23.15 Craig Smith - What to Surrender, What to Keep (Part 4)

Indigenous Faith

In this final episode of Pastor Craig's final Indigenous Faith summer conference teaching series, he continues to lay out some practical guidelines in processing our Indigenous cultures in light of God's Word. Theological guidelines help shape the cultural guidelines we all must employ in our desire to remain pleasing to God and stay under the authority of His Word. An important consideration is understanding there's a difference between the God of the Bible and the gods of our ancestors. Take, for instance, the issue of Creator. Most Native people are creationists but is the creator in the traditional religions of an animistic people the same as the Creator as articulated in the Bible? The clear answer is, no! While all three parts of the Trinity were active in the works of creation, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit take a step back and move forward God the Son into the spotlight reserved for the Creator of the world! You only have to go to the gospel of John, Paul's letter to the Colossians and what the Hebrews author says about Christ as creator. Why is that? Because Christ is the one who condescended to earth, the earth He created, to redeem mankind, the mankind He created! Craig also leaves the listener with an important reality of how this Creator and His gospel message must be taken to all nations before He comes again! And we are privileged to play an important role in that process! Craig reminds us all how we can turn an everyday conversation into a spiritual rescue opportunity. The taking of the gospel to the world is what every Indigenous believer should have as their priority, not the pursuit of culture and cultural relevance. There's too much at stake to focus on lesser things. Craig ends his thoughts with an encounter he had with Christ that he describes as his game changer moment! Once you hear that part of his journey, we're sure you will understand that the gospel, and our redemption is all about Christ, and not us! That's the way it's always been, and the way it will always be, even into eternity! Wow, what a journey we've been on in these past seven months! I can't wait for Dr. Charette to take us home with his final session next week titled, Who Let the Dogs Out!? God bless you dear friend!