Can you remember when a single question provoked such an uncomfortable feeling with your status quo that it shook you to the core of your very soul? And did you act on it? Or did you just let it just pass you by…and the familiar paths returned in life’s boredom?
Brother David here gives his honest assessment on the day it changed forever.
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The Question That Changed My Life – by David Ryser.
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 is 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; it came to America and became an enterprise.
Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old–barely out of diapers–and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.”
After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.”
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?”
The room went dead silent.
For several seconds no one moved or spoke.
We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground.
All I could think in those sacred moments was, “Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.” I didn’t dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class.
Martha’s question changed my life.
For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question.
The answer is “Yes.”
The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.
I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not know God–much less love Him. The root of this condition originates in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death.
We married Him for His money, and we don’t care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing. This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ–that’s pretty intimate stuff.
We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don’t even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?
I was pondering Martha’s question again one day, and considered the question, “What’s the difference between a lover and a prostitute?” I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay.
Then I asked the question, “What would happen if God stopped paying me?”
For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him?
Please understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions?
It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God.
So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute?
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
You may view our Archives here: AT THE BATTLE FRONT – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Eric says
David (& Marc!),
It’s hard to love Jesus with the love that your heart desires until your heart has received the love it desires;
i.e., you can give what you don’t have
(when all you have are filthy rags compared to the all-surpassing amazing love of God)….
Neat how Prostitute is used to Characterize Israel when she sleeps with someone other than her Husband (Ezekiel 16, 23, Hosea…)….
admin says
Brother Eric,
God is not shy about using the profound things to humans to stun them out of poor behavior. It’s a matter of life and death. Overcomers are the only tribe that makes it over the Jordan to Jesus! thx for your comment dear brother.
marc
Dickson Dennis says
This is true not only to America Christianity,but to the other part of the world as well.Many of those in the church are not building up a relationship and communion with our father but rather the prostitution kind of Christianity without any intimacy (Relationship and communion).
They spend all their time with the world and it’s element rather then with God our father. I love it but you never mentioned Christianity in Africa. Blessings to you.
admin says
Brother Dennis – this was by an American as you know. will you write something about this and Africa and send it to me to post? every grace to you new friend…marc
Geri says
Hello David, I love your writing, and your teaching, there is much that I share and respond to. This one has me thinking…and I’d like to share. I do not believe that WE are the Bride of Christ. Revelation 3:12 tells me that the Bride of Christ is New Jerusalem. When your student put the “worldly” question as to if the church is a business, then wouldn’t that business or church, or body be a prostitue? Well, if we are God’s Children, and Jesus is our Brother, how can we “legally” be the Bride of Christ? Wouldn’t that be insestuous? God is my FATHER. Jesus IS my BROTHER. To marry Him would be against all legalisms, correct? I think that this is a new teaching that most Christians revolt because they feel they are the Bride, and do not want to have that stolen from them. But if we are going to take God’s Word litteral, and live by it, like we DO, then how can we marry our brother? We can’t. I take God’s promises very litteral. I take them as if they are meant just for me, and that when I call Him on a promise He cannot answer that promise. A prayer, if it’s in His Will is different…but He promises us if we BELIEVE we WILL have what we ask. We can ask for our 100 year old grandmother to get well, but that’s not something that in this world is always real. Our bodies wear out. We cannot pick and choose what parts of the Bible we are going to take as real or not real, or litteral or not litteral. If America made the church a business which it has, and is very lucritive because of it, then I believe that marrying my brother is just as bad as being a prostitute. I am curious as to what you think? Thanks for listening. This is a very controveral teaching. But it makes perfect sense to me. I have a very intimate relationship with my Father, and my Brother. I don’t expect to marry either one. Geri
admin says
Geri – good to hear from you – this was a re-post from david..
and your comment are heart inspired – thanks so very much.
Marc
Marcelle says
WHO IS THE ” harlot “? Challenged is where we should always be in a WORKING relationship ! Complacency CAUSES a drifting apart. ( of course my own opionion 😉
BRILLIANT ARTICLE ! I am a white ” Africa ” living in Canada. I see this as a WORLD state. Africa and Canada and everywhere I’ve been ….
Great work Marc. Keep it up _ love ur site !
admin says
Thx marcelle — keep up the work in His vineyard!
Brother Marc
Gary Blake says
Thanks for sharing the thoughts. I sent a copy to all of our congregational members and then also had a brief open discussion of it in our church service.
Many blessings to you.
admin says
Thx dear brother…let us know their thoughts if you will…
marc