As editor of THE CHURCHWARDEN I receive a fair amount of correspondence, most of which consists of praise for this publication. I'm extremely thankful, and earnestly pray it's an indication of God's good pleasure with a non-traditional way of spreading the Gospel. More often than not, what man approves, God disdains.
Sometimes a letter is exceptionally thought provoking, and such is the case with the following e-mail sent to me by a reader from Ireland. He writes:
"Dear Sir,
I am human, a fisherman (not a fishing person . . . I'm male) and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I do not belong to any recognized church, but I do belong to a fly fishing club. So what do you think? Am I saved? Also I don't smoke because I hate smoke. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it . . . but I don't hate smokers. I love tying flies and have a small web site dedicated to salmon flies, trout flies etc. I also love fly fishing . . . just being on the stream with my two dogs gives me that "Peaceful easy feeling."
I'm from Ireland where there are so many Catholics (the majority are non practicing I believe) who are rather unsure about their faith. They don't agree with a lot of what the RCC says, yet they are afraid to make a decision, and leave that Institution because at the back of it all; they really feel that the RCC holds the keys to heaven. This is sad for me as when I try to show them that all the answers are in the Bible; they�argue that man wrote the Bible! So what do you think . . . are these people saved?
I'm not sure if I�can say that life is sad in a funny kind of way, or that life is funny in a sad kind of way because I often find that the more honest you are with people, then the less they trust you. Take for example fly fishing. I come back from the river with a fine bag of trout for the table. Someone asks, well what did you get them on? I show them the fly and even give them one or two. A few evenings later they leave the same river empty handed after having tried the fly to�no avail. They meet me and say "that so-called fly of yours is no good . . . you lied to me! Heck, I know it works, you just have to know how to use it . . . you must have faith in it! So Darkcahill, I'm sure that you know what the moral of this story is.�Now doesn't fly fishing resemble faith in the Lord in a small kind of way?
One last thing . . . you must be very secure in your own faith to have an e-mail address of DARKcahill instead of LIGHTcahill! I think that is a sign of honesty in a funny kind of way . . . and not funny as in sad-funny!
�Keep up the good work and take it handy on the non-smoking section of brotherhood.
God bless, and 'till the Lord returns . . . tight lines!"
Because the writer touches upon issues essential to the nature of biblical Christianity, I thought a public response might be beneficial of all. Thus:
Dear Friend,
It's reassuring to know at least one of my readers is human; I can now live at peace with doubt about the rest. Take off points, though, for claiming Christ, being male and using gender specific language.
All joking aside, your letter is most welcome because it raises important issues which have relevance to anyone genuinely interested in the message of The Churchwarden. The Churchwarden is primarily a vehicle for delivering the Gospel to those who love pipes, tobacco, hunting and fly fishing. I know these people well because I'm one of them. Therefore, with an insider's perspective I'm trying to contextualize the call of Christ in a way that's truly edifying (and not a little entertaining). The result to date is a modest amount of testimony indicating an exciting measure of success. Something I've noticed, however, in dealing with those of us who love to flirt with fur, fish, feathers and Fair Lady Nicotine, is this: we all possess a definite propensity towards rugged individualism, a sort of "I'll do it my way" perspective on life. Furthermore, we tend to be counter-cultural, counter-ecclesiastical iconoclasts who criticize everything under the sun, especially the church. Personally, I'm guilty. I believe it would be legitimate to accuse you of the same.
There's a reason why you're not associated with any particular local assembly; it's because you haven't found one perfect enough to fit your subjective criteria. Perhaps moral or doctrinal blemishes offer an excuse to justify your absenteeism. Yet, you belong to a fly fishing club. Why? Probably because there your dreams and your desires are affirmed and validated, whereas in the midst of corporate worship self will is trounced upon by divine severity. Church is uncomfortable, clubs are not.
Are you saved? Frankly, I don't have a clue. Although church membership is not the cause of salvation, it is one of the primary evidences. The Bible knows nothing of isolationist Christianity. The New Testament is written predominantly to gathered groups of faith, not singular saints. The individual is certainly acknowledged by the New Covenant scriptures, but normally in the context of community. He (or she) is regarded as an essential part of the body of Christ--both universally and locally. I urge you then to study diligently; see if what I'm saying isn't true. It's difficult to imagine a bona fide follower of Jesus purposefully avoiding church affiliation. Tell me, then: Are you actually saved? Do not think I'm being harsh or sarcastic. My intention is to probe your conscience, to get you to honestly examine the genuiness of your relationship with the Trinity. Far better for your assurance to be rattled on this side of eternity than ruined on the other.
Regarding Roman Catholicism: An old hymn says, "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." These poetic words summarize the essence of discipleship. A Christian trusts the risen Jesus for deliverance from sin, and the evidence (never the cause) of salvation is obedience to His lordship. Catholicism is not a refuge from the wrath of God, but neither is Protestantism. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. I have no way of knowing if your Catholic acquaintances are saved. However, trusting in the symbols, sacraments and saints of any denomination is a sure way to damnation. Christ is the Savior, Christ alone.
Finally, analogies between fishing and faith may appeal to fisherman but I wonder about the wisdom in making them. For what it's worth, I sincerely see casting for trout and salmon as a serious theological endeavor. Yet, the analyzation of the discipline often diminishes the Faith and exalts fly fishing. Personally I'm better off saying nothing lest I hang myself. Though, during my last couple of excursions to the Swift I was terribly dismayed to have caught . . . nothing. I've done extremely well this year, almost too well. I had come to expect trout every time I went out. God has ways of dealing with such self confidence. Two trips in a row plenty of fish hit and I missed them all. Unusual. Weird. Could I decipher an analogous lesson from those unexplainable incidents. You bet, but I won't.
Undoubtedly my response your e-mail is disappointing because it lacks humor. As the author/editor of THE CHURCHWARDEN I do try to be funny when it's appropriate. Yet, when a man asks if he is saved, frivolity is really out of place. Eternal life is no laughing matter.
Hope you keep reading,
Perry S. Fuller
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