Lynn Anderson, They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century (West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1997), hb/pb, 236 pages.

The responsibility of leadership is so broad and at times very taxing. The field of books for leading others in business or church is a very large one. It is a unique achievement when one’s leadership principles stand above the piles of books out there on the subject. I believe this is one of those unique books.

The Author

Dr. Lynn Anderson is a ministry veteran with over fifty years of experience, being a missionary in Canada, preacher in the Southern states of the United States, educator and ministerial mentor, and author or editor of several books. In 1997, Anderson published They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century in order to guide his readers who are in “traditionally structured churches” (i.e. top down authoritarian) to shift their “mental paradigm of church leadership” toward a “shepherd/flock direction.”[1]

Anderson divulges his “intent” again by stating, “Our intent in this book is not to describe the status quo, but to excite dreams and encourage movement into healthier and more biblical directions.”[2] Anderson is a firm proponent of leadership which provides spiritual guidance through “shepherding, mentoring, and equipping”[3]–three terms found constantly within the body of the book.

Book Survey

Anderson has a wonderful control of the English language. In this volume he writes very well, clear, crisp, and on a popular level; yet, Anderson shows the depth and the skills needed to address his subject matter, but he masks it in unpretentious language. Leaders from all academic levels will find Anderson accessible and engaging.

This is readily apparent in “Part One: A Biblical Look at Spiritual Leadership Principles” (chapters 1–8). With tremendous skill, Anderson describes the flesh and blood aspect of shepherding among flocks, and he supplements this description with the Old Testament usage of this iconic vocation. In the Old Testament good shepherding is an apt description of leaders who care for and guide God’s people. Moreover, Jesus uses this motif as a description of Himself – He is the good shepherd. It is here that Anderson reveals his passion about true ministry and shepherding; in fact, he is emphatic that God’s leaders must be involved in three core actions: shepherding, mentoring, equipping. The examples and illustrations used to flesh out these points are powerful pictures of Anderson’s guiding principle: shepherds must be among the sheep in order to shepherd them, they must smell like sheep.[4] One the most impressive examples is when Anderson recounts an elder who steps down, explaining, “So that I can be free to do more shepherding!” His development of these themes is outstanding.

In “Part Two: A Biblical Look at Elders” (chapters 9–14), Anderson addresses the New Testament materials which inform Christians about the Elders of the church, their qualifications (Anderson prefers “qualities”), and their responsibility to shepherd, mentor, and equip. The second main section of the book has many positive features. Anderson is not afraid to speak his “shepherd’s” heart and his wisdom breathes of experience. “A word of caution” is a common chorus throughout the book when he seeks to provide balance and clarity.[5] For example, I found a description of one of my unspoken beliefs regarding ministry which needed correction: 

[We] hear these sentiments, ‘Everyone is important you know… and we are on call twenty-four hours a day… and we do live in a fishbowl – like it or not.’ A sincere sounding but subtly misguided form of servant-heartedness believes that the spiritual leaders must serve the demands of all the church people [all the time].[6]

Lynn Anderson, The Smell Like Sheep (Howard, 1997)

Strengths and Weaknesses

Also, Anderson challenges the status quo, by challenging what has been a traditional (particularly 17th century Anglican ecclesiastical tradition)[7] understanding of certain “qualities” of biblical shepherds who are to be guardians of the church of God. Biblical leadership in the church is not authoritarian based, it does not simply demand and require obedience; instead, biblical leadership only really occurs on the basis of moral persuasion due to godly living. Those in spiritual chaos do not have the influence to lead, and should not lead. Even with this strength, Anderson’s emphasis of the description of the overseer’s character (1 Tim 3) as “qualities” unduly softens the inspired portrait of what is necessary for an overseer to be (1 Tim 3:2).

Despite the above compliments, Anderson’s book has a few weaknesses. Internally, the weaknesses are of two kinds. There are a few spelling errata sprinkled throughout the book, but it is not a substantial distraction to the quality of the message. In fact, it is a minor weakness at the editorial level. The most significant of the two is that the material shows its age. When Anderson released this volume in 1997 it revealed considerable vision. The next millennia was shortly coming, and the internet was still mysterious for what it could offer ministerially. Social media was not even on the radar. While Anderson was forward thinking and saw technology as a novel tool of ministry, the internet is an essential component for communication today. The volume does not speak enough, then, to the possibilities of social media for shepherding today.

Recommendations

In balance, They Smell Like Sheep is a tremendous “pastoral” achievement. Servant leadership is key to being God’s elders in the church. In general, anyone can be “shepherd” to others provided they engage in shepherding, mentoring, and equipping others. However, biblical elders/shepherds/guardians must smell like sheep. Anderson calls church leadership to be shepherds in its native understanding by being in the midst of it all —the flock, the fold, the filth, the smell. For this reason, this volume has been a benefit to the reader. Anderson seeks a broad readership, and it is in the opinion of this reader that such is appropriate for its recommendation.

For sure, all elders need to read this book. Anderson calls the church out on its failure to shepherd, and failure to move away from board room models of leadership. Still, preachers and deacons, teachers and leaders need to read this book. Even if one does not agree with all his conclusions, opinions, or practices, Anderson taps on a major vein of biblical leadership: We must smell like sheep if we are to be biblical leaders who care for and guide God’s people to heaven.

References

1. Lynn Anderson, They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century (West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1997), 177.
2. Anderson, They Smell Like Sheep, 170.
3. Ibid., 215.
4. Ibid., 90.
5. Ibid., 101.
6. Ibid., 182.
7. Ibid., 188.