The “FISHERS OF MEN” Trap

May 24, 2025 Wynie van Tonder 280 Views 0 Comments 5 min read

Rethinking the Mission Jesus Actually Gave

For much of my life, I understood Jesus’ words to Peter—“From now on you will catch men”—as a thrilling metaphor for evangelism. Just as Peter hauled in a miraculous catch of fish at Jesus’ command, I believed we too were being called to “catch” multitudes for Christ. In my mind, this image became synonymous with big churches, mass conversions, powerful revivals, and global influence. The larger the crowd, the more successful the ministry.

But over time, that assumption began to unravel. And now, I believe we’ve gotten it wrong—dangerously wrong.

A Metaphor Misused

Luke 5 paints the dramatic picture: seasoned fishermen labor all night without a single catch…

Then Jesus enters the scene and tells them to cast their nets again, and they pull in such a massive haul of fish that their boats begin to sink. Peter, overwhelmed by the moment, falls at Jesus’ feet in awe and humility. That’s when Jesus tells him:

“From now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10

This is often preached as a metaphor for evangelism—and in part, it is. But we must ask:

“What kind of evangelism? And what kind of “catch?”

The miracle was not about numbers. It was about Jesus’ authority. He alone commanded the fish. He alone brought success where human effort had failed. The catch wasn’t a reward for clever strategy or persistent toil—it was an act of divine sovereignty. And the “catching” of men would be the same: a Spirit-empowered, Gospel-centered calling, not a human-centered pursuit of influence.

Jesus Was Not a Crowd-Chaser

Many today interpret “catching men” as a call to mass gatherings, massive churches, viral platforms, and revival movements. But Jesus’ own ministry contradicts this entirely.

He withdrew from crowds to pray in solitude (Luke 5:16).
He refused to let people crown Him king (John 6:15).
He delivered teachings so hard that many disciples walked away (John 6:60–66).
He warned about the broad road and emphasized the narrow way (Matthew 7:13–14).
He called for costly, cross-bearing discipleship, not enthusiastic crowds (Luke 14:25–33).

Far from appealing to the masses, Jesus consistently raised the bar—trimming the crowd down to those truly willing to follow Him. He wasn’t interested in decisions without discipleship or fans without faith.

A Misunderstanding That Opened the Floodgates

Here’s where the danger lies.

This misreading of “fishers of men” as a promise of massive harvests became fertile ground for the modern revivalist movements, especially within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Believing that Jesus was after crowds, many leaders embraced miracle-and-healing evangelism as a way to attract them.

They began preaching that if we could just “demonstrate” Jesus through signs and wonders, the world would “flock to Him.” Bill Johnson, for instance, has repeatedly stated that Jesus didn’t come to merely model a moral life, but to model supernatural ministry—and that we are to do the same to win the lost. Out of this belief came the bold but unbiblical “billion soul harvest” prophecy—a vision that has captured the imagination of many, but has little resemblance to Jesus’ own pattern of ministry.

Under this influence, churches began prioritizing performance and display over substance, miracles over message, and crowd-drawing events over Gospel-saturated discipleship. The assumption was clear: bigger is better, supernatural is superior, and numbers mean success.

But Jesus never taught this. In fact, He taught the opposite…

The Real Meaning of “Catching Men”

So what did Jesus mean?

To “catch men” is not to impress them, manipulate them, or draw them by power encounters. It is to rescue them—to pull them from the deep waters of sin, death, and deception, and bring them safely into the Kingdom. It is a call to faithful proclamation of the Gospel, not theatrical ministry.

Peter did “catch men” in Acts 2—but only after the Holy Spirit had fallen, and only through the clear, convicting message of Christ crucified and risen. And what did the early church do with those thousands? They didn’t send them to the next tent revival. They devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). Discipleship—not drama—was the fruit.

We Must Repent of Our Fascination with Crowds / Large Followings

It’s time we return to the original calling. Jesus didn’t say, “From now on you will market Me to the masses.” He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Not self-made influencers, but Spirit-led servants.
Not performers, but preachers.
Not crowd-pleasers, but soul-winners—no matter how few.

A Final Call Back to the Shore

If you, like me, have believed that catching men meant gathering crowds, take courage—Jesus is still on the shore, calling us back to Himself. He’s not impressed by platforms or popularity. He’s looking for the faithful, the surrendered, the ones who will cast the net at His word and leave the results to Him.

“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

Let’s stop chasing fish in our own strength. Let’s follow the Master Fisherman—and rediscover what it truly means to be “FISHERS OF MEN”.