Issue 683 – Wrong Bait – March 13, 2022
My friend and I enjoyed an evening’s fishing at a lake that boasts large trout. My friend is a devoted fly fishing enthusiast, bordering on the fanatical purist. On the other hand, I like fishing, but I fish to catch fish and am not very particular about technique or species.
We stood in the boat, and it was fascinating to see the effortless grace of my buddy as he diligently cast just the right fly from one rise to the next. I made clumsy attempts to imitate his artful delivery as he did so. It seemed that no matter how perfect his delivery or how closely matched the fly to the hatch, neither of us was having any success.
I switched to my spin casting rig more for a joke than anything. I rooted around until I found the lure I thought would most likely annoy my friend. I pulled out a huge bright orange beast. It was similar to the one in the photo, only orange.
It was the most unlikely lure to use where we were fishing, but it was big, ugly and sure to bug my friend. It was the thing I might use in places looking for a large Northern Pike.
I heaved it out onto the lake with a grunt followed by a giant splash as it landed. My friend could scarcely contain his annoyance. His annoyance grew to wonder as a trout hit seconds later. She was a beauty and weighed in at just over five pounds. I was shocked that any trout would be dumb enough to hit a lure like that, but I did not let on. I told him that I felt it was time to use a lure that I was sure would work.
The following two casts, I had fish hit, although I could not get them to the boat. By then, it was too much for my partner. He started pontificating that while my methods worked, his were much purer and more natural.
We see a similar phenomenon happening in the church today. The church has been given a mandate…
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
When an innovative new strategy reaches people, there are always those who sniff, look down their noses and say, “We do not do it that way.” There is nothing wrong with continuing to do things the old way as long as the old way works. My friend continued fly fishing because he was more interested in the art than the results.
We do not have that luxury with our message. There is a world of hurting people destined for Hell that we have been commanded to reach. We cannot afford to maintain the status quo just because we like how it feels.
Please understand I am talking about methodology, not the message. Any method with integrity that works is appropriate, provided it does not compromise the message. I love to catch fish, but I would never break the law to catch them. In the same way, our methods of outreach must be beyond reproach.
No method that compromises the message is acceptable. An innovative ministry that distorts the truth is equally wrong as a traditional church that denies the truth. We must never compromise the truth of the gospel. We have been commissioned with a sacred task, taking the love of Christ to all nations and teaching them.
To use a fishing analogy, the Great Commission says nothing about which lure to use. It simply gives us our goal, the search for lost souls, tell them the truth and equip them to do the same.
Where the old ways are working, by all means, keep them. Where new methods are working, use them.
Until next time, let us never forget our role is to seek the lost and hurting and offer them the comfort and saving grace of Jesus.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
_____________________________
All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
____________________________
#devotional #biblestudy #dailybible #bible #leanings #KevinCorbin #jesus #god #faith #christian #love #joy #Christ #Father #bibleverses #prayer #church #Holyspirit #jesuschrist #worship #Biblereading #dailybiblereading #dailybible #pray #believe #devotional #devotion #discipleship
#greatcommission #fishing #trout #plug