Dynamic Environment


The Christian faith was birthed by a small tribe of shepherd people called Jews.  They were the bearers of a radical new concept, and this concept became the basis for not only a new form of religion, but of a better way to live.

 In that day, the dominant theology was pagan religion.  They believed that divine creatures predated creation and humanity, but the gods themselves had been created by some mystical force.  Supreme deity was not imposed on these gods, as each tribe and people group worshipped their own gods and followed their own set of morals and laws.

In this landscape, Hebrews spoke out of a personal relationship with their God.  They declared that not only was their God good (James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”) but that he was also all-powerful; the one true God (John14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”.)

Jewish ideas celebrated not only the supremacy of their God, but also described a bold, new relationship between God and humanity.  They spoke of an intimate and personal relationship with God, and His desire to engage the heart of people groups from all tribes and nations.  The Jewish people were not describing a new form of “religion” or attempting to destroy the religious ideology of their day.  Instead they were speaking out of the context of their own personal relationship with Creator God.  The entire Jewish community, every man, women, and child had a personal encounter with God.

But where did that leave people groups who were entrenched in pagan theology and skeptical of rejecting the “truth” that had been handed down from previous generations?  Were they condemned, marginalized, left out of God’s design and plan for humanity?  Joel 2:32 describes God’s definitive plan for mankind, a way to bridge economic, racial, religious, and political divides; “And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…

So today we continue to celebrate our unique and personal relationship with God.  And just as important, we reach out of our own “family” with the passion to share the truth that Jesus has a plan and destiny for all of humanity.  Our faith can be expressed in corporate weekly worship services,  but is more accurately demonstrated through the love and assimilation of eclectic people groups from all backgrounds.

Joel understood this as he proclaimed, "He knows the way that I take and when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."  So I bless you to engage your task not in fixing people, but bringing out the gold that God has deposited in each of us.

Joe Gabbard

I'm a pastor and strategy leader at a great church in Kansas City, MO.  Ronnin and I have been married for over 10 years and we have two beautiful, blond headed boys.  I'm interested in loving my family and being part of a community that impacts the spiritual landscape of our region.

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