The Man Who Was Thursday

Today I finished the book "The Man Who Was Thursday" by G. K. Chesterton. The story covers the adventures of a man named Syme who uncovers a secret society of Anarchists within the city of London. This society is discovered as he befriends Lucian Gregory, a madman poet from the west side of town. A pact between the two is made as Gregory and Syme swear to secrecy.

However, as Lucian Gregory unveils that he is apart of a secret society Syme unveils that he is actually an undercover agent for Scotland Yard, the headquarters of London's world renown police force. Gregory also reveals that a meeting of the group is about to take place and that he expects to be named the next man to be placed in the office of "Thursday". That night, as a meeting of the society is conducted, it is Syme and not Gregory whom is elected and thus begins Syme's quest to discover whom is behind this group and to meet the man called "Sunday".

As the story unfolds each of the characters called by a day of the week are found out to also be undercover agents. Each which appeared evil are actually good. In the end, even Sunday, whom was presumed to be the most evil man on the face of the planet is found out to be "good" and he holds a banquet for each of the men and thousands of others. During the banquet each of the seven men are dressed up in outfits and sit on seven thrones which resemble each of the seven days of creation. For instance, Monday is dressed in an outfit of black and white symbolizing the fact that on day one, according to Scripture, light and darkness were created. Each is dressed in subsequent attire and Sunday is described to be the one of "rest".

With all of this imagery, it is tempting to think that the tables have turned and that the story somehow is actually about the revealing of who God is or the author's "strange" description of Him. Yet, the appendix includes an article that G. K. Chesterton wrote in the Illustrated London News on June 13, 1936. In the article, he describes that the intention of his story was not this at all. In fact, the evil members of the society who turned out to be each good cops and the leader of the pack who is revealed to be not evil but good are all an effort to make a single point. The Pessimists of Chesterton's day who were calling good-evil and evil-good were all in delusion. For there can be no good nor evil without a standard. There can be no ability to distinguish the two without a clear-cut definition and this I am assuming must be God.

Chesterton's masterful story, in the end, is merely an attempt to show the lunacy that occurs when men disregard God and instead choose to call what they perceive to be good "good" and what they perceive to be evil "evil". Therefore, our understanding of what is Right and what is Wrong, what is Good and what is Evil, each depends upon our basic belief in the existence of a Creator. Without God, there can be no true knowledge of the two.

For this reason, G. K. Chesterton explains that his original title also had a subtitle - "A Nightmare". Thus, the title of the book is really, "The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare." For without the existence of God, one cannot know who are the cops and who are the Anarchists. One cannot decipher who is to be regarded as the ultimate example of Good and the Epitome of Evil. It is God and God alone whom defines our understanding of morality.

Those who choose to say otherwise live their life in a constant state of confusion and denial in which experience alone is their sole indicator of the differences. Such a situation as Chesterton rightly imagines as a "nightmare".

Joshua

No Perfect People Allowed

Recently, I finished the book "No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You Are Culture in the Church" by John Burke. The premise of the book was simple: create a culture within the local church which allows imperfect people to feel welcome. Such a goal is simple to define but often difficult to implement.

Today's Emerging generations face new challenges that must be met by church leaders. Now more than ever, people deal with issues of trust, tolerance, truth, brokenness and aloneness. John Burke, pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas and founder of the Emerging Leadership Initiative, has successfully created a culture which meets and addresses these needs.

Throughout this book, John shares insights and suggestions for how church leadership can accomplish such culture creation. His advice is given in the context of hundreds of personal stories and includes many real-life examples of how this approach has worked within the lives of those attending the church. Stories of how atheists, agnostics, drug addicts, alcoholics, sex addicts, and many others came to Christ through such a welcoming environment are not only inspiring but a validation that such an approach does indeed work. As a result, Gateway has created a “Come as you are just don’t stay that way” culture in which all people are welcomed regardless of personal or spiritual background.

As I reflected upon the ideas presented within this book, it was difficult not to consider my own church. Does my church provide an environment where all are welcome? What if a prostitute, homeless person, drug addict, or alcoholic walked in through the front doors on a Sunday morning? How would my church respond?

Moreover, John’s ideas also challenge the notion of community that says that only believers may participate in certain activities within the church. Can a seeker be apart of a Small Group? What if that person is not even a true “seeker” but rather just desiring to come and learn? Would he or she be accepted? Can such a person also participate in outreach projects that the church has within the community?

Such questions need to be examined and answers defined. People who come hungry to be apart of the church and to learn and ask questions need to find acceptance in the local body of Christ. People do not have to be perfect nor authentic followers of Christ to participate in certain activities. Instead of pushing out those who do not look and think like we do, we need to welcome and love. Christ has called His Church to be His hands and His feet within the local community. He wants His disciples to offer His healing and forgiveness and to draw alongside those who desperately want and need it.

Each of us is on a spiritual journey. Each of us is also at a different place within that journey. The question that John poses and all church leaders must consider is “Can I create a culture which encourages others to come as they are?” None of us are perfect. Nor did we come to Christ in perfection. Therefore, we must learn to create a culture which encourages others not to fix themselves and come but rather to come broken. In doing so, we will remind others that the signpost in front of the true Church of Jesus Christ still reads what it has always read: “No perfect people allowed”.


Joshua

His Workmanship

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph 2:10)

Last weekend, I spent over 12 hours restoring a wooden swingset for my two sons. It was a gift given to us by a neighbor and was in good working order. However, over the course of many years it's wood had become gray. As a result, it needed a good cleansing and staining in order to bring it back to health. Now, I am not typically a person who enjoys such work. Nor am I a "handy man". However, over the course of the weekend I began to enjoy the process as I saw how it began to take shape.

There is a sense of satisfaction in completing a job well done. Isn't there? There is something inside of each one of us that enjoys completing a project that turns out well. We receive joy from such an experience. For some of us, it comes through fixing our homes or cars. Others enjoy projects of design or crafts. My wife likes making cards at Archivers as a way to express her own creativity. Each of these hobbies include various projects that when completed give to us a temporary amount of satisfaction and self-worth.

Where does this come from? Why do we need to experience such feelings? Why is it that deep inside each and everyone of us there exists a need to accomplish and to be "successful"? And why is it that when we achieve a certain level of success that we experience such satisfaction? This is what I want to explore today.

Scripture teaches us something very important with regard to our need for satisfaction, success, and self-worth. Namely, that we were created for it. Did you know that? In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes that God created us to carry out good works. In fact, we are created in Christ Jesus for this very reason. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." This verse teaches us several things. I want to point out just three of them.

Our Priceless Value (2:10a)

First of all, we are priceless. Have you seen the Master Card commercials? They will say something like "A bag of popcorn? Four dollars. A baseball cap? Twenty dollars. A day at the park with your son or daughter? Priceless." Each of these commercials make the simple point that some things in life are priceless. They are beyond any monetary value. You can't pay a price for the satisfaction that comes through that experience. God says that you are priceless and that I am priceless. He states that we are His "workmanship." This means that we are His priceless works of art. We are His priceless possessions. As such, we are important to Him. God receives deep satisfaction in working on us and enabling us to come into a relationship with Him. Therefore, just like a painting or a home improvement project, He finds great satisfaction in His children. We have value because we are "His workmanship".

Our Purpose (2:10b)

Second, our value gives us purpose. Your life has meaning and significance. You have been "created in Christ Jesus". As such, if you are a Christ-follower, you have been re-created in Him. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if you have accepted Christ as Lord that you are a "new creature" or a new creation. Why were you re-created or "created in Christ Jesus"? Paul says here, "for good works". Thus, you now have purpose. Having become God's workmanship and having been recreated in Christ Jesus, you now have a new divine meaning and purpose for your life. You are created to be good in order to do good works.

I might also point out that this verse also teaches us much about God's "will". Often we have questions about the will of God. What is it? Does He have a plan for me? Can I understand what it involves? God's Will is a big topic and one that could be explored to greater depth through an independent study. However, I want to simply point out that this verse states that God does have a will and that He wants you to discover it. You were created "for good works". Therefore, you and I have purpose because God has given to us tasks He desires to see accomplished and has uniquely gifted us to do them. This leads us to our third and final observation.

Our Predestination (2:10c)

Our good works and our purpose was predetermined or predestined. This means that there was a process put into place. God, in His infinite wisdom, predetermined and set into place good works that He desired for each one of us to accomplish in life. He gave to us gifts (Eph 4:1-13) and expects us to use them to complete the good works He has put before us.

When you stop and consider the fact that you are priceless, that you have purpose, and that you were predestined to complete certain things for God it ought to give you a boost in your self-esteem. You ought to realize that you matter to God. You are valuable to Him. You might not feel valuable within your home, your job, or even your neighborhood or community but you matter to the Creator of this universe. You are valuable to Him.

However, your value is ultimately found "in Christ Jesus". Therefore, it is important to be in Him and to be committed to Him. For this reason you and I must commit to His Lordship and leadership within our lives. As sinners, our value to God was lost because we willfully chose to turn from Him. In Christ, our value to God is restored because through Him we have been given redemption from sin and a value and usefulness that comes from being apart of Him.

Here's a phrase that will help you to remember this truth: "When God fulfills your deepest need, the end result will be good deeds." When God fulfills your deepest need, the end result will be good deeds. You were created for good deeds. You are God's Workmanship and created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of doing good deeds.

Imagine the local church becoming a community in which this truth is lived out. We would see people differently. We would have different expectations of them. We would be quick to use the gifts we have been given to serve others.

The world would also see us differently. They would have different expectations of us. As they see a community where people are loved and accepted they would also be attracted to it. They would desire to be apart of a community where such truths are lived out.

May that vision be the desire for each of us as we continue in our journey of faith. We are "His Workmanship". Let's live lives that demonstrate it.

Joshua