Much like many individuals, cows tend to mindlessly follow the herd, giving little consideration to their direction. Whether it leads to the dark path of drugs and crime or the treacherous trail of prejudice and pride, blindly following others is a perilous endeavor. We must rise above this bovine mentality, for God did not create us to be mere cattle. He has given us the gift of reason, urging us to be aware of our actions and their consequences.
There is only one secure path that guides us to heavenly realms (Mt. 7:14), and it stems from following the footsteps of Jesus. We must exercise caution, refusing to mimic the actions of the herd surrounding us. Instead, we must allow the radiant light of God's Word to illuminate our way (Prov. 3:5-8), even if it means forging a separate course from the collective.
Far too many individuals remain tethered to their denominational herds, unquestioning and complacent, blindly accepting the teachings passed down through generations. They fail to lift their heads and examine whether these beliefs align with the divine authority of God's Word. Countless innovations infiltrate worship services, contrivances not sanctioned by God—an act of vain worship:
Matthew 15:9 - "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
If we aspire to please God, we must rise above the herd, faithfully following our Shepherd, Jesus. He alone possesses the wisdom to guide us to heavenly pastures, and we must place our unwavering trust in Him. Our love for Him should be demonstrated through obedience to His commandments (Jn. 14:15), even if it means deviating from the path laid out by our predecessors.
The fundamental question emerges: Are you willing to prioritize God's Word and its unambiguous teachings over the assumptions you have unquestioningly accepted from your herd? The apostle Paul confronted this very dilemma. As a devoted Pharisee (Phil. 3:5), he believed his zealous actions against Christianity were righteous. Yet, it took a divine encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, 22, 26) to awaken him from the spell of herd mentality and transform him into a stalwart soldier of Christ. Freed from the confines of the Pharisaical herd, Paul comprehended the significance of following Jesus and adhering to His Word.
1 Corinthians 1:10 - "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment."
True unity, devoid of divisive denominationalism, can only be achieved by forsaking manmade herds. The Bible speaks of a singular church/body (Eph. 4:4). I challenge you to abandon the mindless march of your herd. Instead, examine whether you faithfully follow the New Testament teachings, refraining from any alterations or subtractions (Acts 17:11). If you truly desire to prioritize God above all else, a transformation is imperative. Our aspiration should be to emulate New Testament Christians, adhering strictly to their example and teachings, neither adding nor subtracting.
In conclusion, let us rise above the herd mentality of cows and seek to be guided by the wisdom and truth found in following Jesus and His Word. By detaching ourselves from herds and diligently adhering to the teachings of the New Testament, we can foster true unity and faithfully walk the path towards heavenly realms. May we embrace this challenge, for our ultimate goal is to be nothing less than New Testament Christians.