The Three Stooges

Remember this picture? Moe, Curly and Larry otherwise known as the The Three Stooges. They were an American vaudeville and comedy act featuring slapstick comedy. Their antics brought laughter and comic relief to many people from 1925-1970.

They personified the definition of stooge: a performer whose act involves being the fool of a comedian's jokes.

For some reason they came to mind while reading the following scripture:

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (Galatians 3:2, 3 NLT)

You might be thinking, "what does this have to do with the Three Stooges?"  

Just as they were the butt of many jokes and crowds of laughter, have we in western Christianity unknowingly aligned ourselves to the following world views that would make us appear to be like the three stooges?

Enlightenment..."All religions lead us to God, open your minds to new ways."

Apathy..."There is nothing we can do, just keep hoping for the best."

Tolerance..."Everyone has a right to live the lifestyle and make choices that 
                      are best for them.  We should accept all people and support
                      their decisions."        
          

The Three Stooges, if you will.  

Have these three world views infiltrated the gospel diluting its power today? 

Just as the acronym for these three suggests we have tasted, chewed and swallowed their poisonous promises resulting in a death sentence to how we are to be representing the power of Jesus Christ in our world today.

When we start believing the truth and living as Jesus did: not in condemnation of unbelievers (but showing grace); sharing the truth of the gospel (not our religious traditions); giving of ourselves (not just our checkbooks); and standing up to the hypocrisy of religion THEN the veil of the Three Stooges will be removed and we will witness people's lives changed through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul said, "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law (human effort) could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:21 NLT italics added).

Human efforts alone will not bring lasting change or fill the void and longing in our hearts. Only the Creator of our hearts can fill us to completion.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:9 NLT)

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NLT)

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:13, 14 TLV)

When we forgo the Three Stooge world view and not be ashamed of the power and truth of the gospel, then we will be the light and salt God has called us to be in our world today.

Gateway to our heart

David said "I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. (Psalms 101:2, 3 NLT)

David knew our eyes are the gateway to our heart and what comes out of our mouth and through our actions reveal the condition of our heart. Would the Holy Spirit want to make his dwelling in my heart?  The Holy Spirit is not destitute that he must accept any condition for a home. He has the whole universe and beyond as a dwelling place.

It is at his prompting and revelation about our sinful nature to us that we accept what Jesus has done for us and ask him to make his dwelling in us. Through our submission to him He reveals our sinful nature to us and our hearts housecleaning begins.

And then he (Jesus) added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT)

What happens after our hearts are cleaned is as critical as the prior acknowledgement they need cleaned.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

How does this work in our life?

1.  We are made new because of what Jesus has done for us. Change must come from the inside out. Don't make the mistake of comparing yourself to anyone. (Romans 3:22)

            There is no such thing as good, better or perfect Christian no matter what gifts or works God has called us to do.  We are all equal in Gods eyes.  He is our standard to live by...no one else.

2.  Make the Word the foundation for transforming and renewing your mind from worldly standards to Gods. (Romans 12:2; 8:5-9) Read the word....meditate (think about it through out your day)...memorize the word...ask the Holy Spirit to make it real...learn how to apply it daily in your life through daily circumstances.

3. The Holy Spirit now lives within us teaching and bringing correction when needed. LISTEN!

            Becoming a new person means growth.  Growth comes through stretching, like the tearing of a muscle in body building.  Growth usually comes through trials. We were never promised a carefree life as a follower of Jesus. Quite the contrary because we now live in conflict with the values and morals of the world in which we live. (Romans 5:1-5)

4.  We are no longer under any obligation to sin or its power. All comes down to choice. (Romans 6, 7:14-8:1,12) Old habits can be changed to new healthy habits. Can't do it on your own, ask the Holy Spirit to help and he will!  Don't give up!!

5.  Live a joy filled life to safeguard your faith. 

            "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith." (Philippians 3:1 NLT)

How? "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-9 NLT)

So what, or whom, is guarding the gateway to your heart and mine today?

Traditions or truth?

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. (Galatians 1:13, 14 NLT)

Do we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ or the traditions of our faith?  Do we accept what others teach as gospel or do we compare it to scripture? When was the last time you or I questioned a teaching to make sure it aligned with scripture? We would do well to follow the examples of the Bereans, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11 NIVUK)

Traditions will never truly fill the longing in our hearts, give hope when all else fails us or have the power to bring healing and forgiveness.  Traditions can muddy the waters of truth with half truths and keep its followers bound through guilt. The truth of Gods Word acts like a surgeons knife cutting out falsehoods and half truths to allow truth to take root and the the seeds of hope to grow. "God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions." (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

Because the Bereans measured Paul's words against the standard of scripture change took place in their hearts and lives.

"As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men." (Acts 17:12 NIVUK)

Paul's life is proof of the power of Truth versus traditions. He was so steeped in the traditions of his forefathers he was willing to kill to protect those traditions. I wonder how many we have been willing to 'kill' in their search for God because we were willing to put church or denominational traditions ahead of Truth.

I'm not saying church, denominations or all traditions are bad but if they are in direct conflict with scripture are we willing to forsake them for the truth?