Fishers of men, but why fish?

On most large college campuses across the United States, you're sure to find a crazy, uneducated-looking tool condemning students for their lifestyle and lack of "faith" in God. These fire and brimstone preachers often focus on what everyone else is doing wrong in their life instead of attempting to tell others what is potentially great in their own life.

When I was a junior in college, I was helping Athletes In Action hand out informational pamphlets at a Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game. Because AIA is a Christian organization, a lot of controversy stirred outside of the Kohl Center. A powerful organization named Freedom From Religion protested UW's decision to play AIA claiming it gave them a platform to share their message with others. As a result, an unkempt fire and brimstone preacher decided to bring his arrogance and soap box to the Kohl Center that night.

Far from being the salt of the earth, this man focused on a few passage from the bible that became very offensive to those who were there to simply watch a basketball game. Most of the dialogue he tried to create was out of context, but innocent bystanders couldn't decipher that on their own and were likely foggy on what the bible actually said. Plain and simple, he was turning people off.

One of my friends, Brady, decided to take matters into his own hands. After all, he was a genuine Christ follower and had good news about Jesus to share with others. He approached the individual in a very calm demeanor and politely asked his name and who he was trying to reach with his message. Because he was polite, the man downed his tone and told him the organization that he represented. Brady told the man that he was a Christian and was excited to see how God was going to use the Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game, this man was on the same page.

Then, Brady asked him if he liked to fish. The man did. Brady continued a conversation that looked something like this:

Brady - Well, I love to fish, too.

The man (excited, as if Brady was going to ask him to join him someday in fellowship) - Really?

Brady - Yeah, I really do. If you and I were fishing, and you were fishing on one side of the boat and I was on the other, and I kept making noise, throwing things in the water and causing a stir, would you enjoy fishing with me?

The man - Of course not, not if you're going to make all of that noise.

Brady - Why is it so bad for me to make noise when I fish, that's just how I do it.

The man - Come on, seriously? You can't make noise because you'd scare away all of the fish.

Brady (putting his hand on the man's shoulder) - You're scaring away the fish. (Brady walks away)

I remember this like it was yesterday. Brady's humble, non-confrontational approach toward this man allowed helped hold him accountable. It was obvious that this man had read the bible, so he was familiar with the fishing analogy. Jesus used it in a famous story that is recorded in Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 5:1-11. He told Simon and Andrew to get rid of their [fishing] nets and become fishers of men -- tell the story of Jesus.

At church last weekend, we heard a sermon from Andy Stanley called "Why Fish?" It was an amazing presentation on the notion of fishing for men. He illustrated the message with a passage from Acts when Peter and John healed a crippled beggar. This beggar "jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God" (Acts 3:8). He couldn't help but praise God and tell others of his personal experience. The religious leaders were angry with Peter and John and tried to keep them quiet, but they couldn't contain themselves because they saw something incredible and had to tell others.

Being fishers of men is not trying to impress others with your knowledge of the Bible and being able to compare the world religions. It's not about a religious conviction, it's about seeing something that happened and sharing your personal experience.

The basic summary of the sermon is that, as Christ followers, we need to tell people about the story of Jesus along with our personal encounter with the Savior. People can find God on their own, but they can't find the story of Jesus without being told. It's history and history needs a storyteller. To be fishers of men, we need share our story of how Jesus impacts our life.

It's uncomfortable and scary, but really it's quite simple. Tell others about Jesus. Their life and salvation may depend on it. Too often others become aware of what Christians are against instead of what they believe and why. I want people to know the story of Jesus Christ because it's the most important story ever told.

So, in light of being careful to not scare away any fish, I encourage you to watch this video clip from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This helps me understand Acts 3:8 and what this cripple may have experienced. If you have an experience like this man, or witness something similar, wouldn't you tell everyone you come in contact with? Well, much like Charlie's grandfather, we do have a golden ticket in Jesus Christ! Tell someone. Fish.