Something unusual is taking place in northern China in the region of Mongolia. Hundreds of sheep have been trotting in circles for the last 14 days. Speculation is that the behavior is caused by a bacterial disease called Listeriosis, also known as “circling disease.” Outbreaks of the disease happen because of spoiled or low-quality feed. Normally under the effects of Listeriosis, death typically occurs within 24-48 hours after the first symptoms develop. The attached photo of the affected sheep was taken 12 days after the first symptoms were observed.  At this point, there is no explanation for why it is lasting for so long.

It doesn’t require much of a reach to find some parallels for those of us who are followers of Jesus. For example, we are called sheep. We need a shepherd and so on. There are other takes on the image of circling sheep that can apply to us.

We tend to bunch up and circle around what is comfortable and known. That was taking place when the early Church was bunched up at Solomon’s Colonnade after the Day of Pentecost. Some historians believe this took place for 3-4 years. They were sharing resources, seeing miracles, and having large communal meals, but there was a problem. They were not moving out to the uttermost parts of the Earth to fulfill the Great Commission. Persecution eventually came and created a dispersal.

As sheep, we also seem to circle around messages that make us happy, seem safe, and are not offensive to our predispositions. That kind of teaching does not challenge our thinking and keeps us trapped hearing the same kind of self-help messages week after week that lack the kind of apostolic/prophetic insight required to see a larger Kingdom blueprint.

The only way to heal this kind of spiritual circling disease is to invite the presence of the Healing Shepherd to take control of the flock. His voice will reveal why we are circling in a directionless attempt to make life work in our own power and intellect without the courageous leadership of Jesus moving us out of our spiritual pens toward new pastures of Kingdom possibilities. 

We can look like healthy sheep for a while, but at some point, the circling disease will take effect if we have consumed a prolonged diet of spoiled and low-quality spiritual feed. We will become weakened circling around the effects of a substandard diet of spiritual nourishment.

Paul said the only way we can become strong and mature believers is to consume the food supplied from the varied diet of the five equipping gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 – Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. In a pastor-centric ministry model prevalent in developed nations like the United States, this can be a challenge. Without the spiritual insight provided by such a varied diet, we will begin to orbit around our favorite gift and ministry model becoming weakened and circular in our thinking and not accomplishing the glorious and expansive mission of Jesus Christ.