Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Butterworth Gets His Life Together: But it falls apart before he can show his friends

Butterworth Gets His Life Together: But it falls apart before he can show his friends

Posted in Book Reviews

“BUTTERWORTH GETS HIS LIFE TOGETHER”

But it falls apart before he can show his friends

By: Bill Butterworth, Multnomah Books, 1996

 

This book can repudiate and perhaps teach those who believe Christianity is best verified by one victory piled upon another.

The foundational principle of Free Grace is that faith alone in Christ alone is what is necessary for eternal life. A correlating but not contradicting principle is that rewards are based upon deeds done for the Lord. The highest reward, ruling in the kingdom, has an even higher requirement.

Getting organized so we can be effective for the Lord involves getting our life together. Thus we find Bill Butterworth in a seemingly never-ending assortment of pitfalls apparently designed to hinder him as he “GETS HIS LIFE TOGETHER”. The value of this book does not lie in laughing at Bill as her pokes fun at himself. It lies in seeing ourselves struggle to “GET OUR LIVES TOGETHER”.

As we have all experienced, any change comes with reluctance. We don’t like to leave our comfort zones. Therefore, in order to get him to a retreat to teach him to get his life together, Bill has to be trapped into going by a church staff member.

Bill is convinced that if he could emulate his friend Tom, he truly would have his life together. Tom and another friend, Edmond join him on the ride to the retreat. Both

Tom and Edmond are composite characters drawn from real friends of Bill’s. The exaggeration of Tom’s qualities and Edmond’s shortcomings are meant to show us that no man is perfect, even Tom.

If you haven’t caught on by now that this is a work of fiction, you will be introduced to Kenny, the camp speaker. He is teaching on “GETTING YOUR LIFE

TOGETHER” and Kenny seems to actually have his together. He is popular in church and secular circles. He is in good health apparently because of good diet and exercise, has great looks, both bodily and sartorially. Therefore, the wisdom of the camp leaders says is the qualified person to bring the theme.

Lets digress from the story in order to remind ourselves that presenting this in exaggerated fictional form helps to take the sting out of seeing ourselves in Butterworth.

His attempts at physical, spiritual and mental betterment are mirrors in which we can see ourselves.

In the physical realm, the laughter comes readily as we accompany Bill while he gets a full physical complete with the inherent humiliations, while he joins a health club, and in his attempt to jog with an accountability group.

In the spiritual realm, Bill’s renewed commitment to a QUIET TIME reinforced by his accountability group has us cheering for Bill.

His attempt to mental improvement is exemplified by his desire to help his kids with their homework.

There are some theological circles that would actually exclude Bill from heaven simply based on his non-abstinence from coffee. It’s a good thing coffee doesn’t have to be forsaken for admittance to heaven or a lot of people would be in trouble.

However, the possibility of getting our lives together in order to glorify God is given hope in this fictional account of a real person and his misadventures.

This is light reading that will help you laugh at yourself, but at the same time find starting points for GETTING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.

Dan Mosher
Dallas, Texas

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Cart

Recently Added

March 24, 2023

1 Peter–Part 05–3:8-4:19

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin, Philippe Sterling and Ken Yates continue their study and discussion of 1 Peter. Suffering is a...
March 24, 2023

The Impact of One Person 

In Hebrews 11, we are met with list of Biblical figures who exemplify what it means to walk by faith and not by sight (11:1)....
March 23, 2023

1 Peter–Part 04–2:11-3:7

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates, Philippe Sterling and Bob Wilkin continue looking at 1 Peter. Not only do believers need to...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Absolutely Free, 2nd Edition $20.00 $12.00
  • Hebrews: Partners with Christ $22.00 $15.00
  • A Free Grace Primer: The Hungry Inherit, The Gospel Under Siege, and Grace in Eclipse $20.00 $12.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube