In ages past a man that stole a horse (or more than one), cattle, or even sheep would be promptly hanged. There are great penalties today for those who would steal from others.

Of course, the Christian is taught that stealing is a sin, and that one who has that problem must give it up: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28).

In comparison to horse thieves, cattle thieves, etc.; there are those among the Lord’s church who are stealing sheep. Now, before you condemn this writer, hear the evidence.

There are Christians (?) today who set about stealing sheep. Not the four legged kind, but Christian sheep from other flocks.

All Christians should be interested in growth of the Lord’s church. Every member of every congregation should be interested in the growth of their congregation. But, to steal sheep from another flock is not the way that God planned for a congregation to grow.

So many churches today (particularly larger ones) are so interested in numbers that they constantly encourage brethren to leave where they are and to attend where the sheep thief worships.

It is not unusual at all to see some preacher work the crowd at a gospel meeting, a funeral, etc. trying to encourage folks to come to where he preaches. It has to be for self-glory so he can brag about the church that HE built. And, let’s be fair; it is not unusual to see elders, deacons, and members do the same thing.

God has given a means for His church to grow. He has given the same means to grow a congregation. It’s called  vangelism —the conversion of souls in our community. The problem is that it is hard to convert souls by the dozen, but it is easy to steal a dozen sheep or more from different flocks around us. And, besides being hard to convert people today, some Christians are too weak or too lazy to evangelize.

To fill a building by stealing sheep from another flock is not growth. It might enlarge a congregation, but it’s not growth.

A preacher, an elder, deacon, or any member who would steal sheep from another flock is worse than a horse thief. In fact, he or she is worse than a bank robber. God forbid that we be so lazy that we do not seek to actually grow God’s kingdom by His method.

God forbid that we be so interested only in numbers and bragging rights that we would steal from another congregation. God forbid that we be so interested in self-glory that we would stoop to stealing sheep.
—John D. Cotham
Shady Valley, TN
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