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January 23, 2005
Fish Stories
Matthew 4:12-23
What was Jesus thinking the day he told four others, Peter, Andrew, James and John—four fishermen —to focus everything on becoming "fishers of men," or more accurately, "fishers of people." We call it "evangelism," getting out the good news. Jesus wanted them to take the lead in following him. Jesus wanted them to be part of engaging others with the good news. What are we thinking when we elect Elders, Deacons and other leaders in our church? They're not just supposed to tell us fish stories. Neither are they to do all the fishing. They're supposed to get us fishing.
Presbyterians are part of things Jesus began with the first disciples. We're called to be disciples, too, and that involves, well, being "fishers of people." Someone got us hooked on the gospel. We can do likewise. A second reason is that if disciples are going to be able to do what we are supposed to do in the world we will need all the help we can get. Telling other people the gospel of Jesus Christ takes more than any one of us or even a great many of us can do. Besides, the more the merrier. A third reason is that the number of active Presbyterians has gone down in recent years. Our congregation has likewise lost members. What do you think: have we lived up to our calling as disciples? Have we done as good a job in being "fishers of people" as we should be? Have we just been telling fish stories, or have we actually been fishing? Our elected leaders help us remember our calling.
Most people become members of a congregation because of a friend or family member. But the point of the story of Jesus and the first disciples seems to be something different: That we have to be willing to reach beyond friends and kin, get out of our accustomed round, and be willing to engage people we may not ordinarily deal with. People in Capernaum may have thought Jesus something of a country bumpkin come to town, and they may have been a little puzzled by his message: "Repent, for the reign of heaven is at hand."
Repent! When Jesus said "repent" he had in mind more than that people should simply stop doing bad things and start doing good things. Many of the people he talked to were good people who did good things as a general rule, and were upstanding people, people who held things together and kept things going. Peter and Andrew, James and John were just such people: respected, hard workers who played by the rules. People depended on them for daily food. Yet, in order to be disciples, they had to repent and follow Jesus.
Repenting is mostly a matter of having our lives "turned around." It is not first of all a matter going from doing bad to doing good. Good people need to repent, too. Especially good people. You can be the best and most careful driver in Cedar Rapids. No matter how carefully you drive, how well you honor the limits and obey rules of the road as you head down 380, you will never be able to get to Des Moines by turning left when you get to Interstate 80. To get where the Lord wants us to be we need to look where Jesus is headed and follow. Believe it or not, even some good people have followed Jesus. Our officers are supposed to lead us in repentance.
I guess one of Frank Sinatra's most popular recordings includes the line: "I did it my way." When was the last time you heard someone say: "You've got your own life own life to live;" "Charity begins at home;" "Don't get involved;" "God helps those who help themselves;" "Safety first;" "The life you save may be your own"? As with all dead-ends, it's hard to know we are headed that way until we hit the wall. Hitting the wall is how some of us get started with having our turned lives around. Others listen. Others trust the one who is the way, and the truth and the life, the one who leads us to the giver of life. Our officers are ordained to lead us in listening to the holy one of God.
Trusting the Lord is realizing that things don't begin and end with us. I've heard leaders say that human history turns on human decisions. Maybe it's more near the truth to say that our decisions are how we participate in what God is doing with our history. Anything worthwhile begins and ends with the Lord. That's why we say we believe in God the Father Almighty. Love, begins with God, and it ends in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Trusting the Lord is being part of one another's lives because God got involved with us in flesh—and-blood ways in Christ. Trusting the Lord is rejoicing because God helps us who cannot possibly help ourselves. Trusting the Lord is knowing that while we are yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Trusting the Lord is knowing that we cannot always play it safe, but having the courage to take risks for the sake of others. It is knowing that the life we lose for Christ sake is the life that is saved. Our officers are called to lead us in trusting the Lord.
I'm not much of a fisherman. Never was. My dad tried to teach me. I just didn't have the touch. I have friends who love to fish. Fred is a trout fisherman. He always turns loose whatever he catches. All during the interim we worked together, he'd talk about "goin' fishin'." He and his buddies at the church didn't need much provocation to talk about fishing. "Fred," I said more than once, "it's really fun to hear you all talk about fishing." "Yeah," he mused, "it's really fun to swap stories. I love'um all. But you know, it's not fishing."
What are we in it for? The stories? Or the fishing?
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First Presbyterian
Church of Cedar Rapids
310 Fifth Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-364-6148
E-mail: church@fpccr.org
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