So, I've put this 'modified' fish symbol on the back of my car. People have given me the original fish symbol in the past, but I've never felt comfortable enough to display it. I guess because I don't drive in a ' Christian ' like manner all the time. And I wouldn't want to degrade the Lords name with my bad behaviour. Over the years I've seen a lot more of these fish on the back of vehicles and it has started me thinking. What was the historical context of this symbol ? And, as we use it today, are we honouring the heritage that it comes from ? Or has modern Christianity hijacked the symbol, and now it conveys a very different meaning ?
Ancient Christians in Rome used this symbol to identify one another. The Apostle Peter ( who ministered in Rome ) was originally a fisherman, that became a ' fisher of men '. The Roman Christians embraced that vision, and the symbol of a fish came to symbolize them. They were under a death sentence for being Christians; as ordered by Roman Emperors, beginning with Nero. To be a Christian meant that you were willing to suffer persecution and torture. You embraced the idea of being the 'scum of the earth' to fulfil the cause of Christ. To be a follower of Christ certainly meant you had to pick up your Cross that almost always led to the coliseum. Commitment to Christ held grave implications and yet, they persevered by remembering the poor, doing justice, extending mercy, forgiveness and loving their enemies.
When we put the fish on the back of our cars, what are we doing ? We seem to be more interested in ' re-birth ' than ' taking up a cross '... We seem to be promoting that life with Christ leads to upward mobility rather than,' He must increase and I must decrease'. There's not much talk about the cost of following Christ but rather what Christ can do for you - make you happy, fix your problems, make you successful, fulfil your personal dreams. When your average non Christian is following behind our vehicles and they see that ' fish ' what do you think comes to their minds ?... Or caused this kind of response
When I first saw my ' modified ' fish it made me laugh. But then I saw a challenge there that I think we could all consider. The faith that we have embraced is supposed to be about transformation. Transformation of ourselves, our communities, workplaces, schools, our World etc. Are we transformative or have we ingested some kind of spiritual trans fat ? .... Have we become ' Mac-church ' clogging up our lives with attitudes, activities and stuff that makes us sick ?... Have we forsaken the legacy of our spiritual ancestors ?... Who showed us how to live in a way that would bring about something worth dying for ?
Christians who live in the societies that we represent in North America, live in a world far removed from our Roman historical brethren. We live in luxury and safety, enjoying all that our entitled society has to offer. Our lives aren't threatened for being Christian; Unless we invade or interfere with an Islamic country. We enjoy the great majority of resources that this world has to offer without much thought to the environment or the well being of others. We live in grand houses, and drive the latest vehicles ( where we stick our 'fish' ) and generally embrace this great consumeristic / dept ridden way of life we find ourselves in. We demand our rights and yet we don't have much regard for the poor and needy.
So, are we going to eat His flesh and drink his blood ? ..... Or would we rather have some fast, tasty, convenient, comforting ' fish n chips ' ?.....
Oh, by the way, for some excellent Fish n Chips check out this place and here as well . Also, this is a pretty good 'chippy' too - Willows Galley 2559 Estevan Avenue Victoria,
Phone: (250) 592 2711. They're so good, they don't need a website.
6 comments:
I Love It! long live the cheeky maori.
heidi
I didn't know this blog was active- great to see you here Paul. By the way Warren and I are fish and chip connoisseurs (had to look that spelling up) and nothing even comes close to Willows Galley. Nothing even comes close to Barb's atmosphere. Interesting fact- my mom worked at the Haultain location (it was fish and chips then too) when she was 15. As for the <>< and chips sign... I'd think "There's ones that thinks out of the square". *smiles
Mmmmm. Hungry.
As a fish driver myself, I'd have to say that it is still a way for us to recognize one another while on the road. And a check on my aggressive driving as well. It's great to get honks and waves from people on the road who also wear the fish.
However, i do understand and agree with your argument for the most part. We should not be wearing Christian colours if we ain't exhibiting Christ's mandate. I pray regularly about my need for consumerism and selfishness and attempt to give that over to God daily.
But as for our seeming lack of persecution in Northern Americas... I cannot totally agree. As someone who works with youth I see the persecution they face everyday. It is not necessarily a fear of death they face, but I certainly see them fear life - a life claimed by God. Those who take up Paul's (the other one) challenge in Romans 12 (and elsewhere) face certain and immediate perscution for their actions, decisions, and lifestyle choices. Now if only we/I could live that out... lift it to God.
AJR <>< (for you my friend)
Hey there you wonderful fellow blasphemer...I have a friend who has a similar fish symbol, with "Gefilte" written on the inside.
Marmite lives.
Bravo- your points are bang on! So often we adopt the symbology as the latest 'trendy' thing to do, without really having any idea of the life represented by the symbols.
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