Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!lll-winken!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: marlatt@spot.Colorado.EDU (MARLATT STUART WARREN) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Soul winners Message-ID: Date: 23 Jan 91 08:20:12 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder Lines: 47 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article arm@Neon.Stanford.EDU (Alexander d Macalalad) writes: [deleted text...] > >I guess I like better the image of the disciples being called to be fishers >of men. Here, the "fish" must make the first nibble to be saved. The image is very appealing - but, consider what we know of the form of fishing the disciples were doing: commercial fishing, out of boats, with nets. I don't know how far the analogy should be taken, but I have come to think that most of Jesus' phrases were chosen with some care. So, lets look at this one: 1. Commercial fishing. This is no recreational walk in a stream, flicking a fly about on your day off. This is full-time, hard work. When you aren't actually out on the water, you are probably mending nets, cleaning fish, etc. 2. Out of boats. The fishermen went out onto the water, got wet, etc. As compared to staying safe on the shore and attempting to lure the fish to themselves. Probably they spent considerable time learning the ways of the sea and knowing where the fish would be when. 3. With nets. Again, the implication here is that they are not luring the fish in, but actively catching them (against their will!). Obviously: (with reference to 'soul-winning') 1. This is not a recreational activity, rather it is to be a lifestyle. Off-hours should be used in preparation (study, prayer). Note also that fishing in that day was necessarily a group activity: team work is required (as least accountability to a body). 2. You can't stay safe and clean and expect to get close to those in need of salvation. The sea is the domain of the fishes - and of storms - but the fish don't get lured up onto shore. I am reminded of a saying: a ship is safe in a harbor, but that is not what ships are made for. 3. Nets? The obvious implication would be that salvation would come upon the unsaved unbidden, that they would be bought in against their will. I don't know how far to take this, but I know many people, myself included, who felt God's hand save them though they kicked and struggled against it. (Perhaps that is the key: we, as people, don't forcibly 'catch' those needing salvation, but God does.) Like I said, I don't know how far we can take this analogy, only that such things generally are more instructive that they often appear on the surface... -- s.w. marlatt <>< and *(:-)