What did you think of from the title? A friend posted an article by David Ryser that appears to have come from an e-mail back in February. It is called “The Question That Changed My Life.” Here is a short excerpt:

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev Sam Pascoe. It’s a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; finally it came to America and became an enterprise.

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old - and I wanted them to appreciate the importance of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.”

After a few moments the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.”

She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

I’ve heard that explanation by Rev. Sam Pascoe before, but this clarification was far too good to pass up. Somehow it reminds me of the second chapter of Jeremiah (verses 7-13, ESV):

And I brought you into a plentiful land
to enjoy its fruits and its good things.
But when you came in, you defiled my land
and made my heritage an abomination.
The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the shepherds transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal
and went after things that do not profit.
Therefore I still contend with you,
declares the Lord,
and with your children’s children I will contend.
For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.

A cistern is not even a well (which is passive while a spring is active). It is a holding tank for water. This means that God was saying even their rain collection did not work right.

This is one of the reasons that I never cared for purity rings or similar items, even though I did not know how to say it for a long time. They do not hurt the individual, I don’t think, but our purpose should always be to have a relationship with God. The overflow of that will become evident to others.

Some other translations use different words for “contend” above. The KJV uses “plead,” while “chide” is another possible use. It does not really matter what word is used as they all express the same idea. Will you be convinced that God is really God? Our responsibility is to him first.