27 November 2007
Willy Wonka and the Church Factory
I’ll bet you never linked these two enterprises together before, huh? But they’re far more alike than most of us ever imagined.
In fact, in some cases, they’re practically the same!
Think about it. Willy Wonka and the golden ticket and all that is a relatively new idea—sort of an updated, “Wizard of Oz” thing. But rather then viewing it simply as a fun fantasy/comedy movie, try my version of the ever popular, ‘word search’ game you find in newspapers each week. Only in my version, you would view the movie and match the behavior of nearly all the spoiled brat kids with a lot of modern day church goers.
Oh come on! It’ll be fun! I’ll even get you started…
First, you need to get to know the characters. You can use this handy ‘online description’ for the kids:
The five winners, all children, who visit the factory are Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), a fat, spoiled kid who eats candy continuously; Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), the whiney, spoiled daughter of a wealthy British nut packer; Violet Beauregarde (Annasophia Robb), the arrogant, spoiled daughter of an American Barbie Doll; Mike Teavee (Jordan Fry), a surly, spoiled video-game player; and our young hero, the unassuming Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore). They and the one guest they are each allowed to bring with them are in for the adventure of a lifetime.
Think of the Willy Wonka character as your typical pastor.
Ok, I tried to make this easy. See any patterns here?
Hint: One word repeats four times.
Ok, ok, I’ll try not to be sarcastic for 5 seconds. But don’t miss my point. A lot of times ‘Christians’ today approach church more like an outlet mall. They go there with a shopping list of “needs” they have. If their list of demands, oops, desires, is met, that church is crowned the lucky winner and said shoppers agree to take up seats at said church and begin consuming (not unlike 17 year locusts) without giving until they come to a ministry, oops, I mean, ‘plant,’ that isn’t green enough. THEN, it’s off to another church, I mean, mall and the shopping begins all over again.
Average stay?
6 months to 2 years.
Why?
What are they looking for that they never seem to find?
Maybe this…
Not the candy bar, but what it might have in it.
The golden ticket!
In the movie people were willing to try a lot of Wonka bars for the 1 in 1,000,000 chance of finding the 1 thing that could supposedly solve all their problems—meet all their needs.
With this approach to church, looking for a church home for some folks is a lot like going through box after box of wonka bars until the allusive golden ticket (perfect church) is found.
In the quest for the perfect church their are many different types of golden tickets. For some it is the style of music, others it’s the volume of that same music. Some like churches that preach straight through the Bible—verse by verse by verse never detouring FOR ANYTHING! Even if something like 9/11/01 happens, never mind the fact that in the aftermath of such a tragedy the world is looking for answers that only Jesus can give, you’re in Leviticus 11:3 today and, Dad Gummit, we will discuss why the Israelites were only to eat animals, ‘having divided (cloven) hooves and that chewed the cud prior to the time of Christ!’<— Ok, I digressed a bit with that one.
Others want the perfect youth group (the church can be teaching heresy, but Johnny and Suzi are happy!), or not to feel guilty, or a health, wealth and prosperity gospel that makes them feel like Jesus died to make us all into Christian versions of Donald Trump.
Then there are those who are looking for a church that is not too big (what’s too big?), not too small (what’s too small?), not too warm and fuzzy, certainly not too cold, not too flashy, not too plain, not pastoral lead, not lay lead, not too traditional, not too contemporary…
I really could go on and on and on. But we’re getting away form the movie, and in order to play, Willy Wonka and the Church Factory we need to stick to the script.
Approaching church the way I just described may be HUGELY popular, but the satisfaction rate will end up roughly the same as that experienced by each troubled kid in the movie. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at each church shopper, oops, I mean, character, in from the movie and find the parallels to real, pseudo church life.
Are we having fun yet?
Maybe tomorrow.
11 Comments currently posted.
Dee Langley says:
FishHawk says:
AMEN!!!
Kati says:
can’t wait for the next one!
Fred Grotophorst says:
Wow My family and I have found the golden ticket at Southbrook with our new small group, volunteer work for the church, great youth programs, inspiring services, great fellowship, and best of all seeing all the newcomers to Christ. Thanks for all that you do Rob and all the people who make up Southbrook.
Chris Hogan says:
I second that, AMEN!
Lance Ratliff says:
Dee you could not have hit the nail on the head anymore squarely. But what do we really expect out of our throw away society. Marriages, friendships, and family are treated in the same fashion. As long as everything is perfect, happy, and jolly then it is worth keeping. But, as soon as any hardship comes along toss it out and get a new one. I am thankful to God everyday for my wife, my kids, my friends, and family of Brookies. None of which I would have close to me if I had to be perfect and without faults. They love me as I love them faults and all. Relationships that last and are truly fruitful take patience, hardwork and faith.
Just think how effective churches would be if more people put thier efforts into building there church instead of tearing it down with all about “me” issues. Imagine if the active 20% and the inactive 80% was reversed. Wow what a difference we could make in Jesus name then. It is not about us!!!!
May God Bless You All.
Kitty Hinkle says:
You have to give up your want to really get what it’s about. This is one of our family’s favorite movies- (actually - the old version with Gene Wilder).
In that version, when Charlie leaves that gobstopper on Wonka’s desk and walks away, it’s with the same pure heart that we give up our selfish wants and get that we are here for Christ and for each other, not just for ourselves.
A very dear friend shared with me her and her husband’s search for that perfect church – the youth program that doesn’t really need them and already has it all in place seemed to be at the top of their list. They pointed out that with their kids getting older, their lives are so busy that they just want it all packaged – they don’t want to have to put energy into making the youth group what they want it to be – they want it there for them.
But this isn’t a basketball team, or a youth orchestra, or a ballet that you can just slide your kids into. This is Christ. This is the center. My heart broke for this friend and what she was missing, because it’s not a great church youth program that develops faith. It’s the process of working with your church family that develops your family’s faith.
In early church days, churches were Christians loving one another in His body. It’s still is today. At least real churches.
Three years ago my family decided to plant roots that run deep among a community of believers. People who don’t look for perfection but look at our hearts and totally accept and love us, nurturing and rebuking us, but never walking away from us. As one friend always calls it, “doing life together”.
We got that while Tom was alive, and with Tom’s passing, I can’t imagine what would have happened had we hopped around and not planted our roots deeply- with service, with small group, with youth activities, with helping others, and with supporting the church and leaders.
It’s as though our family is still complete because His body steps in to fill what’s missing for the boys and me. I wish everyone could see Southbrook through our eyes. And I know the Lord will answer our prayers that Southbrook becomes that church that opens up thousands to what real relationships are in a church.
Elizabeth says:
AMEN Kitty!!!! I am just amazed with you and your faith. You are a great inspiration to me.
I Love you
drummerchris says:
Hey, I searched and searched until I found a church with an incredible, good looking drummer. Thankfully I’ve found one…………=]
Robsingleton.net » Willy Wonka and the Chruch Factory — Part 3 says:
[…] you’re just catching up with this series, read this first. Then read yesterday’s post here and you’ll be all caught up and ready for this one. […]
Willy Wonka and the Church Factory : The Submerging Influence says:
[…] Willy Wonka and the Church Factory […]
I know that this is cliche but I am always reminded of the saying . . .
If there was a perfect church they would never let you (me) in cause we would mess it up!
Church (and Life) is messy! You don’t the get the good until you roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty!
But that means I have to DO SOMETHING! Yep, You betcha!
And until we all pitch in no church will fulfill our needs!
And then it isn’t the church that does that anyway it is our Almighty, Ever Loving, Consistent Father God!
Just my humble opinion.