Fishing for Men

Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee (color photograph, c. 1900). Photo: wikipedia Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee (color photograph, c. 1900). Photo: wikipedia     

Tomorrow’s Gospel in the Orthodox Church is the Miraculous Catch. That’s where Jesus tells Peter, after a fruitless night’s fishing, to go back out and cast his nets on the other side of the boat. Peter humors the suggestion, lands a catch he can barely haul in, and hears from Jesus how he’ll soon be catching men.

I’ve long had two struggles with this Gospel. First, it concerns evangelism – a Christian practice that doesn’t necessarily have the greatest reputation these days. Second, I’ve never even seen a throw net – thus having no experience with the metaphor at the heart of the reading.

Concerning the negative impressions of evangelism, especially among younger, educated progressives, it must be acknowledged that these sentiments exist for a reason. Centuries of Western imperialism and cultural genocide have morally bankrupted missionaries in many eyes.

This was brought to my attention in college. I attended a Mainline Protestant school that was shedding its Christian heritage, out of guilt. One presentation to my International Relations program by a successful alumna was a case in point.

Although she worked for her denomination’s official mission society, she repeatedly distanced herself and her agency from any hint of trying to convert people in the developing world.

This was necessary, because most in the room would’ve lost respect otherwise. What redeemed her labors was the exclusive, humanitarian focus her agency was now shifting to. Providing food, medicine and clothing, while actively discouraging locals from changing faiths, was the new modus operandi.

Given the Western missionary methods of earlier times, this is in some ways a welcome change. But what truly redeems mission work is the realization that not all missionaries were (or are) alike. That it’s possible to be an evangelist without being a ‘cultural aggressor.’

Today, in places like Kenya, modest, missionary efforts are underway by Eastern Christians. These are often responses to requests from locals to bring them this faith. It’s typical for the missionaries to seek permission from indigenous leaders and even the blessing of local shamans to proceed.

This might seem like cutting-edge missiology for more enlightened times, but it’s actually a standard going back to Saints Cyril and Methodius, Greek brothers who brought Christianity to the Slavs at their own request.

That helps. Regarding the other reservation, about having no experience casting nets, perhaps the solution lies in an alternative I’m more familiar with: pole fishing.

Fishing for men with nets, and catching entire schools, may still work in communally-oriented cultures. But Americans are supreme individuals. Any success I’ve ever had sharing Christ with others has been one-on-one, with lots of gentle wrestling. Some even ‘got away’. That’s my revised version.

Better yet, it seems like most who join my community were never really fished for. They read something, decided to come and see, and basically jumped into the boat. The question is, are we ready to catch them with open arms?

Fr. Barnabas Powell is the priest at the St. Katherine Church (OCA) in Kirkland, Washington.

Comments
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×