Thinking about Fishing and Evangelism
Perhaps it’s time to take back evangelism from the evangelists and get back to sharing our faith in a way that looks more like Jesus’ Style.
“Come follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.” With this simple invitation and promise, Jesus set the priority and expectation that his followers will use have a contagious faith that draws others into a relationship with Jesus as well.
I like that Jesus used Peter’s identity and career choice as the means of reaching others with the Gospel. Obviously, Peter knew fishing, was good at it, and felt quite comfortable when he was out doing what he loved. He also ran the family fishing business, so he had a whole web of relationships, friends and contacts from his fishing business that would become his ‘mission field.’
So why is evangelism misunderstood today? Why do we cringe a little when someone talks about introducing someone to Jesus? I think our discomfort may be directly related to our drifting away from Jesus’ original call.
I have been in many churches that want to be evangelistic; think about evangelism; and believe it is important for followers of Jesus. They just don’t do it. Why not?
Perhaps it is because the training and programs that promote evangelism place everyday people in situations of maximum discomfort and unnaturally controlled settings. Contrived answers to rigged questions, phony ‘surveys’, witnessing without personal relationships, all in an atmosphere of pressure and score keeping.
Our efforts at evangelism seem more like a fishing derby than a fun fishing trip with friends. What if our evangelism ministry in the world resembled a group of friends on a fishing expedition? How different would that be?
Write me about your fishing experiences and lets see if we can come up with a new and exciting strategy for reaching men and women with the good news of Jesus.
Still Crazy After All these Years
Today, I’m sitting in Kinko’s in Escondido, California just north of San Diego. Each year at this time we stay at our time share and reconnect with family and friends. This week, Eileen spent time with her old college roommate whom we hadn’t seen in over 35 years. She visited their quilting group and had a good time remembering times past.
We also celebrated our 37th anniversary, by returning to the restaurant at the beach in Cardiff by the Sea, where she had her big brain seizure last year that put her in the stroke ward of the hospital. I figured that she hadn’t gotten to finish her French fries, so we ought to venture back. And if she did get taken to the hospital in an ambulance, at least we wouldn’t have to pay for the lunch. So there is always a bright side. I’m pleased to report that there was no repeat incident, and Eileen was happy to say, that she is officially healed from the seizures. So we are blest.
When I look back on our marriage, it is amazing how we have remained basically the same unique, individuals we were so many years ago. She is still diligent and reliable, and caring. I am still rebellious and outspoken, and idealistic. Together we probably make one good person. I think we are drawn to people who are strong in areas that we aren’t. Then, we spend our time trying to get them to stop being that way. Somewhere along the road, we reach a point where we realize they are who they are, and that they aren’t going to change, so we might as well appreciate the differences. I think at that point we discover that “Where love rules… There is no will to power.”
Now that I think about it, isn’t that what happens in churches as well. We enter a congregation, looking into people’s eyes and wondering, “do I like who I am in their eyes?” Thus our esteem is built not on how we see ourselves, or in how others see us, but it is based on How I think others think of me.
I have this crazy dream that church can become the place where we are known for who we really are, and loved regardless. Perhaps because I’m the same idealistic person I was 37 years ago, I am going to hold on to that dream for the church… it is already happening in this crazy difficult thing we call marriage.
I hope you remember who you were so many years ago. You can still be that person. It isn’t too late.
