Letter From a Fisherman
Good advice from 2000 years ago
In many ways the trend of western civilization is towards collapse.
This, of course, is not a surprise, since it is the driving goal of the Marxist philosophy that undergirds many of the today’s ascendant ideologies, including Critical Race Theory, the BLM movement (whose founder proudly declared she was schooled in Marxism), the DEI philosophy, the “one world” move to eliminate national borders and give global power to the WHO, and others.
The unique durability of the American experiment depended on distributing political power in every way possible, putting government at the service of the people and declaring that human rights come from God. The framers thereby minimized the opportunity for one faction to seize control of everything, allowing room for the competition of ideas and for human creativity to flourish. Those protections are now being ignored or removed, opening the way for the incredible blessings of western civilization (reliable power, clean water, antibiotics, air conditioning, flight, safe communities, personal freedom, etc) to be seriously threatened.
But hard times are not new, in the history of the world. Those blessings have been a rare gift to mankind. Things may get much more difficult very soon.
Given that reality, the relevant question for God’s people, to echo Francis Shaeffer, is “How should we then live?”
Can an old fisherman help us?
When the apostle Peter wrote to the new believers scattered through what we now call the middle East, his readers were learning to follow Jesus in the midst of substantial opposition. Years earlier Peter had left his fisherman’s nets to follow the Messiah, and now he was writing a couple of letters to “young” Christians in a hostile environment.
Many “gods” were worshipped around them, and the common religious practices were often highly sexualized and worse. Moreover, their sometimes-brutal Roman overlords were not favorable to having anyone called “Lord” other than Caesar. Peter, himself expecting to die soon, acknowledges the pressures with calm understatement:
“For a little while you may have to suffer various trials,” and “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you…” (1)
As we consider the world around us, his recommendations are as relevant to us today as they were 2000 years ago. What did this fisherman-turned-shepherd say to his scattered flock?
He did not encourage them to rage against the storm and condemn the people involved, as I hear some doing today. The evil in the world does not surprise God; in fact, He paid the unthinkable price to deal with that, and He has had a plan to wrap things up since the beginning of time. That’s His role, not ours.
But do we stand against the darkness pressing upon us? Yes, absolutely, in the roles God gives us each to play. Wonderful men and women are battling it in the courts, in legislatures, in the media, even fighting to reclaim the practice of medicine from tyrannical bureaucracy. Some are focused on defending the rights to free speech and personal autonomy, lest those disappear from the earth again. Many are finding and proclaiming truth, and being severely attacked for daring to do so. God bless them all. Certainly find the roles you can play, and as the poster says, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
For the Christian, Peter’s advice is to begin by knowing where all this is coming from.
“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (2)
We all know people who have been devoured by this destroyer, trapped in addiction, depression, anger, or worse. The famous prayer Jesus taught was not to be delivered “from evil,” but “from the evil one.” Various writers in both the Old and New Testament give us details about the spiritual warfare that drives human events and even who the participants are. Paul wrote to the Ephesian church specifically about how Christians are to conduct that warfare (3) in addition to the other, more visible parts we play in fighting for what is right on the world stage.
Often this spiritual darkness manifests in driving individuals and groups to do horrible things, manipulating them through the use of pride, greed, addictions, ideologies, mass movements, etc. The point is that the ones being driven are not the primary cause, and seeing behind the curtain helps us be more effective in the places where we each stand.
Peter instructs us about our attitude in all this:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” (4)
Every man stands before God for judgment not only of his actions, but for the thoughts and intentions of his heart, and though extraordinarily patient, God is not mocked. It is not our role to be hateful, judgmental, condemning, or abusive of those causing so much damage. God says through Paul, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?”(5) Have they lied? Yes, but so have you. Have they abused others, yes, but so have you. “But not so much,” we exclaim in self-justification.
As Paul explains to the believers at Rome who may have been feeling particularly righteous,
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things…” (6)
So, first, says Peter, recognize the true enemy. Second, keep yourself humble, realizing that there is a God, and you are not Him.
Third, because that very God is exceedingly capable and loving, and because He alone can work through this mess we have made of planet Earth, and because He has already personally paid the price for the sin we see unfolding around us…. we can let Him bear the awful emotional weight of that evil. He can, and we cannot. It is too much for us.
“Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.” (7)
That may seem to be a trivial, casual statement. It is not. There is power and truth in that simple instruction. If you have given your life to Him, and therefore have begun to know Him in the intimate relationship He calls us each to experience, you know it is true.
Fully realize His depth of love for you, and for all those you care about. Give your life to Him, the one who took the nails in His hands and suffered so much in your place. Then actively place your very real, gut-wrenching concerns in His care. This will set you free from a host of evils — bitterness, anger, frustration, hatred, vengeance, despair, insomnia, on and on. And then you will be emotionally free to make good decisions, see through the smokescreens, effectively minister to the victims, engage the battle on every level, and play the part He calls you to.
The rest of the fisherman’s advice is worth reading, as well. He speaks at length about where this is all going, emphasizing the great and glorious reasons for which we are able to endure the “various trials” of our day. I refer you to his letters at the end of the New Testament.
1) 1 Peter 1:6 and 4:12, Revised Standard Version
2) 1 Peter 5:8, Revised Standard Version
3) Ephesians 6:10-18, Revised Standard Version
4) 1 Peter 5:6, Revised Standard Version
5) Romans 14:4, Revised Standard Version
6) Romans 2:1-11, Revised Standard Version
7) 1 Peter 5:7, Revised Standard Version