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The Third Leg of the Stool
My pastor and mentor, the Reverend L. John Gable compares to our relationship with God to a three-legged stool:
1. Knowing and believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, which is evangelism
3.Exemplifying the good news through works of social justice.
Like the three-legged stool, you need all three elements for a solid Christian life: faith, evangelism, and social Justice for our church and our personal faith to be solid.
Jesus told us “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). He told his followers, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 19:20). And Jesus told his followers, “In as much as you did it for one of the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Pastor Gable also pointed out that the cross could well serve for a symbol of wholistic faith, with the vertical part representing our faith in God from us to God, and his love from God to us. The cross beam cut in two, with one side reaching out in evangelism, sharing the good news of Christ and the other reaching out to work on issues of social justice. Within the body of Christ all three must be equally emphasized. One denomination may emphasize one over the other, but holistically the church must represent and provide all three.
Some people cringe at the thought of sharing their faith with others. But there are many ways of sharing. Your best testimony is how you live your life. There is an old hymn “They Will Know You are Christians by Your Love.” But you also need words. Whatever you are comfortable with is fine. Saying, “I don’t know how I could get through this without my faith,” is a great opener for a friend, or “I know I am in a rough spot but I Know God will see me through.” In our world today this is needed more than ever.
A Christian and the church needs all three stool legs: faith in Christ, sharing faith, and serving those in need of material goods and love. Lent is coming up soon. Look at the legs on your stool of faith, and see what area you might work on in the coming weeks.
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