And They Called Themselves Fishermen
by Unknown
A group existed who called themselves fisherman. There were
many fish in the waters around. In truth, the whole area was
surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
It came to pass that week after week, month after month, and year
after year those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings;
they talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how
they might go about fishing. They carefully analyzed what fishing
meant, urged fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing
is always to be a primary task of fisherman.
These same fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local
fishing headquarters. Their plea was that everyone should be a
fisherman and that every fisherman should fish.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out
fisherman to other places where there were many fish. 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 faraway streams and lakes where many fish of different
colors swam. Furthermore, the board hired staff and appointed
committees and held many meetings to issue statements on
fishing, to agree on what new streams should be thought about.
Large, elaborate and expensive training centers were built with the
original and primary purpose of teaching fisherman how to fish.
Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the
nature of fish, how to recognize different fish, the psychological
reactions of fish, the various backgrounds of fish, and how to
approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in
"fishiology" Further, the fisherman built large printing houses to
publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to
produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods and
equipment. Meetings were arranged to talk about fishing. An expert
speaker's bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers
on the subject of fishing.
Notwithstanding all this activity, it was noted that fisherman
themselves did not fish: they pleaded for fishing. The boards did not
fish: they planned for fishing. The teachers of fishiology did not fish.
They explained fishing. The expert speakers did not fish. They
preached about fishing.
However, after one stirring address on "The Necessity of Fishing",
one young man left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he
reported that 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 had done it. In fact he quit his fishing in
order to have time to tell about the experience to the other
fisherman. He was also placed on the Fisherman's General Board
as a person having considerable experience.
Now many of the fishermen made sacrifices and put up with all
kinds of difficulties. Few were well paid for their service on the
boards and training centers. Some lived near the water and bore
the smell of dead fish. They received the ridicule of some that
made fun of their fisherman's clubs and the fact that they claimed
to be fisherman, yet never fished. They had doubts about those
who felt it was of little use to attend and talk about fishing. After
all, were they not following the one who said: "Follow Me, and I
will make you fishers of men." (Matt 4:19)
It came about that one day someone made the outlandish
suggestion that those who did not fish were not actually fishermen - -
no matter how much they claimed to be. Someone actually asked:
"Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches (or even
tries to catch) a fish? If he is not fishing, can he be following?"
Those who called themselves fishermen, and their boards and
committees and training centers and speakers, were all very hurt
by that question.
What is your excuse for not fishing?
January 26th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Excellent article!
So, lets bait the hook and get to work!
Caught my latest fish yesterday, praying for another bite today, going back to the pond in a few minutes! Perhaps, as the One we follow said, “throw the net on the other side of the boat!” we’ll have a better catch.
I’d like permission to print this article for those who attend my local “fishing headquarters”.
Thanks,
Margaret
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Great article, they say to me what club do you attend,I tell people in these people in clubs that my job is to get God into people not people into clubs.
The fishing fraternity is very strong but the fish never get caught. To many chiefs and no indians
November 9th, 2006 at 12:53 am
That’s a sic analogy, so true, we’ve fully gotta flag talking about hitting the Gospel like the Word tells us and actually do it! Our lives have gotta be real and we’ve just gotta get amongst it, no more talk ups. Instead of just going to church lets become one of Christ’s disciples and actually BE the ekklesia church as the Word says. It’s all about Jesus, all glory to Him, we are crook and He is amazing, His name is the only one worthy to be praised and at that name every knee will bow and tongue confess, of those on heaven and those on earth and those below the earth. How Good is Jesus! Either we will fall on the rock and be broken or the rock will fall on us and we will be crushed to powder! But to these I will look…those who are contrite of spirit and who tremble at my word! (Isaiah 66)…Reverent fear. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I fear wrongly interpretting the word, we have to look at it properly and flag our man made systems and trditions and our nice “christian cliche’s”. Come on brethren lets hit it real for our Jesus!