Fishers of Men and Men Who are Just Fishing
Peter and Paul, though ministering in relatively the same time in the development of Christianity, have long held a dichotomy for the Church. While Catholicism has long established Peter as the foundation of the Church; with the abuse of Peter’s prominence in the Kingdom by the Catholic Church, and the inclination to the intellectual, there is an understandable predilection for Paul to be the church father of choice of the Protestant church. Certainly, it would be unbiblical to suggest that the Protestant church reestablish the position of Peter that was previously held by Catholicism, however, there does seem to be some neglect of the Christ appointed authority of Peter in Protestant tradition.
Catholic tradition has rested on the presupposition of the linage of papal authority, originating with that first, Christ appointed rock of the church, Peter. Through the interpretation of Matthew 16:18, Catholicism has unjustly established a fallen man as the foundation of the church. An obviously fatal error, for a fallen creature is incapable of forming the foundation of a perfect church, only Christ, incarnate God-head, is able to bridge this gap, and present a purified bride to the Father. However, Christ did select Peter as a leader, unlike any other church leader in history, which justly should incite a special appreciation of Peter’s role in the Church. With the rise of the reformation, and the dissolvent of the authority of tradition, the return to scripture, and the increase of intellectual Christianity; the authority of Peter was greatly diminished. At the time, there was wisdom in the neglect of Peter; so that biblical teaching was not clouded with the stigmatism of tradition.
Luther, the great reformer, however, did not shirk from the importance of Peter in the Christian understanding; he in fact admonished the church for its neglect to take instruction from Peter’s epistles. Peter, being the Apostle to the Jews, causes little surprise when his epistles highlight the Pilgrimage of the Christian in a foreign land, being specific to identify the relationship of faith and works. It is not idly that as Luther, admonishes the sins of a highly secular, works driven church, that he utilizes the words of the man they proclaim to be the basis of Christendom. For, ironically, despite fifteen hundred years of explosive Christian growth, the audiences-of first century Jews and sixteenth century Catholics- still require the same admonitions. Thus, Luther needed little more argument then to open his Bible.
It should garner little surprise that when a scripturally depraved laypeople, was presented with scripture, that Paul became the prominent Church father. For not only is he steeped in theological reasoning, desperately needed for the disseverment of false Catholic doctrine; he was in essence speaking again to an audience like that of first century gentiles. Throughout his prolific epistles Paul addresses the core needs of the rising protestant church, because his original audience was the rising gentile churches of the first century. However, this should not be thought a detriment to the understanding of the protestant tradition or its formation, rather it typifies the sovereignty of God, his understanding of human nature, and his provision for the foolishness of man. His Word, despite the cultural context, becomes directly applicable to every man, in every time, while remaining unchangingly eternal.
However, with the necessary amputation of tradition’s authority, there were unnecessary casualties. Though at the time of the reformation it may have been difficult to incorporate the significance of Peter’s ministry without the overshadowing assumptions of Catholicism; it would now seems possible and prudent for the evangelical church to reevaluate its analysis of Peter, particularly in relation to grace. As pastor Andy Stanley says, “when a man comes up to me and says, ‘but, Andy, you don’t know what I’ve done’ I can say no I don’t and I don’t need to. Let’s take a look at Peter.” Here is a man who Jesus called, elevated to a high level, took to the most privy council and, who, ultimately failed him in the greatest way. “But when Jesus returns from the dead, he says, ‘Peter you messed up, now lets try this again.’ and reinstates him to his position of power in the church.” So whatever the sin, Peter has already demonstrated that the grace of God is more than sufficient and available to expulse whatever sins man can conjure. Peter is the New Testament reiteration of the consistent Old Testament theme, the perfection of God is most profound when conveyed through human imperfection. God does not select the job for the perfect man, he picks the perfect man for the job.
As the majority of the western culture enters a post Christian humanism, certainly there is a desperate need for the systematic theology of Paul, but in many ways the evangelical church resembles the Jews of the first century. Therefore, would it not be prudent to rejoin Christ appointed minister to the first century Jewish culture. Just as the zealots at the time of Christ misunderstood the kingdom, and the Pharisees misunderstood the application of the law; so has the contemporary church disjointed the spiritual kingdom from earthly rule, and neglected the sweetness of the law in favor of the acceptance of misapplied grace and mercy. Peter’s admonitions for personal sanctification that produces societal and cultural transformation, and the works that attest to the presence of internal faith seem to be a salve directly applicable to the gapping wounds of the contemporary church . While his is not a novel doctrine, nor should it be, Peter presents a blunt relation, steeped in Old Testament proof, which may convict the nominal Bible school attendant, unlike any other.
Therefore, as the church fathers are taught, let us bear in mind the wisdom of the juxtaposition given in the scriptures, as Peter and Paul sharpen each others words they address the presumptions of their audiences. Subsequently, bearing in mind the culture shift of the west, it would surely be beneficial to utilize the arsenal both these fathers offer, to quell the evil within and outside the church. For as such will the fishers of men be distinguished from men who are merely fishing.
