Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 13
February 22, 1962
NUMBER 41, PAGE 10

"Worried Willie - - - The Wayward Water Cooler"

Judson Woodbridge, Mulvane, Kansas

The story concerning "Willie the Water Cooler" seems to be popular in many quarters. The story says Willie became worried because a preacher didn't favor refreshments at a Vacation Bible School, and this same preacher quoted, "What, have ye not houses to eat and drink in." Willie recalled that he had been purchased by money from the church treasury, and he thought that the preacher was teaching that when the people were drinking from him that the church was in the "drinking business." At least, that was the way the preacher's logic seemed to him. And he also knew that saint and sinner were sipping water to quench their thirst. This worry continued until finally he decided the preacher was riding a "hobby horse down the path of ridiculous extreme," and all who do that "usually fall in the fatal ditch of fanaticism." With these thoughts he "stopped worrying and went on about his business."

Now, I desire to have a little talk with you, Willie. First, I wish to commend you for becoming worried and concerned. In this respect you are better than many of those who placed you in the foyer of the church building. I am sure you can have a better understanding of this matter; unless, of course, you have closed your mind to the situation which the preacher, you have accused of riding a hobby horse, had reference to. The preacher knew that it would be a sin to pervert the mission of the church. This was what he was trying to get you and others to see, You know that when you were placed in the foyer of the church building, yon were placed there for the convenience of the people who assembled to worship and study the word cf God. I am sure that you know that this is the reason for Bobby, the building; Henry, the heater; Lily, the lights; Sally, the seat; and Paul, the pulpit. All of you are in the provisions for a place to assemble for worship and study — this includes saints and sinners, since sinners are invited to assemble to be taught. You know that God commands the church to engage in this kind of work. Actually your need has been known for a long time, for you have only replaced the pump that was often found in the yard near the church building.

Willie, if you recall all the preacher said, you will see that he was talking about people using the facilities of the church to do something the Lord did not command it to do. He was talking about the church engaging in recreation — feasting — drinking for fun. This is not the work the Lord wants his divine organization (congregation) to engage in. When people come to the "fun festival" do they not stop by and take a drink from you? They are using you as they do when they come for worship and study. They are using you for recreation, as well as, Bobby, Henry, and Lily. This is a misuse of all of you, for you were secured as facilities in the work of the church.

I can tell that you are about ready to apologize to the preacher for accusing him of riding a "hobby horse."

You know that you have accused the wrong one, and now are sorry that you didn't listen a little more carefully to what he was talking about.

This causes you to be really worried when people come by and take a sip from you on the way to the "fellowship hall" built by church funds, to have a "good time" — "to serve the belly," instead of God. A preacher who will encourage such action is riding a "hobby horse down the path of ridiculous extremes" and will "fall in the fatal ditch of fanaticism." You know that to change the mission of the church (do something that God did not authorize) is sin, the same as adding instruments of music in worship, and a mourner's bench to the way of salvation. I know that you are going to continue to worry as long as you remain in a foyer where you and your partners (Bobby, Henry, and Lily) are so misused. You do not want to have a part in these sinful actions. I am praying that you can be moved to a building where you can be used for the convenience of the people who come to do what God says — not what he didn't say.