He Doesn’t Like You and I Don’t Like You Either

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I just came across Brian Croft’s blog called Practical Shepherding. He has a recent post there titled “How do I shepherd a church member who doesn’t like me?”

The temptation to allow frustration to lead to bitterness in these situations is hard to avoid. Here are three suggestions he offers to help shepherds to love and care for their sheep:

• Take an interest in what they love and enjoy.
• Seize moments to care for them in their greatest need.
• Take your children when you go and visit them.

I might also add that we shepherds need to keep in mind that sometimes it isn’t so much that we are not liked but that what we say or what we represent isn’t sitting well with that troubled member. It’s not that we are troublemakers, it’s the fact that we are breaking from tradition. It’s not that we are nosy, it’s that we hit a nerve when speaking about sin.

What other advice would you add to this list? Go ahead and comment with your suggestions.