I have a confession.  I’m not ashamed of the gospel.

Now, I might not even mean what you think I mean.

I believe the gospel is world changing.  And, again, I might not mean what you think I mean.

But, there it is.

A couple of weeks ago I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua.  We helped put on special events (we call them Vacation Bible School or VBS).  The kicker was we offered lunch for the kids there.  Turns out if we hadn’t restricted the event, then every kid in the neighborhood would have showed up.  Why?   Lunch.

A friend of mine asked if we were going to proselytize or what.  I think what she was asking was whether we were going to peddle religion or were we going to really help people.

I’ve thought about that.  You know religion can be nothing more than a way to say I’m better than you are.  I have “special knowledge” that puts me into a special relationship with the divine.  I’ve got the right superstition…and I’ve got to show you just the right ritual so you can be as blessed as me.

Now, that’s the way some people see a lot of what missionaries do.  They’re just peddling their set of rituals.

And, sometimes that may just be true.

But, I want to say that that’s not at all what the gospel is about.  It’s about changing the world.  It’s the power of the creator of the Universe.  It’s God fixing the world.  It’s the only good thing we really have to share.  It’s the reality of the creative and redemptive work of God in the world.

Paul said, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it’s the power of God unto salvation.”

I’m going to explore what he meant there in the next few posts, and I hope you’ll come with me.  You might just be surprised at what you see.