The Lord chose him so that he might teach the barbarian/nations, so that he might fish with the nets of doctrine...

  - Sechnall, Audite Omnes Amantes (Irish, 5th century)

...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

   - 2 Timothy 4.2

Patrick had said, concerning the work of true Christians, "that there is an obligation to fish well and diligently." He took that to mean that believers should "spread our nets so that we can catch a great shoal and multitude for God." He devoted his entire ministry to this work, as Sechnall reports in his poem honoring the great saint.

I suspect that most Bible-believing pastors and Christians today would agree with Patrick. Where we might not agree, however, is on the kind of bait we should hold out for our unbelieving neighbors.

Apparently we seem to think that what lost souls will "bite on" is anything that is culturally familiar and agreeable, and whatever focuses on their felt needs. So we offer them entertaining services of worship, teaching that tries to show how God can meet their needs, and a friendly overall environment where they can expect to find lots of people like themselves.

Now this is a proven technique for getting people to come to church. That's why so many of our churches have turned to such methods from more traditional forms of worship, preaching, and disciple-making.

While such "bait" may lead lost people to "nibble" at the line, it is not sufficient to "sink the hook" so that the Lord can reel them into the vessel of His Kingdom.

For that we need stronger bait. We need doctrine.

Doctrine, after all, is only teaching. But teaching that is true to Scripture does things that a friendly and entertaining environment and instruction focused on felt needs cannot accomplish.

For example, doctrine brings the light of truth to bear against the false worldviews of our dark and unbelieving age. Doctrine is unbending in the face of those who insist on a merely pragmatic or relativist way of life. Doctrine thunders, "The is what the Lord says." And "Let God be true and every man a liar." Doctrine makes it possible for lost people finally to come face to face with the folly of their ways and the unbending demands of a holy God.

Further, doctrine can help people sort through some of their superficial confusion and to discover their deeper and more urgent needs. Doctrine does not ignore the felt needs - for friends and companionship, restoration, and relief from the tedium of life. But doctrine drives to the heart, where it lays bare sin, strums on the image of God, and demands obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord of the heart.

If we fail to teach doctrine in our churches, and if we neglect sound teaching in the work of evangelism, we may end up only getting people to "taste" of the things of the Lord, rather than to commit to them (Heb. 6.1-9). When those who have only "tasted" of the Lord begin to fall away, it can be well nigh impossible to renew them to the faith.

Patrick understood that the true bait on which lost people, under the influence of God's Spirit, will bite is the sound doctrine of the Gospel of the Kingdom. If we neglect to declare and teach this doctrine, we will fail to seek the Kingdom of God. Instead, we will only look for ways of furthering our personal kingdoms, and the lost people we attract into our midst will end up doing the same.

In which case, no one will benefit as Christ intends.

Learn the great doctrines of the faith. Study the Kingdom of God and the Good News that Kingdom represents. Then bait the hooks of your outreach efforts with sound doctrine. This is the way to secure a large catch for the Lord.

T. M. Moore, Principal

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