Rodeo and the Gospel

The Berry’s experienced our first Frontier Days rodeo this year. It was a great time watching steers get wrestled, calves get roped, and bulls angrily toss men about. I had not been to a rodeo since I was a kid and to share it with my own now was kinda surreal.
All that said, I was most impressed with the culture of the West and the announcer’s prayer before hand. Growing up in a more “redneck” culture of Indiana, going to college in a large metropolitan city, and living in the foothills of Appalachia: you could say I’ve experienced quite a bit of America.

What strikes me is that most that the news hardly ever tells the whole story of the people that call this land home. Much like multiple degreed theologians who don’t lead a congregation, espouse “new thought” from their offices void of real relationships.

I sat in the stands wearing shorts and my standard button up North Face shirt, right next to a few gentlemen sporting worn out Wranglers and large cowboy hats.

I’ve been around hard working men and women my whole life. Often the measure of their calluses far outweighed their bank accounts. Choice language would fly at the drop of a hammer and laughter flowed like beverage from a can.

What filled me with the most joy was when the announcer asked all to stand as he prayed for the event, those competing, thanks for salvation from Jesus, and for God’s glory on display.

As we have been walking through Galatians on Sunday mornings, this truth has been ever present in the front of my mind.

The gospel is for us, not about us. It isn’t about anything that we do, feel, or choose. It is the Good News about Jesus Christ and what he has accomplished for us. — Michael Horton

So, as we go about our day, let all remember that the gospel is for all — no matter how the person appears on the outside or what flows from their mouths. The Good News is that none are good enough, but Jesus paid for us anyway, and longs for our relationship with the father to grow closer day by day.