Here’s a question that will, or at least should, penetrate deeply into our hearts:
A number of years ago, Dr. David Ryser had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. His students were hungry for God, and he constantly searched for ways to challenge them. One day he shared a short history of Christianity that 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.
He wanted his students to appreciate the importance of the last line, so he clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.”
After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, asked a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” “Yes,” Dr. Ryser assured her. 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. They were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and they knew they were on holy ground. God had taken over the class.
Martha’s question changed his life. For six months, Dr. Ryser thought about her question daily.
“When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”
He knew there was only one honest answer. The answer was “Yes.”
Wow! What all falls under the def of enterprise?
yes
yes
en·ter·prise (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enterprise)
1: a project or undertaking that is especially difficult, complicated, or risky
2: readiness to engage in daring or difficult action : initiative
3 a: a unit of economic organization or activity ; especially : a business organization
b: a systematic purposeful activity
As in all things it matters on your viewpoint. As Christ stated in Mat 5:11-12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ”
Being a servant of God and a follower of Christ I would then say Christianity is most definitely an Enterprise as described under the definitions #1 & #2 and only falls under #3 if your hearts pursuit is mannon and not God.
Wow! What a question.
There are a few ways of looking at this question. As Dean said “it matters on your viewpoint” or perspective.
To keep it real though, every prostitute has a pimp. Who’s the pimp?
Is it the preachers who want to keep control? Is it the politicians? Right wing or left?
They have tried to pimp Christianity in Palestine, Greece, Italy, Eurpoe, and America. When Pharisees saw that they could not pimp Jesus, that’s when they plotted to kill Him. He could not be controlled and He kept stripping them of their influence and power over the people. He brought freedom, grace, liberty to the prostitute and said ….”go and sin no more”.
On the other hand.
There is no business more important than the Kingdom Business.
Scripture teaches us that our body is not our own, that we have been bought with a price, and that we should be sold out for Him. What does that make us?
Just one more question.
How can a Kingdom be a kingdom without the components of all three definitions shown in the webster dictionary?
In case you want more information on the author, here is the post he made to his blog:
http://catchthewindministries.blogspot.com/2009/03/lover-or-prostitute-question-that.html
It includes his email address.
The post does not revolve around the the various definitions of enterprise. He says pretty clearly what he meant by the word: a business.
“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.”
The information on the author is irrelevant to my post. It is clear what he meant. Can we expand our our thoughts and explore the meaning of enterprise as it pertains to Christianity? Perhaps the expansion of thought interrupted your self reflection on the prostitution of business. I extend my apologies.
Here’s a few thoughts your comments provoked in my heart…
Focusing on the definition of enterprise could very well distract from the more important point. For me, that is honestly pondering my motive and motivation for loving God and His church?
In that I work as a consultant and supplier for ministries its easy to confuse love for God with love for financial security. It’s easier for me, than some it would seem, to feel and express my love for the church. For those serving the church and on staff this enterprise dynamic is a part of the relationship. A part we must prayerful keep in perspective.
However, for any of us Jesus can be perceived as a vending machine. If we hold up our end of the deal he provides for our needs. Could that be why the church is so protective of their culture and traditions? Of course culture, traditions and programs provide important structure, security, comfort, and identity for those in the church.
So much so churches will often sacrifice loving and connecting with the lost, and even their own kids, to hang onto this security, comfort, and identity. The real Kingdom mission gets lost as a result. So the post provides an important challenge all of us.
CS Lewis once shared…real faith happens when all our allusions about a vending machine God have been shattered and we believe anyway. And if we walk with Him long enough, they will be shattered. That’s when we react with cynicism or surrender to a real brokenness and contrition. That’s when we discover if its a body or a business.
He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love (1 John 4). And, love is kind, gentle, doesn’t seek its own, nor is it easily provoked (1 Cor 13) .
Thanks for your special partnership in learning together.
Ed