Out Our Way: The black Angus - Matthew 7: 21 - 23

Out our way, the roundup is nothing like it was in the old days when it was all open range. For us today, the herd usually stays within the boundaries of fenced-in pastures, but in the old days, herds tended to wander about and get mixed in with each other. In those days, every roundup included a representative, a "rep," from other outfits who checked brands and then cut out and claimed his own outfit's cattle. A "Split S" steer might look just like that "Diamond V" steer next to it, but by checking the brand, there was no doubt which outfit had the claim. Nowadays, as I have said, while we still have brands and ear tags, it is rare that there is any question about which outfit claims them. But now and then the question does come up.

You may recall the time Charlie and I were riding fence and came across a lone black Angus grazing by the far northeast corner of the pasture. A lone steer is unusual - especially this close to the Bear Paws where the occasional mountain lion pops up. Indeed, I ran into one in town and some friends of mine actually had one in their backyard a few years before. Even a yearling knows to stay close to the herd in cougar country. But even more unusual was the fact he was a black Angus, for our outfit only ran red Angus and Charolais. Yes, he was a cow in cow country Yes, he was an Angus on a spread that ran Angus. But he was not a red Angus and his ear tags were white instead of yellow. Despite any similarities to the rest of the herd, he was not one of them and did not belong. So we rode about, found the place where the fence was down, pushed him back out and fixed the fence. Though it is rare, even modern cowhands have to sort cows from time to time and spot the ones that don't belong. 

In today's text, Jesus spotted some folks mixed in with His followers who did not belong. Yes they claimed to follow Him and accept Him as Lord, but their daily lives showed they served a different "lord." "By their fruits you will know them!" (Matthew 7: 16-20). Like that black Angus in the midst of the red Angus, to anyone knowing the difference, it was clear they did not belong.

In these days of social media it is common for atheists and agnostics to point to those fake "christians" who talk the talk - and make thousands of dollars bilking the gullible - and say they are of our "herd." The black Angus was a cow and an Angus, but he was not our cow or Angus. The city slicker who never saw a cow before might not know the difference, but those who ride for the brand do - and so does the brand inspector. The ignorant who never met a real Christian before might not know the difference between a snake oil con man and a legitimate disciple of Jesus Christ, but true disciples do - and so does the Brand Inspector. Though covered in gold and worshiped by fools, the "golden calf" (Exodus 32) is still the blank Angus in the wrong pasture that needs to be cut out of the herd to which he does not truly belong.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

--

The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way."