Most of us grew up hearing the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears but few of us know the true story. In 1837 British poet, Robert Southey, wrote down the version we know and love with the sweet little blonde haired girl exploring the home of the quaint family of bears. In the well-known tale, Goldie Locks tests the bowls of porridge left behind on the table after the family of bears went out for a walk. The first bowl she found too hot, the second too cold, but the third was just right. This becomes a pattern carried throughout the rest of the tale until she is ultimately discovered and harmlessly runs off into the woods.
Though this story is simple, sweet, and may even be popular, it actually has little to do with the original version. In the wikipedia article on the classic children’s story it reads, “What was originally a frightening oral tale became a cozy family story with only a hint of menace.” Unfortunately what happened to the three bears story has been happening in the church for a quite a while… except the stakes are much higher. Things are far from being just right and I’ll show you what I mean.
This Ain’t About Plush Toys
In one of the earlier recorded versions of the three bears story we learn that there is no goldilocks character. Instead, we find a jaded old woman who has an ax to grind with a group of bachelor bears in the woods. After causing a scene in their home she runs off, is pursued, captured and then impaled on the steeple of St. Pauls’ Cathedral in central London! How’s that for a bedtime story?! You may be asking yourself, “how, on earth did, the story change so much?” Ironically, much like the tame storyline of the version we all know, Robert Southey wanted a story that was neither too hot, nor too cold, but one that would be considered by the majority of people as just right.
The problem is, it wasn’t his story to change (even if his version is much more enjoyable). Similarly, many Christians today have reduced the potency of God’s Word and the Truth of the Scriptures to a less-intense, goldilocks version, taking out the hard, confronting parts leaving a cozy, comfortable storyline the appeals to the masses. But, much like the three bears story it’s not theirs to change. So what are the impacts and consequences of teaching a “less intense” version of God’s Truth? It could be life and death. (Click Here To Read “Do You Care Enough To Ask a Question”)
But This Feels Just Right
A comfortable Gospel may make us feel better about ourselves in the moment but won’t offer any hope or redemption in the difficult moments of life. A squishy, cute, God-story that doesn’t require repentance, correction or life-change won’t offer solutions when we are confronted with the fact we are often our own worst enemy. If we water-down the confrontation of God’s Truth in order to comfort people while they are still in their sin then we actually keep them from allowing the Holy Spirit to change and renew them. The true comfort comes, not in making us feel better in our disfunction, but in rescuing us out of that disfunction and bringing us into a dynamic relationship with Jesus.
This is why God took Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden after their sin and fall. It wasn’t to punish them, but to keep them from eating of the Tree of Life as sinners, enabling them to forever live in a fallen state of brokenness. No, rather than comfort them in their condition, He drew a boundary line to help them recognize the “otherness” of their fallen state in order to point them to the salvation He alone could provide. What seemed to be unkind or hateful in taking them out of the Garden was actually God’s mercy to give them hope and life-made-new through the salvation He would provide. The “goldilocks gospel” would have told them they were fine, God loved them just the way they were, and they didn’t need to change anything. The true Gospel says, you are dead in your current state so acknowledge your brokenness, admit your need for rescue, and God will resurrect you from the dead and make you brand new! (Click Here To Read “The Fruit Of the Fall”)
In Revelation 3 Jesus addressed the church at Laodicea because they were neither hot nor cold but were trying to live in the culturally acceptable, just right middle ground. The Lord made it clear that His call on their lives wasn’t to simply exist and be comfortable but to engage the culture and make a difference. The middle may feel just right but the Lord makes clear He wants us to own our condition, allow Him to make us new, and then use us to have an impact on the culture around us. We cannot do this by seeking approval at every turn. However, when we open our hearts to His love and challenge, respond in repentance and humility, He makes us alive and effective! Goldilocks may be cute, but she’s actually not part of the story. The same is true of the “goldilocks gospel.” Let’s be true to our call and allow God to make us alive and effective! (Click Here To Read “Carrying The Kingdom”)
From the Bible:
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. – Genesis 3:22-23 ESV
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. – Revelation 3:15-17,19 ESV
“ Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 ESV