The Power Of One

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
1 Corinthians 8: 6 NKJV

There has been more than a few discussions lately in our circle of just how Christianity resembles many of the religions of the world.  We see this in Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.  One of the most obvious similarities between a few of the worlds largest religions and Christianity is the belief in one God.  One creator.  Could it be, that the faith we choose to follow has been shared on a larger scale than we thought?  For we know of the journeys of the followers of Jesus as they spoke the message of the gospel throughout the region of the middle east and into Italy and Europe as well.  The missionary journeys of the apostle Paul are well documented in scripture.  How else is it that we can explain the common ground between Christianity and the religions of the world?  Are the religions of the world merely copies of the faith we believe in?  Perhaps, although with more than a few adaptations along the way.  We also cannot discount the fact that the different civilizations around the world developed beliefs similar to Christianity all on their own.  One of the best examples of this are the tribes of the American Indians.  Long before settlers arrived to change their culture, these tribes of Americas heartland spoke of their belief in one "creator."  I find it interesting that, even today, those of our  native American cultures speak of the spiritual relationship between man, his creator and nature.  Indeed, many native Americans refer to the spiritual existence of the eagle, the bear and the sun itself.  Could it be that these early Americans knew more about the existence of God than those who later tried to convert them?  When I speak to this, I refer to the Indian belief of mans relationship to the creator.  His relationship to the world around him.  It seems interesting to me that these north American cultures would speak to such knowledge of the spiritual side of  their lives.  In essence, they got it.  They realized the physical bond between the creator and themselves.  Between God and His children.  Are we to claim that there are borders to Gods ability to reveal Himself to others?  If indeed we rightly believe that God can and will reveal Himself to those He chooses...how did He reveal Himself to those of the Indian tribes?  Through the eagle?  Through the wolf? 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

Scripture tells us that God has created all which we see {Genesis 1:1}.  We know that He breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  As Christians, we believe in this without question.  Are we to say, then, that God also did not create those of other cultures as well?  It would be foolish to not only limit our Lords ability but to give attention to such thoughts.  If God has given me life, then He has given life to those across His creation as well.  I don't hold a copyright on Gods blessings and mercy.  When we look closer upon the life of Jesus, we find that He was simply an extension of the Father.  It was Jesus who told those around Him that He and the Father were the same {John 10:30}.  It is through Christ that God reveals Himself to His creation.   Knowing this, is it that hard to imagine that one such as Jesus could have revealed Himself before the tribes of north America?  Is it difficult to conceive that God could reveal Himself in the form of His creation.  Through the eagle?  Through the wolf?  I do not believe that this is a area where we should place limits upon God.  In fact, we should never do such a thing.  Although I am not privy to ancient native American writings, I would not think it impossible for a young boy or girl to communicate with a wolf or a fish if God so chose to do so.  How else is it that we can explain the Indian belief in a "Great Spirit?"  Somewhere along the way, God chose to reveal Himself in a meaningful way to this part of His creation.  In retrospect, God is simply doing what He does best...relating to His children. 

"I and My Father are one."
John 10: 30 NKJV

~Scott~