Encouragement

Fishers Of Men and Women in Todays World

by RikCharbonneaux. To Your Health  
04/12/25
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Fishers Of Men and Women in Today’s World

“...Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”  Matthew 4:19b  KJV

“There is no greater communication of love than proclaiming the gospel of God.” .. Alistair Begg

In today’s world, those who share the Gospel with others have many more factors working against them than those of the 1970s, when 93% of Americans were Christian.

Here is a good summation of those factors:

10 Reasons Why People Reject the Gospel - from *” Evangelism in a Skeptical World” by  Zondervan Publishing:

:1) The gospel doesn't fit their plausibility structure

2) Christians haven't looked for common ground

3) They don't understand sin and guilt

4) Their questions aren't answered

5) Ethics are a barrier to belief

6) The gospel isn't real in Christians' lives

7) Wrong evangelistic pedagogical methods 

8) Culture’s existential cry goes unanswered

9) Christians try to win the mind before emotion

10) Prior beliefs aren't adequately dismantled

“Fishing is a line with a hook on one end and an optimist on the other.”  Warner Oland, “Charlie Chan” 1935

Today, it takes a full-faith “optimist” to share the gospel with an unbelieving majority and to exercise the confidence that the Holy Spirit gave us, which enables us to do it wisely and to be pleasant and welcoming. 

As the old saying goes, “Honey attracts much more than vinegar.”

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,..”  1 Peter 3:15 b,c

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” .. Colossians 4:5 NIV

In these times of contraction of the Christian Faith in the West, those who share the gospel, in the light of laws or policies, should never feel that they have failed if their message is rejected, as it our job to share the Good News*, and it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict hearts.

“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.”  John 16:8 NKJV

So, share the gospel as best you can and believe in your heart that the Holy Spirit will do God’s will.

Post Script:

There was a time in this country when fishing was the poor man's “Sport of Kings,” when a good fishing hole was easy to access and an enjoyable afternoon was to be had.**

Similarly, Peter probably enjoyed pursuing a bountiful catch of fish with line and nets upon the Sea of Galilee, but he left it all and never looked back as he became a fisher of men for Christ. 

Not an easy thing to do, but there is a reward for believers who try.

*Less than 2% of all U.S. Christians have ever shared the gospel with another person, resulting in conversion.  Pew Research

** “If God made anything better than fishing, He kept it for Himself”. .. George Jones, among others.