29 November 2007
Willy Wonka and the Church Factory — Part 3
If 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. Otherwise, this post will only sound like meaningless dribble from a slightly neurotic pastor desperately in need of sleep. And…
Wait…
Oh, never-mind, just go read those and come back. As always, I’ll wait…
♪♫♫ elevator music ♫♪♫
Ready?
Ok, we had one more character left, Charlie Bucket.
Doesn’t matter which one. Old or new, this guy was a gem!
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Never took anything for granted
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Cared more for others than he did himself
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Wanted to help the needy
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Had a servant’s heart
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Never put himself forward
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Had utter respect for his grandfather
He’s practically the perfect kid!
Or at least well on his way. I mean, no one’s perfect. It’s a process.
In the church world it’s called sanctification. Which is just a 10 cent word that means, ‘the process of becoming more like Christ.’
The process begins once you enter the factory.
And you can’t get in the factory without a ticket. A ticket you didn’t…
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work to get
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manipulate someone to get
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cheat to get
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weren’t entitled to get
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deserve
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inherit
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compete for
No, it has to be a ticket you got by grace.
Otherwise, people would just brag about how they got it.
Read about the rules here.
Then you can put this fairytale to bed.
5 Comments currently posted.
Kati says:
Heather Hoag says:
I prefer the new Charlie Bucket. Thanks for the great series.
Michelle Singleton says:
I am so glad God treats me better than what I deserve with my “free ticket” to the factory……and that He continues the process of sanctifying me…..what a Mighty, Patient, and Kind God we serve! One day I hope to reach Charlie Bucket standards……God is so good………
Meleani Wheeler says:
I’ve watched Charlie, both versions, a zillion times over the years and always loved both versions - but never have I ever given a thought to the spiritual parallels you have indicated in your series - thanks so much for the insight, Pastor Rob! I don’t usually have much time for reading “blogs” but I think I am going to get alot out of reading yours - besides, you posted on my daughter’s blog (Segway’n my way through college/Harmony) and anyone who is encouraging to my daughter is okay in my book! :0) Blessings on you!
Kate says:
So Charlie really reminds me of another great (though not perfect either) guy I had the awesome priveldge of being married to. So often I act more like, uhm what’s her name, who was in it for the competition and to be perfect. And that is so what church is NOT about (thank you for that God!). And being part of God’s Church, His family, is so awesome, so important in my life, in fact is my life. And I too am so thankful that God is patient with me as I try to give up that ‘neverending’ Gobbstopper and embrace all that He really wants to give me!
Lets get on board and make southbrooks FULL of Charlie Buckets!!!