George Warnock — Ecclesiology
b3 — Feed My Sheep
The Shepherd and the Flock — A Fundamental Ecclesiological Principle
In the Preface, Warnock formulates the central principle of the booklet: shepherd and sheep are identical in character:
“There is no difference between a sheep and a shepherd, as far as their character is concerned. For God’s true shepherds are sheep before they become shepherds; and they continue to be sheep AFTER they have become shepherds.” — George H. Warnock, Feed My Sheep, Preface
“The purpose of this writing is to bring to the surface certain aspects of Truth that are often neglected, but which are absolutely vital to the people of God who are seeking to become obedient and loyal subjects of His Kingdom.” — Preface
Warnock describes the call of the Good Shepherd as the reuniting of scattered sheep. The core text is John 21:15-17 — three times “Feed my sheep”:
“The call of the True Shepherd is once again being heard in the land, and there is a new sense of hope and anticipation arising in the hearts of God’s sheep who have long been scattered upon the mountains, ‘as sheep having no shepherd…‘” — ch. 1
False shepherds and true shepherds:
“God’s controversy has been chiefly with the shepherds that caused the sheep to go astray: ‘They are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his quarter.’ (Isa. 56:11)” — ch. 1
Warnock quotes Ezek. 34:6-16 extensively as an ecclesiological judgment on negligent shepherds — God declares that He Himself will seek His flock:
“‘My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill… there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock… Behold, I am against the shepherds… I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out… I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away.’ (Ezek. 34:6-16)” — ch. 1
“One cannot help but notice with what emphasis the Lord declares that HE ALONE is the True Shepherd, and that HE ALONE will take the responsibility for shepherding the flock of God in His ways. ‘I will, I will, I will…’ is constantly repeated in this passage.” — ch. 1
True shepherds are not true shepherds in their own right:
“They are not true shepherds in their own right, in virtue of some office that has been conferred upon them by God or by man.” — ch. 1
Delegated Authority in the Church
Chapter 2 (Delegated Authority) is the theological core chapter on church government. Warnock distinguishes genuine divine authority from abused office-authority:
“When God truly establishes Authority in the earth He also projects into the hands of that Authority the power that is required for the execution of that office; and the Authority is answerable to God who established it.” — ch. 2
Dangers of delegated authority:
“Ministers who have power and authority vested in them by God are in a place of tremendous responsibility. For they may use the authority they have for good or for evil, to fulfill the purposes of God, or to justify or commend themselves.” — ch. 2
Warnock explicitly warns against the tightening of ecclesiastical structures in times of crisis as a symptom of fear:
“In times of spiritual crisis in the Church, when the people of God are being shaken concerning their relationship to established institutions within the Church structure, there is always a tightening of the strings of leadership in an attempt to keep the ecclesiastical systems from falling apart. This seems to be what is happening today, and we are persuaded that this present emphasis on Church leadership and Church structure indicates a certain fear that ecclesiastical hierarchies are being shaken.” — ch. 2
Church and state — a dangerous union:
“Up until that time the Christians were A SEPARATE PEOPLE, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, and were hated and ostracized by pagan Rome. But when Constantine came to the throne the whole strategy of the Enemy of Christ suddenly changed… From this unholy union of Church and State the Church of Jesus Christ has never recovered.” — ch. 2
Limits of obedience to church authority:
“There is not the slightest indication in all Scripture that it is the duty of man to obey any government, in the earth or in the Church, when it begins to intrude into the realm of a man’s conscience and into areas which relate to his personal relationship with God.” — ch. 2
Authority of the Son vs. Office-Authority
Chapter 3 (The Authority of the Son of God) sharpens the ecclesiological norm: Jesus exercised authority not from His office but from His union with the Father:
“What we want to emphasize concerning the authority of Christ’s ministry in the earth is simply this: that His Authority SPRANG FROM HIS UNION WITH THE FATHER, AND NOT FROM HIS MESSIANIC OFFICE.” — ch. 3
Warnock draws the ecclesiological conclusion directly:
“Where, then is that apostle, or prophet, or teacher, or healer, or miracle worker… or elder, or deacon… who would presume to minister in virtue of his office, rather than in virtue of the Abiding Christ within? Or assume spiritual authority over the souls of men in virtue of his office?” — ch. 3
The five-fold ministry as overflow of Christ’s glorified ministry:
“In other words, He was the fulness of ALL MINISTRY. But now He is exalted at God’s right hand, and He has sent forth the fulness of His ministry (even the five-fold ministry) into the Church. This five-fold ministry therefore is but the overflow from His exalted throne in the heavens of the ministry that was His alone when He ministered here on earth.” — ch. 3
The Five-Fold Ministry as Five Porches (Bethesda)
In chapter 4, Warnock connects the five-fold ministry (Eph. 4:11) with the five porches of Bethesda:
“In this Church we have a five-fold ministry, designated as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. (See Eph. 4:11). We have already observed how these ministries are simply the overflow of the exalted ministry of the Christ who rules in the heavenly Zion.” — ch. 4
“Here, then, at the doorstep of the Church there lies ‘a great multitude of IMPOTENT FOLK…’ Once in a while there is a moving of the waters… and those that are not too lame to arise and walk into the water… they are able to stumble to the waters the best way they know, to see if perchance they may get in line for a heavenly touch.” — ch. 4
The goal: not fulfilling the office but doing God’s will:
“An apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, a teacher, a healer, a miracle worker… these might go forth in power and authority in virtue of their great office and seek to fulfill the Scriptures according to their calling. But SONS OF GOD who seek to walk in union with the Father cannot do so.” — ch. 4
The Corporate Relationship — Church as a People
Chapter 5 (The Corporate Relationship) addresses the collective character of the Body of Christ:
“God is building a Temple in the earth, not made of hands, a Temple whose glory shall radiate throughout the whole earth.” — ch. 5
“Perhaps one of the first things we discover is the fact that we can no longer be a law unto ourselves. Nor can we imagine that in our own individual and personal relationship with Christ we can attain to the standard that God intended for our lives, apart from a right relationship with our brother.” — ch. 5
Divine government as means, not end:
“Divine Government is rather the means. His purpose is order, and harmony, and unity… and eventually, LIBERATION. Creation is longing for liberation as she groans and travails, and her groaning is bringing forth SONS OF GOD.” — ch. 5
The purpose of ministry — maturity of the people:
“THE PURPOSE OF MINISTRY IS TO EQUIP THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAT THEY MIGHT ALL BECOME MINISTERING SERVANTS TO THE BODY… ‘TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT MAN… UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST’ (Eph. 4:12, 13).” — ch. 5
Ministry must not become a Mediator:
“The ministry must not take the place of a Mediator… for there is ‘one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus’ (1Tim. 2:5). Nor is it a ‘husband’ ministry… the relationship between the ministry and the people must never become a bridegroom-bride relationship. Rather, the ministry seeks to prepare the people to become the spotless ‘bride’ of Christ (2Cor. 11:2).” — ch. 5
Conscience as individual inheritance — limits of authority:
“A man’s conscience is his own private inheritance from the hands of the Creator. See that no man or angel, no priest or bishop, no pastor or elder, no king or dictator… takes it from you.” — ch. 5
New Wineskins — Church Structure Subject to Change
Chapter 6 (New Wine in New Wine Skins) contains Warnock’s ecclesiological position on church structure:
“Jesus has already warned us what would happen if we try to renew the old forms with the New Life of the Spirit. It can only be for a short season… the old forms will just disintegrate, and the wine is lost.” — ch. 6
God never gave a pattern New Testament Church:
“God certainly gave us a pattern Son, but He never at any time gave us a pattern New Testament Church.” — ch. 6
“Church government, as well as the framework and structure of Church life, is just as much subject to spiritual change and growth as any other aspect of the Kingdom of God.” — ch. 6
The Holy Spirit as sovereign Lord of the Church:
“The Holy Spirit who is dwelling in His Body as the living Presence of Christ Himself… is indeed the SOVEREIGN LORD OF THE CHURCH. No matter how sincere the ministers of Christ may be, they are not going to persuade Him that they have the right pattern for the New Testament Church order.” — ch. 6
“We are talking about what God is doing. We are talking about God’s New Creation. We are talking about a Living Christ building a Living Temple, and breathing His own life into it.” — ch. 6
The Lamb-Shepherd and Ministry as Servanthood
Chapter 7 (The Lamb-Shepherd) concludes with the ecclesiological norm for the pastoral office:
“The purpose of all ministry that proceeds from the exalted Christ is to so minister the Truth that the sheep of God’s pasture might come into direct, unhindered personal union with the Lord.” — ch. 7
“The ‘fathers’ in God’s family are something like Joseph was to Jesus. He was given the responsibility of providing for the child Jesus until He came of age… but Joseph knew he was not really the father.” — ch. 7
Possessiveness of shepherds condemned:
“There has been too much ‘possessiveness’ among the shepherds concerning God’s sheep. They cannot rightfully say, ‘my sheep,’ ‘my flock,’ ‘my church.’ It is not something they build, and it is not something they can trade off with someone else. They cannot accept a pastorate that is offered to them, nor resign at will.” — ch. 7
Local elders vs. travelling ministers (Paul’s Ephesus model):
“When Paul left Ephesus he had no other provision for them but to commend them unto God, and to the word of His Grace… No promise that he would take the matter up with headquarters at Antioch, and see that they got a pastor as soon as possible. The ‘word of his grace’ would be sufficient; and God would be faithful to send them from time to time whatever apostle, or prophet, or evangelist, or pastor, or teacher… that they needed for further edification.” — ch. 7
The Lamb-Shepherd — Christ reigns as Lamb:
“‘For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed (shepherd) them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.’ (Rev. 7:17)” — ch. 7
“Christ sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father, He reigns in virtue of the fact that He is a Lamb. He reigns as a Lamb-Shepherd, because God is raising up lamb-shepherds in the earth.” — ch. 7
Ezek. 34:23 as messianic ecclesiology:
“‘And I will set up ONE SHEPHERD over them, even my servant David; and he shall feed them, and he shall be their Shepherd.’ (Ezek. 34:23)” — ch. 7 (applied to Christ as the one true Shepherd)
Interpretation: Warnock reads Ezek. 34:23 as prophecy of Christ as the only true Shepherd — in continuity with his position in b1 (Ezek. 34:2-4 on negligent shepherds). Ministry is legitimate only when it reflects the Lamb-character of Christ: servanthood, self-denial, suffering.
The Church as One Flock, One Shepherd
John 10 as ecclesiological programme (ch. 1, 2):
“Jesus promised us that the time would come when He would gather His scattered sheep into one fold… He has assured us that in the time of the gathering together of His sheep, there would be ‘ONE fold and ONE Shepherd.‘” — ch. 1
“It seemed almost impossible… for even in that day there were sects and divisions amongst God’s people. There were scribes and Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Zealots. All wanted to be heard, and all called for a following, but the true sheep did not hear them.” — ch. 2
[TENSION with b1: In b1, Warnock emphasized apostolic ministries (Eph. 4) as the instrument of unity. In b3 (Feed My Sheep), he emphasizes Christ’s direct authority through the Holy Spirit as sovereign Lord of the Church, and explicitly warns against over-dependence on human leaders. Yet in b3 the five-fold ministry remains present — it must, however, flow from union with Christ, not from office-authority.]