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.