Part I
The traditional manner of fishing involves putting a bait on a hook and dropping it in water. Eventually a fish swallows the bait with the hook ending up its throat. The fisherman is simply trying to feed himself, what about the fish? What is the perspective of the fish? Let us consider two stories about two different religious organizations:
Case study 1
This organization has members all over the world. When its founder died, several leading figures arose to fill the position of CEO, albeit for short period of time. This led to factionary and rivalry within the same organization. A fable attributed to one of the leading figures [spiritual father X] stated that in a conversation about other leading figures who died shortly after resuming the office of the CEO, spiritual father X said that an angel beat the deceased rival to death.
Case study 2
Another organization with a sizable membership, has its headquarters somewhere in Southwest Nigeria. Apparently, one of the members brought an issue to the CEO concerning the sexual harassment of the members’ daughter in a tertiary institution of learning. The CEO then in his own words, recounted how he prayed to God to kill the perpetrator. Lo, behold, his god then kills the perpetrator, whether through an automobile accident or something. Problem solved, sounds very logical and the loose ends neatly tied up.
Now, let us firstly consider what the Scriptures say in Mathew 23:9-10; Do not call anyone on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not let yourselves be called leaders or teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ. And secondly in Mathew 7:11; If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him. These Scripture texts begs the question: How would these so-called religious leaders feel, when one of their children asks them to beat another of their children to death? That is what is meant by “Let us ask the fish”.
This gives clarity to what God said in Mathew 5:44-45; But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. The fish has answered.
