Dear Friends,
I was researching a sermon recently, and I came across this piece. The sermon text was Mark 1:14-20, where Jesus begins to call his disciples; to make them "fishers of people." Though my sermon will probably move in another direction - and this piece was really far too long for that venue -- I did want to share it with you. As we move toward Lent, and as Henderson begins to put heart and soul into the Evangelism Ministry Area (led by Charlotte Harrison), look at this as food for thought. It's called, "A Plea for Fishing."
Blessings,
Robin
"Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish, and the fish were hungry.
"Week after week, month after month, and year after year, these, who call themselves fishermen, met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defending fishing as an occupation and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
"Continually, they searched for new and better methods of fishing, and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further, they said "the fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning." The loved slogans such as "Fishing is the task of every fishermen's club." They sponsored special meetings called "Fisherman's Campaigns" and "The month for Fishermen to Fish." They sponsored costly nationwide and world-side congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing, and to hear about all the ways of fishing such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait was discovered.
"These fishermen built large beautiful buildings called "Fishing Head-quarters." The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn't do, however, they didn't fish.
"In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a Board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. All the fishermen seemed to agree that what is needed is a Board which could challenge fishermen to faithful fishing. The Board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in far away streams and lake where many other fish of different colors lived.
"Also, the Board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish.
"Large elaborate and expensive training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teacher did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year after tedious training many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were set to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters which were filled with fish.
"Some spent much time in study and travel to learn the history of fishing and to see far away places where the founding father did great fishing in the centuries past. They lauded the faithful fishermen of years before who handed down the idea of fishing.
"Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment, and programs to arrange and to encourage meetings to talk about fishing. A speakers bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.
"Many who felt the calling to be fishermen responded. They were commissioned and sent to fish. But like the fishermen back home they never fished. Like the fishermen back home they engaged in all kinds of other occupations, they built power plants to pump water for fishing, tractors to plow new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel here and there to look at fish hatcheries. Some also said that they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment. Other felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen. Others felt that simply letting the fish know they were nice land-loving neighbors and how loving and kind they were, was enough.
"After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity for Fishing," one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fisherman's General Board a person having considerable experience.
"Now it's true that many of the fishermen scarified and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smeld of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen's club and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meeting to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the master who said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of me?"
"Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don't catch fish were really not fishermen no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct."
Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish?
Is one following if he isn't fishing?