The Worthless Shepherd
Michael F.

In Zechariah 11 there is a prophecy about thirty pieces of silver, which most Christians know refers to Judas who betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Immediately after those verses there is a prophecy which refers to God raising  up a worthless shepherd, or church:

Then the LORD said to me, "Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. 17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!" (NIV)

It is not a coincidence that this passage occurs immediately after the prophecy of thirty pieces of silver. The prophecy of the worthless shepherd refers to the rise of false Christianity that took place in the first 400 years after Christ's death. It tells us that the church that came into dominance was a false church. That church was the Roman Catholic Church which came to power in the fourth century under emperor Constantine and his sons. Clearly, God knew that the Roman Empire would convert to Christianity and would pollute the Church, causing it become apostate.

The right arm becoming crippled and useless signifies that this church will not carry out the functions of true Christianity for the benefit of the people as instructed in the Bible. Its right eye being blinded signifies a loss of insight and understanding of the truth. It departs from the faith outwardly in how it acts and operates, and it departs from the faith by means of false doctrines.

You would think that Martin Luther and the Protestants would have thrown out all catholic doctrine and sought to find correct doctrine only from the Bible; but not so. Some of the doctrines which Protestants currently believe, originated with the catholic church.

This passage also tells us that God himself raised up this false church. But why? Jesus said narrow is the gate that leads to life and few will find it, and broad is the way that leads to death and many will find it. Perhaps God only wants those who seek after the truth to find it (Luke 11:9-10; John 8:32).

If you study Christian history, especially of the fourth century, you must come to the conclusion that it was completely apostate by 350 A.D. Not merely because of false doctrine, but also because of how the bishops acted, organizing mobs to attack those with opposing views.

A belief existed in the Western part of the empire that the office of bishop was authoritative regardless of the character of the man who held that office. Which means he could commit acts of violence and murder and still be part of the true Christianity; but they were wrong. This is the principle reason some many Catholic priests have engaged in child sexual abuse. The other reason for the abuse is that the Catholic Church does not teach people that they must strive to stop sinning.

When a priest hears confessions he hears about all sorts of sins, adultery, theft, homosexuality, gambling, murder, orgies, etc. Are the priests any better than the people? Certainly not, so after years of hearing all these sins being confessed, they no longer think that it's unsusal to give in to their lusts. After all, they only have to go to another priest to confess and their sin is wipped out, or so they believe.

Beware of the Worthless Shepherd.