New Mascot Named
March 12, 2010
By Joel Anderson
It’s not furry, doesn’t have intimidating teeth or a great growl, doesn’t stalk, fly or pounce on it’s prey, but…it’s about as “Christian” a pet you could find. From the miraculous multiplying of the fish and the loaves, to the very words of Christ in Matthew 4:19, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” the fish certainly holds an esteemed place among the rank and file of the animal kingdom. Today of course, we still see this prominent icon stuck to the posterior of many a vehicle.
But, I wonder, are we counting on that silver fish to say it for us? Have we become, as one writer quipped, no longer fishers of men, but “keepers of the aquarium”?
Does our life suggest that it really matters?
So what do you think Harvest? As we’re in the final days before the most significant events of our faith are celebrated, are we / will we be fishing for men, or keeping a nice aquarium?
I don’t doubt that our faith matters to us. We go to church, we attend small groups, we read our Bible, and we pray about our problems. But can we truly say it really matters to us if it only matters to us?
What do you mean?
In the Western church, it could easily appear that the primary goal for conservative Christians is to see the moral principles of Christianity applied to society and its laws, regardless of whether people actually come to terms with salvation through Christ. We say that only Jesus can changes lives, but are perhaps portraying that our real goal is a gospel that focuses on behavioral change. It takes the form of such things as moral law and values-based education. In doing so, we miss the main thing…the heart. Sin. Salvation through Christ alone.
Evangelist Luis Palau puts it this way:
“Proclamation of the gospel was Paul’s primary course of action to confront and change a pagan society. (Yet) there’s little enthusiasm for evangelism. Political action, yes. Public protest, yes. Open and vigorous soul-winning, no. We are no longer using the gospel as a tool to change America. Very few churches—even Bible-believing, evangelical churches—are seeing souls saved. We’re not concentrating on converting people…The biblical way to transform society is to lead people to Jesus Christ and disciple them, one at a time.”
Read it again...it’s that good!
While it is a precious blood-bought gift to be a participant in our government, we are above all...fishers of men…not keepers of the aquarium.
We must speak the words that offer life everlasting (John 6:68). First we are fisherman, fisherwomen, fisherstudents, fisherneighbors.
Perhaps the second thing we might suggest that often gives off that aquarium feel is the “personal” acquisition of gospel truth. We hear it often, I say it frequently, “Have you made a personal decision to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior?”
Of course I understand why we say “personal.” We’re trying to underline the fact that the right church or denomination or family of origin can’t guarantee a spot in heaven or freedom from sin and death…each person much choose to follow Jesus. But question: “Has that concept trapped us in our tank?”
Haven’t you spoken to someone (maybe, gasp, it’s you ☺) who says, “I don’t really like to talk about religion…that’s personal.” Faith becomes personal…private property. Keep off. No trespassing. Don’t talk politics or religion. Right?
If it truly matters to us: wrong!
Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ.” Sure we want them to see it, but if we don’t say it, our moral behavior might just be meaningless.
Christ has commissioned the church to be salt and light. In the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:13, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”
Where could we, or are we serving? Who could we be sharing God’s good news with—His hope and truth that will set people free?
And it begins in our hearts. Does it really matter to us? Because if it does, it can’t just matter to us.
Fisherman or aquarium keepers—which will we be? What do you say we get the fish out of water!
Easter weekend is fast approaching.
Who can you discuss the Gospel with? Who might you invite to a service?
Harvest has a new mascot. It’s an a-typical mascot to bring us back to our a-typical call for transforming lives.
Let’s shout it and share it.
“GO FISH GO!”
Matthew 4:19,
It’s not furry, doesn’t have intimidating teeth or a great growl, doesn’t stalk, fly or pounce on it’s prey, but…it’s about as “Christian” a pet you could find. From the miraculous multiplying of the fish and the loaves, to the very words of Christ in Matthew 4:19, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” the fish certainly holds an esteemed place among the rank and file of the animal kingdom. Today of course, we still see this prominent icon stuck to the posterior of many a vehicle.
But, I wonder, are we counting on that silver fish to say it for us? Have we become, as one writer quipped, no longer fishers of men, but “keepers of the aquarium”?
Does our life suggest that it really matters?
So what do you think Harvest? As we’re in the final days before the most significant events of our faith are celebrated, are we / will we be fishing for men, or keeping a nice aquarium?
I don’t doubt that our faith matters to us. We go to church, we attend small groups, we read our Bible, and we pray about our problems. But can we truly say it really matters to us if it only matters to us?
What do you mean?
In the Western church, it could easily appear that the primary goal for conservative Christians is to see the moral principles of Christianity applied to society and its laws, regardless of whether people actually come to terms with salvation through Christ. We say that only Jesus can changes lives, but are perhaps portraying that our real goal is a gospel that focuses on behavioral change. It takes the form of such things as moral law and values-based education. In doing so, we miss the main thing…the heart. Sin. Salvation through Christ alone.
Evangelist Luis Palau puts it this way:
“Proclamation of the gospel was Paul’s primary course of action to confront and change a pagan society. (Yet) there’s little enthusiasm for evangelism. Political action, yes. Public protest, yes. Open and vigorous soul-winning, no. We are no longer using the gospel as a tool to change America. Very few churches—even Bible-believing, evangelical churches—are seeing souls saved. We’re not concentrating on converting people…The biblical way to transform society is to lead people to Jesus Christ and disciple them, one at a time.”
Read it again...it’s that good!
While it is a precious blood-bought gift to be a participant in our government, we are above all...fishers of men…not keepers of the aquarium.
We must speak the words that offer life everlasting (John 6:68). First we are fisherman, fisherwomen, fisherstudents, fisherneighbors.
Perhaps the second thing we might suggest that often gives off that aquarium feel is the “personal” acquisition of gospel truth. We hear it often, I say it frequently, “Have you made a personal decision to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior?”
Of course I understand why we say “personal.” We’re trying to underline the fact that the right church or denomination or family of origin can’t guarantee a spot in heaven or freedom from sin and death…each person much choose to follow Jesus. But question: “Has that concept trapped us in our tank?”
Haven’t you spoken to someone (maybe, gasp, it’s you ☺) who says, “I don’t really like to talk about religion…that’s personal.” Faith becomes personal…private property. Keep off. No trespassing. Don’t talk politics or religion. Right?
If it truly matters to us: wrong!
Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ.” Sure we want them to see it, but if we don’t say it, our moral behavior might just be meaningless.
Christ has commissioned the church to be salt and light. In the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:13, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”
Where could we, or are we serving? Who could we be sharing God’s good news with—His hope and truth that will set people free?
And it begins in our hearts. Does it really matter to us? Because if it does, it can’t just matter to us.
Fisherman or aquarium keepers—which will we be? What do you say we get the fish out of water!
Easter weekend is fast approaching.
Who can you discuss the Gospel with? Who might you invite to a service?
Harvest has a new mascot. It’s an a-typical mascot to bring us back to our a-typical call for transforming lives.
Let’s shout it and share it.
“GO FISH GO!”
Matthew 4:19,