There once was a certain professor of religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the class as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most of his students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special kid named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on into seminary for ministry. Steve was popular, he was well-liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor’s class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk to him. “How many pushups can you do?”
Steve said, “I do about 200 every night”
“200? That’s pretty good, Steve,” Dr. Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?”
Steve replied, “I don’t know… I’ve never done 300 at a time.”
“Do you think you could?” again asked Dr. Christianson.
“Well I can try, “said Steve.
“Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 pushups in sets of 10 for this to work. Cans you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,” said the professor.
Steve said, “Well… I think I can…yeah, I can do it.”
Dr. Christianson said, “Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.”
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the classroom. When the class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson’s class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, “Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?”
Cynthia said, “Yes.”
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?”
“sure.” Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten.
Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk. Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe would you like a donut?”
Joe said, “Yes.”
Dr. Christianson asked, “Steve would you do ten pushups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did the ten pushups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, “Scott, do you want a donut?” Scott’s reply was, “well, can I do my own pushups?”
Dr. Christianson said, no, Steve has to do them.”
