You Cannot Shepherd What You Insist on Owning

THE DEVOTION

Beloved, a person can leave your organization without leaving Jesus Christ. If that possibility threatens your identity, the first examination belongs inside you.

Monday’s devotion confronted the politics we call ministry. Today, the examination moves beneath our methods to our understanding of people. Have we received them as persons entrusted to our care—or recruited them as possessions necessary to our importance?

Peter addresses elders in congregations experiencing suffering. He identifies himself as a fellow elder and a witness to Christ’s sufferings. His instruction joins genuine oversight to willingness, eagerness, and exemplary conduct. He prohibits exploitation and domination. These responsibilities stand together: the presence of authority never excuses its misuse.

The flock belongs to God. Elders receive an assignment within it. Entrustment gives us responsibility; it does not transfer ownership.

That distinction reaches into the ordinary language of ministry. “My members” may express affection and responsibility. It becomes dangerous when it means, “Their conscience, relationships, opportunities, and future must revolve around my approval.” Language alone does not establish the offense. Conduct reveals what the language means.

Can someone question your interpretation without becoming your enemy? Can another teacher help them grow without becoming your rival? Can a concern about your conduct receive a fair hearing when you are the person being questioned?

The word that exposes the method

Greek: κατακυριεύω — katakyrieuō, “to lord it over” or “domineer.” In verse 3, Peter uses the form katakyrieuontes. His contrast with leading by example identifies a prohibited way of exercising influence. He is addressing how leaders treat those under their care; he is not abolishing the responsibility to lead.

Here is the contemporary application: a spiritual title does not make coercion holy. Threatening someone’s standing with God to secure personal loyalty is a grave misuse of spiritual influence.

Yet faithful correction can be uncomfortable. A teacher may need to challenge error, establish appropriate boundaries, or remove someone from a responsibility they have misused. Discomfort alone does not prove domination. The questions are whether the correction is grounded in truth, proportionate, open to examination, and directed toward protection and restoration rather than personal retaliation.

A leader who demands accountability must also be accountable.

The teacher cannot become the one person in the room whom the teaching is forbidden to examine. A congregation needs a credible way to raise concerns, assess evidence, and address misconduct. An appeal process controlled entirely by the person accused offers little protection against that person’s misuse of power.

The Shepherd above the shepherd

Peter places every elder beneath Christ, the chief Shepherd, and points toward His appearing. That future reorders present ambition. Approval from a loyal circle cannot replace faithfulness before the Lord.

The gospel also prevents this devotion from becoming a program of leadership self-improvement. Christ suffered for sins to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). We cannot purchase that reconciliation with impressive service. We receive His grace, repent of our sin, and learn to serve as people who themselves need a Savior.

That leaves room for genuine repentance. A controlling leader can confess wrong, surrender inappropriate power, accept outside examination, and repair what can be repaired. Forgiveness does not automatically restore someone to office or erase consequences. Repentance must become visible in changed conduct over time.

Peter’s immediate audience here is elders. We should preserve that specificity. By application, however, every believer who teaches, mentors, or offers spiritual direction must examine the influence they exercise. Helping someone understand Scripture does not make you the owner of their obedience.

Put the teaching into practice

Today, examine one relationship in which you carry influence. Name one place where your preference has been presented as God’s command. Correct that claim plainly. If you have wronged someone, acknowledge the specific wrong without requiring them to comfort you or quickly restore trust.

Then ask: Does my teaching help this person examine Scripture faithfully, or train them to repeat me without examination?

If you receive leadership, remain teachable while testing teaching and conduct. Neither unquestioning loyalty nor automatic suspicion is spiritual maturity. Seek truth, trustworthy counsel, and appropriate protection where harm has occurred.

The measure of faithful influence is not how difficult you make it for people to leave. It is how faithfully you help them follow Christ.

Continue from Monday: The Politics We Call “Ministry”.

Read the passage: 1 Peter 5, ESV. Language reference: 1 Peter 5:3 Greek lexicon.