When I was a young pastor serving in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of our elders introduced me to the concept of “thinking like a fish.” The elder’s name was Mert, and Mert was off work for an extended period of time while waiting for a kidney transplant. One of Mert’s favorite pass times was fishing. Every now and then, Mert would call me and say, “Chris, you need to go fishing.” He was usually right, because I had the tendency to work way too much and not take time off.
On one of our fishing trips, we ended up in Mert’s bass boat floating down a lazy river in the state of Indiana. All the sudden Mert stopped the boat, threw out the anchor, changed lures and said, “Watch this as he gently cast the lure to a particular spot in the river, which was on the shady side of a large rock. No sooner had the lure hit the water than a large fish hit the lure. After a brief and pleasant struggle with the fish, Mert had it beside the boat. I reached into the water with a net and pulled out a beauty. I was amazed. I asked, “How did you know that fish would be right there?
Mert, smiled broadly and said, “If you want to catch a fish, you have to think like a fish.” Mert knew that on a sunny afternoon, it would be likely a fish would be on the shady side of the rock. The rock also stopped the current, meaning the fish could stay there without effort. I thought about Mert’s comment the rest of the afternoon, and then it hit me. Mert’s comment about thinking like a fish was exactly what the Apostle Paul did when he was sharing Jesus with people. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 we read: 19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)
Paul adapted what he said, how he said it, the content of the message, perhaps even the language he used to speak according to the type of “fish” he was trying to catch. While the message was the same with Jews and Gentiles, the presentation was different. How often do we think like the fish we’re attempting to catch when we’re sharing the gospel? Obviously, as with all analogies at some point there is breakdown, but I’ve found over the years, when I’m telling folks about Jesus, or responding to questions I’ve been asked about Him, the way I respond depends on the person asking the questions. I’m glad we have the Apostle Paul’s example, because it keeps us from thinking there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to sharing Jesus with others.
As church leaders we often find ourselves in positions where we’re meeting new people, or working with multiple different types of people. The key is to remember while our message is vital, sometimes it is the “lure” we use that makes all the difference. Having earned two seminary degrees, it would be easy for me to use a certain type of language that is appropriate in the seminary setting, but not as much in everyday conversation. One of our professors reminded us if we were always talking over everybody’s head, it might not be a sign of our brilliance. Rather he said we may simply be poor marksmen.
As you go about the task of leading, how often do you consider the person you are leading, her perspective, his background, the type of sports they like, the news channel they watch? Paul told us “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” One of the most important tools in our leadership, then, must be a willingness to care enough about others to find out from where they are coming, so we may show them Jesus’ truth and love in a manner that will help them receive Him. Just remember Mert’s admonition and “think like a fish!”
Here’s to leading better by thinking like a fish–today!