirelings. Again, note what Jesus, not Tom Mahon, says: "the hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep"(John 10:13). By definition, the hireling works for money. So when things get difficult in one job, the hireling runs away and finds a new employer. On the other hand, the shepherd sees his calling as a vocation, and is willing to work for nothing on earth because the glory of the Lord is his reward.
Now let us contrast the behaviour of a hireling with that of a shepherd thus: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep"(John 10:11). The hireling runs away, but the shepherd is willing to die for the sheep. That is what Jesus teaches, and I agree with him. And note what John was also inspired to write: "Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we OUGHT to lay down our lives for the brethren"(1 John 3:16). The term ought denotes the duty that love demands from those who claim to possess the nature and character of Christ, who is the good shepherd.
In addition, Paul's admonition to the ministry was this: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit have made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood"(Acts 20:28). But instead of WCG ministry feeding the church, they fed themselves and took a financial package from Mr. Tkach to betray the flock. How despicable can people be? But I shudder to think of the consequences of their treachery!