Matthew 13:47-50
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Blog discussion question: So, God fishes with a net....not a pole?
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4 comments:
I guess I find it reassuring that God fishes with a net and not a pole...a pole only catches one fish at a time.....but the sorting out afterwards by the angels is serious business! The weeping and gnashing of teeth --we think will never happen to us! Praise God for His continual, merciful forgiveness each day--and live in His promise!
I believe it was the introductory article in the last issue of "The Lutheran" where the author cited the question of one of his Bible study participants. "Why does the Bible contradict itself?" So as not to be as blunt as that student, I certainly understand having questions,doubts and struggles. Our Lenten worship this week reminded us of Biblical "rocks of faith" that had moments of doubt which led to faith building.
This parable and its agronomic version (which I can relate to better than fishing) about good seed and weeds give me opportunities for faith building. They leave me with questions I may only get answered "at the end of the age".
If we are ALL children of God, gathered by nets rather than selective rod fishing and baiting, "Who are the non-children, the bullheads and carps, or the weeds that the angels sort and throw into the furnace?
Seeming also to support these parables, John writes 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have DONE GOOD will rise to live, and those who have DONE EVIL will rise to be condemned." The same John speaks of God loving the world and sending His son not to condemn. Then tells that whoever does not believe stands condemned.
If you cut these parables and many similar scriptures from the Holy Bible it becomes a very holey bible.
I end fully trusting in my baptism, thankful for the faith God has given me and Holy Spirit still working in me...even with questions.
First using a pole is not how God works. I think about how God gathers all, or attempts to and this could include some that are not within a desire to even accept His presence or truths. In Matthew 24 the verses talk about some coming along side Christians and appear to be doing the work of a church but are deceiving some and leading them astray. So God does gather with the net to gather as many as possible but as RJQ said, there are weeds among the good seed. There are those that come into our presence making their own claims and still do not believe or deny Him. There are those not doing the work of Jesus but appear to be. Could then the angels be there to sort the wolves in sheep's clothing?
The point of the discussion question was to consider what this says about how God goes about gathering up his people. He does so with a net...that is how they fished in those days. He doesn't put bait on a hook and hope to lure one into his catch...hoping to have the "fish" decide to take the bait. No, he sweeps up everything that is in the path of the net....whether they want to be caught or not.
So what if you are a "bad" fish? What makes a fish "bad"? The type of fish? The size of the fish? The health of the fish? As humans consider "good" and "bad" fish, there is a difference of opinion on what makes a fish "good or bad". Some like to eat carp...others wouldn't touch it. Some like bullheads...others gag at the sight of them.
A "good" fish is really at the discretion of the fisher. I can't change the kind of fish that I am, I can only hope that God considers the kind of fish that I am to be "good". But my hopes are not empty hopes, because he has reached into the water and pulled me up...the waters of Baptism...and he has said to me, "You're a keeper."
Are only the Baptized to be kept? I don't know...but this I do know...I, who have been baptized, have already been declared by God as a keeper...as good.
So, if I find myself wondering who will be thrown out, I guess that there is only one way to find out...bring people to the waters of Baptism and see what God says to them as they come up out of the waters.
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