During the season after Epiphany we are journeying together in a series about baptism. This week we learn from Chloe that through Holy Baptism we are made one, and divisions are healed. Quarreling and division is caused because we fail to "fish for people" as Jesus calls us to do. Thankfully Jesus never stops fishing for us, and molding us into disciples. So far we have learned:

Magi - Present Yourself To GodSt. Peter - Profess Your FaithSt. Andrew - Give Thanks for Baptism

Quarrels Among You

A senator went to his pastor and said that he wanted to plan his funeral. The pastor said, “OK.” The senator said he wanted to be buried 100 feet down in the ground. The pastor asked why. The senator said, “Because deep down I’m a good person.” Can you believe the quarreling and division going on in our country and in our government according to ideology? 

You know that quarrels also happen in the church, and they have been happening for a long time. Chloe was a leader of the ancient church. She probably was a wealthy landowner who allowed the Corinthian church to meet in her home. She was a patron of the church and reached out to Paul for help. In the First Letter to the Corinthians Paul writes to a church that is quarreling with itself. 

For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." 1 Corinthians 1:11-12

The people were dividing themselves into groups based on who had presided at their baptism. They were totally missing the point. There is only one baptism and that is Christ’s. So why do people constantly get drawn into division and quarrels?

Not Fishing for People

If you experience quarreling and division it could be because you aren’t fishing for people. Do you see difficult people in your life as a threat and competition to be overcome? If so then you are not thinking like a fisher of people. Jesus had an alternative way of looking at enemies and competitors.

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

If you are a follower of Jesus, then you must be a fisher of people. If you call yourself a Christian, then you must be about the business of reaching out to all people. And by the property of modus tollens, the contrapositive is also true. If you aren’t fishing for people, then you aren’t a follower of Jesus.

Why didn’t Noah go fish on the ark? Because he only had two worms. If you aren’t fishing