The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
January 27, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 04

Everything But...
           Last week it was lamb, this week it is fish. Interesting how these two creatures have captured the Christian imagination. In the older sense of the term (not modern computer use), the lamb and the fish are two living icons of our particular faith. There are numerous references to lambs and sheep, how we at heart are “the sheep of God’s pasture.” We use the symbol of the fish, the Greek acronym of “Ichthus” for Jesus Christ Son of God Saviour, as a sign that Christians are present in some place. Yet, why don’t we ever call ourselves The Fish? Have you ever known of a church with fish in its name? All right, I have heard about the Holy Mackerel.
           Maybe we are not exactly fish, but one of our principal callings is to fish, fish for people. That’s one of our most familiar churchy occupations, yet not too many have figured out exactly how one does fish for people. It sounds a little bit manipulative, as if we are snaring people for our purposes - eating? - treating non-Christian people as things who don’t know any better until we tell them. If we are meant to be fishers of people, shouldn’t there be a “catch and release” program?
           Ah, there’s that evangelism idea, seldom mentioned in a good ol’ United Church. We should always remember that evangelism is in the first place “Good News” and there are few of us who can resist telling someone else about something really good one has experienced. But this Good News is not something you possess for your own use and control; it has been given to you to give away as soon as you can. Too many people are convinced that I Have It All and since now I am a licensed fisher I can collect all the people I can to do it my way. I guess we fish are caught! The Good News, though, is catch and release.