Sheeple, Sheeple, Everywhere

Why this isn't a baaaaad thing.

Wikipedia defines sheeple (a combination of the words sheep and people) as "a derogatory term that highlights the passive herd behavior of people easily controlled by a governing power which likens them to sheep, a herd animal that is easily led about."
 
Immediately, this sounds like a pretty awful insult if a group of any particular following is referred to as "sheeple."  Words like "passive," "controlled," and "easily led" don't seem to leave much room for originality or independence.

Have you ever been identified as a 'sheeple' because you were associated with a group that wasn't respected?'  Have you ever used the word to describe others you didn't respect?

It's a relatively new word that came on the scene several years ago.  It proved to be a funny and sometimes accurate description of behavior found among groups of followers.  An easy word to throw out to make fun of those who didn't seem capable of leading themselves in whatever matter was at hand.  But I have come across a very interesting aspect of this insult....

Our social media apps are covered in options to "follow" each other:  Twitter, Facebook, InstaGram, etc all have follow options.  Celebrities are known to have groupies and fans that follow their day to day lives and memorize information about them.  Activists and protestors alike follow a cause and are very vocal to have their thoughts and opinions heard.  

We use phrases encouraging it all the time - follow the leader, follow through, follow your dreams, follow suit, follow your heart, follow your gut, follow directions, follow up, follow me.

It is this human nature to follow that makes us like sheep. 

Google led me to a quote that says, “Sheep will follow each other. You've heard the expression, 'Get one to go and they will all go.' This means that if one sheep will move then the entire flock will follow. This is because of their gregarious instinct, the desire to stay together for protection.” Have you ever seen a street shut down and news crews sent out for a handful of people shouting their opinions on a topic?  Not likely because that small group isn't very persuasive.  It’s the throng of people that gets the attention.  It’s the crowd, the fellow cohorts, the followers that create the momentum to give an idea power.  And the more people you have, the more safe you feel.  That’s why you so often see a large group of people turn to poor behavior – there’s a false sense of security in the safety of numbers.  They don’t realize this is sheep behavior.

Another quote says, “Sheep display an intensely gregarious social instinct that allows them to bond closely to other sheep and preferentially to related flock members.”  Ever wonder why some groups of people gather more followers? It’s because they’re like minded.  Those who believe the same things tend to follow the same things.  Again, sheep behavior.

There are many worthy ideas, causes, and people that I want to keep up with and “be in the know” about. However, as a society – as a human race – our passions are quickly being side tracked by things that should not so quickly have our attention.  If you have access to a television, computer, or newspaper, you know that chaos that is ensuing across the globe.  Whether it’s riots or protests, picket lines or campaigns to raise money, everyone wants the spotlight on their agenda. And the only way a movement grows is to get more what???  Followers!  Spread the word, whether it’s grounded in facts or not, and convince the people you’re right.  Pretty soon, someone, somewhere will have another group of “sheeple” to point out. 

The interesting part of all of this is that we are not only followers, each and every one of us, we were created to be followers.

The problem comes with what we choose to follow. 

Matthew 9: 36 says, “When He [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  So many people are following a leader, an idea, or a lie, that they don’t realize they’re missing a shepherd.

A shepherd’s job is to keep the sheep nurtured, together, and safe.  Nurturing can be through food or through love.  Staying together can be in the same field or on the same schedule.  Being safe can be from predators or from themselves.  I see so many people who are lacking one or all three of these things by following someone or something that isn’t worthy of leading them.

In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good Shepherd.”  John 10:14 says, “I am the good Shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.”

Jesus is the only One worthy of following! 

It is Christ Who makes our sheep qualities have purpose.  It is Christ Who leads our hearts in the way we should go.  It is Christ Who has the ability to herd us and bring us back when we are stubborn or lost.  Without Him, we are simply falling under the control of another fickle and short lived passion that has no eternal investment.

Thinking back to those quotes from above,  as followers of Christ, we should be encouraging others to follow Him.  That sheep behavior of "Get one to go and they will all go" should be what our churches look like!  We should be so caught up in the desire to "stay together" that we encourage those around us to join us for Jesus' sake.  That sheep behavior to "bond closely" with others and prefer "related flock memebers" goes right along with that.  We should be bonded to our fellow brothers and sisters.  Our congregations are called flocks for a reason - we are members of the same Shepherd's family.  We have sheep tendancies so why do we only act lik sheep when we aren't following the Shepherd?  That's a problem!

I believe that there is a very good reason the term sheeple is derogatory.  It is reserved for those who follow blindly without the hope of a future in whatever they pursue.  But because of the Good Shepherd, we can be led by the One who holds our future in His hands and calls us by name to follow Him into righteousness.



Here is a great breakdown of how Jesus is our shepherd. 

And this page has a wonderful list of twelve characteristics of sheep and how we behave just like them!