The Problem with Purity, Part 1

Clubhouse Host (Female): Hey, Gooze here. You probably know by now that here in the clubhouse, we have a quest each and every month.
Clubhouse Host (Female): A quest is a very fun thing to do, a thing to bake with your folks, a thing to make with a friend. Sometimes it's a thing to record so you can possibly make it onto a real Paws & Tales episode.
Clubhouse Host (Female): I have it by good authority that the kids that have the most fun go to the clubhouse every month to find out what the newest quest is.
Clubhouse Host (Female): And you can do that too. Just log on to pawsandtales.org and head on into the clubhouse for the latest quest and a ginormous ton of other fun stuff too.
Clubhouse Host (Female): That's pawsandtales.org. I will see you in Wildwood.
Narrator: Welcome to the world of Paws & Tales.
Papa Chuck: Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place. If you stay on the trails and stick with me, there's adventures to be had there too.
CJ: Come on, CJ, jump.
Papa Chuck: It's too far.
CJ: It wasn't too far for me.
Narrator: Insight for Living is proud to present Paws & Tales.
Narrator: Howdy and welcome to Wildwood. Ever been on a road trip that you thought would never end? That's the way CJ and Papa Chuck feel right about now.
CJ: Watch out for the pothole.
Papa Chuck: I can't get around it.
Narrator: They are headed to a weekend of camping and hiking with all of Miss Harber's class, but on the way they have a delivery to make. A very large and heavy delivery.
CJ: Is the desk going to be okay?
Papa Chuck: The desk is going to be fine. The truck can't take much more of this.
CJ: So why do they have you make such a big desk?
Papa Chuck: I have no idea. I just got a letter and a check for about half the price. They'd seen one like it somewhere, and they wanted one just like it, but twice the size.
CJ: And painted white.
Papa Chuck: And painted white. I never heard of this guy. I don't know why he wants such a big desk, and I don't know why he'd want it painted white. All I have is an address in the village of Pleasant Valley.
CJ: Pleasant Valley. That's nice. I don't know what it is about that name, but I think it's going to be real nice. Not exciting or anything, but nice. Kind of.
Papa Chuck: Pleasant?
CJ: Pleasant. That's it.
Papa Chuck: Maybe you should walk back.
CJ: Hey, look. Pleasant Valley, five miles.
Papa Chuck: Fine.
CJ: Hey, look down there. Wow, that's.
Papa Chuck: Beautiful.
CJ: Look at that church. Wow. It's perfect. It looks like it's out of a painting.
Papa Chuck: I bet that's the church Pastor Flint told me about. I told him we were headed to Pleasant Valley, and he said the best, most dynamic church he'd ever been to was here. That is quite a sight.
CJ: I don't care what anyone thinks. I bet it's real nice to live in Pleasant Valley. I bet they all go for lovely walks and buy enjoyable food. The Happy Store?
Papa Chuck: What?
Papa Chuck: It's a long walk back.
CJ: Pothole!
Papa Chuck: Hang on.
Narrator: Well, when they got down to the village of Pleasant Valley, they found it to be not quite as, well, pleasant as they thought it would be.
Papa Chuck: Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to 2407 Maple Grove?
Villager 1: 2407. Ah, that's the big white church.
CJ: The one we saw from the road up there?
Villager 1: Ah, that's the one.
Papa Chuck: You're bleeding. Are you okay?
Villager 1: Oh, I'll be fine. I cut myself sawing wood. I just need to get over to the lighthouse. I'll fix me right up. Now, what do you want to go to the big white church for?
CJ: You really call it the Big White Church?
Villager 1: It's what the Churchies call it themselves. They like it.
Papa Chuck: I have a big desk to deliver. I guess to the Big White Church.
Villager 1: Well, I hope you've already been paid.
Papa Chuck: Well, yes, mostly. Why?
Villager 1: Because everyone who deals with the Churchies has been stiffed at one time or another.
Papa Chuck: The Churchies.
Villager 1: Yeah, it's what we call them. They wear these white robes and almost talk in another language. They're just so weird.
Papa Chuck: Weird?
Villager 1: Yeah, weird. Yeah. Yeah, you'd be more likely to get paid if you were delivering to Dodgy Street.
Papa Chuck: That's the truth.
Villager 1: They certainly don't care how pure you are.
Papa Chuck: No, they do not.
CJ: What's Dodgy Street?
Villager 1: Oh, it's just the part of town where the unsavory types gather.
Papa Chuck: Unsavory. How very genteel of you. It's where the liars and thieves spend their time. You don't want to find yourselves there in the dark. Or any time.
Papa Chuck: Can you tell me how to get to the church? We need to be there by nine o'clock. The letter says that they only take deliveries at nine. I thought it was some kind of business.
Villager 1: We told you they're weird.
Villager 1: Okay, okay. You just go down the street there a bit till you see it.
Narrator: So Papa Chuck, CJ, and the big white desk, all headed to the Big White Church in the middle of town.
CJ: Those guys sure didn't seem to think much of Pastor Flint's favorite church.
Papa Chuck: Oh, that's for sure. Maybe it's just them. The whole town can't think that way about the church.
CJ: What is that?
Papa Chuck: Wow. That's a big wall.
CJ: This is the entrance to the church? It looks like a castle wall. A real white, tall castle wall.
Papa Chuck: Let's go. See if they're home.
Sign Deliverer: Hey there, how's it going?
Papa Chuck: Hey yourself. You got a delivery too?
Sign Deliverer: Oh, yeah. Got payment up front this time. You?
Papa Chuck: Just half.
Sign Deliverer: Oh. Well, you, you know, you might get lucky. Delivered here before?
Papa Chuck: No.
Sign Deliverer: Well, the Churchies, they're nuts. It's already past 9:00. We're late. Can you give me a hand here?
Papa Chuck: Sure.
Sign Deliverer: I was talking to some of the boys at the cafe, got to telling stories, we started cracking jokes and laughing, and I lost all track of time.
CJ: What'd you make there?
Sign Deliverer: Oh, this is a bit of irony. They asked me to make them a 12-foot long welcome visitors sign.
Papa Chuck: Why is it a bit of irony?
Narrator: As they stood looking at the huge white, well, drawbridge-sized gate, they heard someone rattling around on the other side, attempting to open a normal-sized door within the huge gate. The top half of that door swung open and a wolf, wearing a white robe, poked his head out to see who had knocked.
Churchie: Announce thyself.
Sign Deliverer: It's Old Tom. I have the welcome sign.
Churchie: Thy tardiness is extreme.
Sign Deliverer: Oh, I know I'm late, but I was having a sweet session of prayer and I lost track of time.
CJ: But. You just said.
Churchie: Hey, son, how about you stay quiet there and help me with the back end of this sign?
Churchie: Very well. While the door is ajar, pass it through.
Sign Deliverer: Oh, good. You know, in fact, I'll just carry it in for you.
Churchie: Thou will remain where thou art.
Sign Deliverer: I'm just messing with you.
Sign Deliverer: Here it comes.
Papa Chuck: Got it.
CJ: Got it, sir.
Sign Deliverer: Got it, sir.
Churchie: Close the door.
Sign Deliverer: So long. Nice doing business with you.
CJ: Good luck, Dad.
Papa Chuck: Yeah, thanks.
Churchie: Announce thyself.
Papa Chuck: I, I have a delivery, a desk.
Churchie: Dost thou?
Papa Chuck: If you just open the gate or drawbridge or whatever you call it, I'll drive it in.
Churchie: Thou wilt not drive it in.
Papa Chuck: The desk is too big to get in through the door. You need to open the gate.
Churchie: This gate has not been open for no less than 100 years, Brother James.
Churchie: Lo, these 100 years.
Papa Chuck: Look, I have a letter here. Someone has ordered this desk. Perchance the pastor.
Churchie: Indeed, it is him.
Papa Chuck: Well, then, let me talk it over with him so we can get this delivered. So I can get the rest of my payment.
Churchie: None but the brethren of our church are those desiring to join us, pass these gates.
Papa Chuck: Why would anyone want to?
Papa Chuck: I was asked to build a desk. I did. I was asked to deliver the desk. I have. Now I need you to take it and pay me for my work.
Churchie: Driving it in would be the best course of action.
Papa Chuck: I would have to agree.
Churchie: However, it is plain to see that thou art neither humble enough, nor pure enough to enter yourself.
Papa Chuck: I can't come into your church because I'm not pure enough.
Churchie: displayed for all to see.
Papa Chuck: Unbelievable.
Guest (Female, Child): Hi, I'm Amelia from Lumberville, Michigan. My favorite Paws & Tales character is Stacey because she is so fun. Wait till you hear what happens next on today's episode.
Guest (Male): Okay, Goose, just read the reviews on the new book. Rolling tape.
Clubhouse Host (Female): Okay. Just getting ready now. Okay, this one is from Willy. I loved reading the book, The Overcomers, even though I'm too young to read.
Guest (Male): Goose, is that Willy your little brother?
Clubhouse Host (Female): It might just be.
Guest (Male): Where are the real notes from the readers?
Clubhouse Host (Female): They may be in my other backpack at home, but these are good ones too. One reader named Gooz, Goozree says, I absolutely loved reading The Overcomers, there are battles and silly things and really important things taught. And it was all really, really fun. I'm reading it to my little brother now, Will. Walley, Wallymer, and Wallymer loves it too. Sincerely, Gooz. Goozree. The end.
Guest (Male): Now just say you can get your copy of The Overcomers at pawsandtales.org today.
Clubhouse Host (Female): What he said. Stop tape.
Papa Chuck: I failed your purity test?
Churchie: You cannot come in. You can leave your delivery and we'll bring it in after you have left. I will alert the pastor that his desk is here, and you can come back in an hour to receive the rest of your payment. If the work is up to his standards.
Papa Chuck: This is nuts. I'm not leaving the desk. I'll bring it back in one hour. Tell your pastor that I expect the rest of the payment. Then he can have the desk.
Papa Chuck: What kind of church is this?
Narrator: So Papa Chuck and CJ went back into the village to get a bite to eat and waited out in the village square.
CJ: Everybody thinks this church is nutty.
Papa Chuck: I don't get it. Pastor Flint would never go to a church like that.
Baker: Fresh bread. Hot out of the oven.
CJ: Oh, hey, I want some bread.
Papa Chuck: Good idea. Here's some money. I'll go get us some milk and some cheese. Be right back.
CJ: Over here, I'd like a loaf of bread.
Baker: Good for you, my boy. 30 cents, please.
CJ: Uh, here you go.
Baker: Oh boy, here come the Churchies. Enjoy the bread, son. Fresh bread. Hot out of the oven.
Narrator: As CJ was sitting on a bench, waiting for Papa Chuck and digging into the bread, he saw a group of strange animals coming into the village square.
CJ: So these must be the Churchies.
Narrator: They were wearing snowy white robes, sandals, and each one of them had a big white bag hanging over their shoulder. CJ watched the Churchies move around the village square, attempting to talk to folks. Without exception, the villagers ignored them. Acted like they were invisible, or worse, they treated them rudely and with contempt.
Villager 1: Get out of the way, Churchie, some of us have to make a living.
Narrator: The Churchies took it all in stride as if they'd expected to be treated this way from the beginning. They just spread out and tried to begin conversations with others. Then three of them came up to talk to CJ.
St. Manuel: Forsooth, noble lad.
CJ: Oh. Me?
St. Marion: I am Saint Marion, this is Saint Manuel and Saint Bernard.
CJ: Oh, hi.
St. Manuel: Alas. We do not shake hands.
CJ: Oh, sorry. Why not?
St. Marion: Tis our aim and privilege to pursue purity of every sort.
CJ: Oh, I just washed.
St. Manuel: Dost thou knowest the Redeemer and the Lamb?
CJ: The who? Lamb?
St. Bernard: The bright and morning star.
CJ: I have no idea what you're talking about.
St. Marion: The great cornerstone on whom all eternity is built.
CJ: Jesus? Are you asking me if I know Jesus?
St. Manuel: Tis my query indeed, for without him, thou art condemned to both fire and brimstone, for thy sins are an abomination that rises to the heavens.
CJ: Why are you talking that way?
St. Marion: Tis the speech of the Saints of the Big White Church.
CJ: You call it the Big White Church? I thought that's just what the villagers called it because they were making fun.
St. Bernard: Anon, it has been called the Big White Church for generations. It is a symbol of purity and godliness to all the village.
CJ: Do you really live in there?
St. Marion: Tis been my solace and my home for all of my 17 years.
St. Manuel: Boy, knowest thou the Redeemer?
St. Bernard: Knowest thou the Redeemer?
CJ: Oh, yeah, I'm a Christian.
St. Manuel: He's a Christian, Saint Bernard.
St. Bernard: Already a Christian.
St. Manuel: Oh, look yonder, good saints. I perceive the two other targets. This one, though rough and impure, is a believer. Let us move on to these others.
St. Marion: Saint Bernard, I will tarry here for a while yet.
St. Manuel: Are you comfortable with our leaving you here alone?
St. Marion: Indeed, Saint Manuel.
St. Manuel: Very well then. Good day, boy. And I leave you with a blessing.
CJ: Uh, thanks. My name is CJ.
St. Bernard: We will meet thee now at the church entrance when the bell tolls.
St. Marion: When the bell tolls.
St. Manuel: Saint Manuel's blessings are greatly to be desired.
CJ: That that's very nice of him.
St. Marion: I can barely take it all in.
CJ: Take what in?
St. Marion: That I am actually out here in the village, free to proclaim the truth. I have waited a long time to begin my ministry of the lost.
CJ: Watch out.
St. Marion: Whoa.
CJ: You almost stepped right in the mud.
St. Marion: Thank you, CJ. Why do they allow this road to be so, so muddy and foul?
CJ: I don't know. Guess it rained last night. It's just a road. Roads are muddy and foul.
St. Manuel: Even as a believer, dost thou knowest the depth of thy iniquities?
CJ: I'm having a hard time understanding you. Could you just talk normally?
St. Marion: Tis the speech of our tradition.
CJ: Well, maybe you should talk like that to each other, but no one outside of your church has any idea what you're talking about.
St. Marion: I have thought of that very thing myself. Have a seat. It's a big bench.
St. Marion: Oh, I think that might be too familiar.
CJ: I don't know what that means, but it would be more comfortable and more friendly.
St. Marion: Well, perhaps for just a moment. Oh, nuts.
CJ: Don't you mean, oh nuts-eth?
St. Marion: I am so sorry for my display of anger. I have always struggled with my temper.
CJ: Don't worry about it. Just shows you're normal.
St. Marion: Saint Teresa says my temper and independence will be the cause of my ruination.
CJ: Ruination? That's bad.
St. Marion: Of course, it would have to be bad. Oh, it is bad. Here, hold my bag for a minute.
CJ: What do you have in this thing? You just happened to have a needle and thread with you?
St. Marion: Our robes are very important. They're an outward sign of our devotion, of our accomplishments in the kingdom of God, and of our purity. It is our purity that attracts the lost.
CJ: I haven't seen that yet. What do you have on, overalls?
St. Marion: Oh, Bertha, no eyes.
CJ: You're wearing overalls under your white robe?
St. Marion: You must tell this to no one. I was working in the garden, and the next thing I knew it was time to go and bear witness. I didn't have time to change. I try so hard.
CJ: Don't worry. Not sure who I'd tell anyway. So how often do you come out?
St. Marion: If we remain pure and stay current in our studies and accomplishments, just twice a year to bear witness.
CJ: Twice a year? You come out only twice a year to invite visitors?
St. Marion: Nay, verily. We are not just inviting visitors. I am questing to spread the good yeast of the bread of life.
CJ: What is nay verily?
St. Marion: It means no.
CJ: See, that's just what I was talking about before. And what is the yeast? Are you wanting to bake?
St. Marion: Nay, ver. No. I want to give testimony. I want to tell the villagers about Jesus and how he died for their sins. This has been my heart's desire for years. There is nothing I want to do more.
CJ: That's a good thing. Saint Marion. I can't call you Saint. Do they really call you that?
St. Marion: Only if you have prepared for years and achieved certain goals. I have studied and trained earnestly, and now I am ready to go spread the news of the word that saves.
Baker: Fresh bread, hot out of the oven.
St. Marion: Bread?
Baker: Fresh bread, hot out of the oven.
St. Marion: Good sir, I long it for such.
Papa Chuck: You want a?
CJ: She wants to buy some bread. Sorry.
St. Marion: How much, sir? Oh. Oh, nuts. My bag.
CJ: Let me help. Wow, look at all this stuff in your bag. I guess the Big White Church pays pretty well.
St. Marion: What?
CJ: This is a lot of money. I just. Nothing.
St. Marion: I have saved my money for years so that. I could just.
CJ: We do that out here. You brought all of your money just to be here for an afternoon?
Baker: Well, here's one of my best loaves of fresh bread, Missy. That'll be three dollars.
St. Marion: Three dollars it is, good baker.
CJ: What are you trying to pull?
Baker: What? Come on, kid, work with me.
CJ: Don't pay him three dollars for bread. He's cheating you. 30 cents. A loaf of bread is 30 cents.
Baker: Fine, choke on it, Churchie.
St. Marion: That nefarious rap scallion.
CJ: You mean the dirty cheat?
St. Marion: The dirty cheat.
CJ: Well done. You don't know the first thing about the villagers, do you? Don't say nay, verily.
St. Marion: I guess I don't. I've never been out before.
CJ: They don't seem to like you very much. No, they don't, do they?
St. Marion: We want others to be pure like us, to be pure is the highest goal.
CJ: We, my church. We want to be pure too. Ah, this is confusing. I just never really thought of purity as being so annoying.
St. Marion: We strive to be Christ-like in all that we do.
CJ: I, I didn't mean to.
St. Marion: You have no idea how hard we have worked. To separate ourselves.
Narrator: While they stood in the village square talking, a badger was watching from the shadows. When Marion stood up, he came running out of his hiding place. He shoved Marion from behind while he grabbed her bag.
St. Marion: Five.
Badger: Thanks.
CJ: Churchie.
Narrator: And Saint Marion fell face first into the mud on the side of the road. As the thief ran off with her bag in his hands.
St. Marion: Stop, what are you doing?
Guest (Female, Child): Hi, I'm Mia from England. Don't go away, there's more Paws & Tales coming right up.
Narrator: While Marion was still pushing up out of the mud. Another animal, a large Timberwolf, sprang out swinging a staff over his head. In one graceful motion, he swung one end of that staff behind the legs of the would-be thief, knocking him to the ground. With the other end, he hooked the shoulder strap of the stolen bag, and he held it up like a prized fish on a pole.
CJ: Whoa. Did you see that? What, what was that?
Narrator: As Marion wiped the mud from her eyes, the only thing she saw was a Timberwolf holding her bag on the end of a stick.
St. Marion: You black-hearted beast, give me my bag.
CJ: No, Marion, he's not the one.
St. Marion: Give me my bag or I will tear you to pieces.
CJ: Marion, he's the one who got.
St. Marion: Give me my bag.
Timberwolf: Here's your bag.
St. Marion: Consider thyself most fortunate, thou vile fiend.
CJ: Wait, I'm sorry. She just didn't see.
Timberwolf: She will.
St. Marion: Such malicious devilry, dirty, rotten thief.
CJ: He got your bag back for you. It's the other one who took it.
St. Marion: Oh. Look at me, I'm covered with mud from head to foot. Now no one will perceive me as a pure and devoted follower of Christ.
CJ: You know, it might just be a good idea to get rid of that robe anyway. Wearing that thing has been kind of like wearing a sign that says kick me.
St. Marion: I would never. First, a tear, and now it's covered with mud and who knows what else? I'm in so much trouble with the elders. The villagers will no longer hold me in high regard, looking like this.
CJ: You don't get it, do you? The villagers don't hold any of you in high regard. From what I've seen, they don't hold you in any regard at all. Look. I'm not an expert here. But if you want to tell the villagers about Jesus, you need to know what they what they like and don't like and what they think about things. What they need.
St. Marion: They needeth the Redeemer in their hearts.
CJ: They do need Jesus. That's true. But they don't know what a redeemer is. I have a feeling you know a bunch about the Bible. But do you know that the villagers mostly think you're all nuts? They don't like you. They don't like your church. I don't think they want to listen to anything you have to say.
St. Marion: You offend me, sir. I am learned and righteous. We of the Big White Church value purity above all the virtues. We have kept out the evil influence of the world so that we may be more pleasing to God. I am pure of heart and I am armed with the truth. That is all I need to know. Good day, thou voice of doubt and confusion.
CJ: All I'm saying is that the truth won't matter if no one knows what you're talking about. Oh, good grief.
St. Marion: The Lord will see that his will is done. And I will do it on his behalf.
St. Marion: The bell tolls.
CJ: Yeah. I guess you got to go back.
St. Marion: Today, I am 18 years old. And I have set my course anew. I will stay on the outside world and bear witness to the Lion of Judah. I am not going back to the Big White Church, ever.
Narrator: To order a copy of today's program, The Problem with Purity, Part 1, just log on to pawsandtales.org. The Problem with Purity, Part 1, was written and directed by David Carl. The song Crazy Eights was written by Sandy Howell and Shelley Spadey. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.
Singer: I once believed that I should be more proper than the rest. Formalities and boundaries, I thought they were God's best. I'd go about spouting things like thee and thou and thou. But my attitude and all those words, they were really for the birds. Because God's love didn't show in us. I've got to relate, not hibernate, communicate and demonstrate God's perfect love. If my vocabulary's dated, well, of course they're irritated and think it's only me I'm thinking of. I've got to relate, not separate, reciprocate the things that God has done for me. Because if my actions illustrate it, it won't need to be translated. I've got to relate that it's God who's great. All talk, no walk won't get you very far. All they'll hear is yak, yak, yak and blah, blah, blah. I've got to relate, incorporate, not aggravate. Or suffocate, just share the news. There is no need to complicate it, like I'm so sophisticated. I've got to relate that it's God who's great. I've got to relate, there's no debate. Oh no. It's not too late for me to lend a helping hand. Don't let my heart procrastinate it or become refrigerated. Instead, be motivated to expand. I've got to relate, not hesitate. I won't wait. To dedicate my life to serving those in need. So may my ego be deflated, as his love is punctuated. I've got to relate that it's God who's great. No, I will not contaminate it, but instead authenticate it. I've got to relate that it's God who's great. Cause if my life will demonstrate it, someone might just contemplate it. I've got to relate that it's God who's great.