The Lord Is My Shepherd?

Many of us learned Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want" and so on.
This really isn't going to be a discussion on the 23rd Psalm or the Bible, per se, but this will be a discussion of our present state of spiritual shortcomings.  We see statistics that show us that somewhere between 65% and 87% of Americans claim to believe in the one true God; the God of the Holy Bible, the God of Israel, the Judeo-Christian God.

Until roughly 60 years ago, the pastors and rabbis and priests in this country acted as the shepherds of the flock.  People looked to their clergy for answers to everyday problems and concerns and expected to be led or guided along a path that was soul enriching.  The clergy stood before his flock and explained living a Godly life to continue along that path.  He explained expectations, cause and effect, truth or consequences, self responsibility, fairness, honesty.  The pastor let you know sometimes we have to lose and sometimes we have to win in order to understand the grand scheme of humanity; none of us are the same and never will be.

Biblical writings speak of the lost or scattered flocks, flocks going in the wrong direction, flocks searching for a place to belong.  Our nation has lost most of her shepherds to political correctness, social engineering, and outright fear.  If our shepherds were to stand tall and proud and speak boldly with the conviction of their youthful theological studies, would our people be so dependent on welfare, would our youth be lost to drugs & sex, would our entertainment be riddled with lewd crude behavior and would there really be such a thing as a "blended family" (whatever that really is)?

In the 27th Psalm we read, "The Lord is my light and my salvation...".  How can we get our spiritual leaders to go back to serving as our shepherds instead of our touchy-feely counselors.  The shepherds have become fearful of their flock, fearful of the 'Roman rulers', fearful of themselves.  We, the flock, are floundering as a civilization and keep grasping for a reason.  The reason is very, very fundamental; our souls are starving for righteousness.
Righteousness is not a dirty word - definition = in accordance with virtue and morality.
The few clergy that actually speak to morality and virtue are usually labelled as radical or uncompromising or anti-something or another.  But, isn't that what the clergy are suppose to do?  Aren't they suppose to challenge us and help us set our expectations?

When you go to your church or synagogue to worship and study do you go with the hope of sharing your love for God with others and learning God's will for you?  Do you go in order to be seen, feel good about yourself, have your children make the 'right' kind of friends, not have someone rock your boat, or not have someone ask your opinion?  Our family, marital, moral issues have to start in the local church with a strong shepherd to lead the flock in the direction of Godly answers.  We need to know that there IS a right and a wrong and we must find the right path.
Proverbs 3-5:  Trust the Lord with all your heart and don't depend on your own understanding."
Please visit a church or synagogue and please expect a shepherd's guidance.
God Bless us all...