August 25, 2001

By Michael Bunker
mbunker@michaelbunker.com
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August 25, 2001 -- Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

A parable for you, based on a true story.

I had to go take a rental car back to town today. A storm rolled through the other night, just as we were driving back into town. We live off of a dirt road, and well - you know what happens to dirt roads when it rains. The rental car was dirty, and it was due back in at noon today.

I stopped by the Carwash on the way into town. I've been taking cars to this particular carwash for 15 years or so. They do an okay job. . . usually. The people are pretty nice, and they seem to really want to help. I've always had a problem taking a car to a carwash. It seems like such a waste of money. I have free water at home from our well (we could call it "living water"), and the car always seems to immediately get dirty again. But, on occasion, I go to the carwash anyway. It's convenient and it makes me feel better for a few minutes.

Today, and older fella came up to the window at the carwash. He said, "How can I help you?"

"Just a regular wash please", I said.

"Well, that'll be $9.95 for the regular wash, and $15.00 to get rid of all the dirt".

"WHAT?" I said, "You want me to pay you $15.00 extra to get the dirt off? I've been coming here for 15 years, with dirtier cars than this one, and I've never paid you extra to get the dirt off!"

"Well", he said, "we gotta spray off the dirt, then run it back through and it still might not be clean. It costs extra if you want all that dirt off."

I laughed. "It isn't going to cost ME any extra, because I don't want the dirt off that bad. Basically, you want me to bring you only clean cars to get washed? Have a nice day." I drove off.

At first I was just laughing. It was so ridiculous it was funny. Then I started to ponder it some more. All of a sudden it hit me, God was giving me a perfect picture of the institutional church today.

Religion is in the carwash business. They'll sell you a spot- free "sin" wash, but it is always temporary, and you will always need another one. Churches are in the business of cleaning the outside of the car - even though the outside has no bearing on how the car runs. You may already have access to the well of LIVING WATER, but still they will sell you on all the benefits of a manipulative church life. They've been in business for years, and if you don't think it's a business, then just ask to see the books. They are incorporated with the state, just like Kinko's. They use "Jesus" words, and they make you FEEL spiritual - but you soon come to realize that they want to hold the keys to your spiritual life, and they will be the final arbiters of how clean you are, and what you still need to "do".

When I first started going to this carwash, they only had wooden benches to sit on. A carwash back then was a couple of bucks, and they'd wash it again if it rained within 24 hours. Now they have a beautiful waiting room with padded seats, an entire store with icy cokes and candy, and nice music to soothe you while you are being robbed. Now they want you to wash your car before you bring it to them to get it washed. Now they advertise on TV and Radio, and they make you feel like a lowlife if you drive around in a dirty car. They'll even spray your old car with "new car scent" if you'd like them to! Now doesn't that sound like "church" today?

People ask why I am at warfare with the institutional church - because somehow they do not understand. Then they look around and bemoan the fact that we are surrounded by spiritually retarded Christians and stillborn "born again" believers. The institutional church will be glad to steam-clean and whitewash the outside of your sepulchre. How long will you continue to abide that kind of nonsense?

Your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker

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