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Fishers of men
must be committed to follow Him. I have known a number of Christians who are more interested in the techniques of evangelism than they are the person they are trying to win. That's pretty sad. There are programs all around the world that are producing "Christians" like rabbits. Then there are follow-up programs that teach the converts to behave and multiply. Consequently, we have a shallow and anemic Church, and unfortunately many of the converts have never been truly converted. Years ago, I spoke to a young preacher in Boston who had begun a new church and it had been going for several months. I was horrified when he said to me "Our first Sunday, we had over five hundred people in attendance!" I know he was considering that to be evidence of success and that meant he had sold out. I have seen the Church in Ethiopia and the heartbreaking results of western "evangelism" influence. There are all sorts of fancy, well-attended things, and if you have meetings anywhere, people will pop out of the grass by the thousands and you can preach to a vast crowd of Africans. But even where there are huge numbers of Christians, there are very few who have actually committed themselves to be living sacrifices, because, they are part of the Christian factory. Leading someone to Christ can't be packaged. Yes, I have led people to the Lord on airplanes and in restaurants. But for the most part, the fishers of men will be found winning the souls of those the Lord has put on their hearts, and they are usually individuals. Once in every generation there is a man given as a gift - my generation would say Billy Graham has been that man. Have you noticed how many have imitated him? Most fresh and real fishers of men are not trying to approach the biggest audience ortrying to teach the most per square minute - they are loving, and plodding on! |
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