Answering the 12 Questions – #1

1. Is it necessary? Why do I need it?

This was always the number one question, at every seminar I ever hosted on the topic of incorporating First Nations traditions into my Christian faith, the Evangelical (Pentecostal) brand of Christianity in particular. The question was consistently asked in a critical or condescending manner and I knew that as soon as the person asked the question that he/she was more than likely looking for a debate rather than actually trying to learn.

The question could be and would be asked in many different ways. For example, ”Since Jesus’ blood and sacrifice is what brings cleansing to my life, why do I need sweetgrass or a sweatlodge?” or even more simply “Why do I need - to go to a lodge, go to a feast, smoke a pipe, burn sweetgrass, get a name, etc….?

There are many ways that I could answer this question.

A. With a flippant/sarcastic remark. Such as “Why do we need a pulpit, or a church, or guitars, or pianos, or prayer meetings, or promise keepers, or seeker services, or evangelistic rally’s, or youth meetings, etc…?” None of these things in and of themselves add anything to Christianity. Of course, whenever I made this comment it always lead to more argument and people drawing lines in the sand.

B. A Second Consideration. I suppose that a valid case can be made for the fact that, in reality, a person actually does not need any of the First Nations traditions, including a First Nations person. Traditions, in and of, themselves will not make you or anybody a better person. Christianity or Traditions will only make you a better person if you choose to believe, choose to accept the ways of the Father, and make the effort to be a better person

C. The question, when examined on a more deeper level, is a question about theology. The person who asks the question is bringing, perhaps imposing, his/her Christian theology onto the First Nation tradition and trying to compare it with the First Nations tradition. These type of comparisons will only lead to confusion and are not fair to either faith system. First Nations traditions are best viewed and understood by people who participate within those traditions (I am suggesting that you participate, if you truly want to learn). It is hard to see their value when you look at them through a purely Evangelical/Pentecostal lens.

D. I personally believe that First Nations traditions are of immense value, especially to the First Nation person, and can be practiced in a manner that brings honour and remains faithful to the message to Jesus Christ and the Father of All. The traditional ways strongly promote, simplistically put, the values of love, health, healing, community, and doing the the right thing. It is one of the few environments where a First Nations person can feel truly comfortable and feel a sense of ownership and connection. It is for this reason that I believe it is needed. A First Nation person is not going to find that same sense of ownership or connection within a typical evangelical/pentecostal church. 

A Response to the Twelve Questions

At the heart of these questions and concerns are four issues:

1. Theology/Doctrine
The concerns generally come out of the believers understanding of the Bible and how Christian faith and church is to be practiced in the world. There seems to be an assumption that there is a pure type of Christianity, that is already in existence or that we can somehow achieve this pure Christianity. It is perceived by some of the questions/concerns that native traditions and ideas would somehow taint pure Christianity. 

The questions and concerns fail to recognize the European influence and the incredible amount of European symbols already mixed into the practices of the church and society. The cross and the Bible are the prime examples of the European influence on Christianity. The questions and concerns are asking if the native practices are right or wrong, however it seems that no one evaluates or questions what already exists in the church and Christian practice. The Euro-centrality of the church and the syncretistic practices of hundreds of years are conveniently overlooked

Native tradition for the most part is monotheistic in belief. The people who practice profess a belief in only one God/Creator. However, some traditional people call or rely upon spirits or spirit helpers to give guidance and strength. But does that mean that the Holy Spirit cannot be invited into a ceremony? The ceremonies/traditions in some instances need to be practiced in different locations (outdoors), but I don’t believe they need to be changed. The focus of any spiritual practice has to be on the relationship of God/Creator, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit with His people.

Further to this, the questions and concerns are, at times, coming from a less than objective mindset. The questions generally arise from a person who believes that the personal theology and the doctrines that he or she holds to are so right and so proven that they cannot possibly be challenged or that doctrines cannot be shaped by new perspectives. The comments then become comparisons of one belief against another or an imposition of Christian doctrine on to the traditional practice or belief.

2. Personal struggle with God
The concerns are sometimes really asking, “Would God be pleased?” I have met a lot of Christians who have a Christianity based on fear. They internally struggle to know if God loves them or if God is pleased with them and thus they live out a faith where they question everything they or someone else does. They choose to do or not do based on their own answer to whether God is pleased with them. I don’t recommend people blindly go into ceremonies, where they do not trust the leader or have no idea about what is going on. Because you have to be wise in this respect and be careful, but I also would say that about church.

It is unfortunate that there are not many followers of Jesus leading native ceremonies, so if a person is genuinely seeking for answers then they may have to rely on non-Christian elder. It’s not such a bad thing to be taught by a non Christian elder, provided that the elder is someone who is trustworthy.

Each individual has their own limits and I never recommend people do something they are not comfortable doing, but just because one person is not comfortable with something it doesn’t mean we all have to be uncomfortable with it

3. Personal Issues
The strength of Christianity is that it offers hope to anyone in need. However its strength is sometimes its weakness, Christianity attracts dysfunctional people, who then become dysfunctional leaders. Christianity attracts people who have problems with relationship, have issues of fear, anger, control, and addictions, and who truly do not understand honesty. It consistently attracts people who have a poor self-concept.

These are people who have always been told what to do and how to act and thus they lack confidence in their abilities and even more damaging they lack confidence in God’s abilities. Their questions sometimes speak of their own personal fears, such as their fear of rejection, fear of failure, and fear of the unknown.

4. Fear of People
I think it is sad that a whole generation of native people have not been given education or the freedom to practice their tribes or family’s traditional practices. The decision on whether or not traditional practices were of value was made for them by missionaries, churches, and Indian agents, who for the most part seen no value in the traditional practices.

Christians and churches are afraid to talk about native traditions because they fear that they will be blackballed or will lose friendships. So they do nothing, because it’s just easier to maintain the status quo

Fear is born out of ignorance and misunderstanding. Fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of failure and fear of abandonment are some of the common fears that people encounter. Fear can be and is a great motivator. People will act or not act because of fear.

I think that a lot of the confusion, misunderstanding, and rejection of this topic is motivated by fear and not by sound reason. Fear causes a person to close up their understanding and reasoning ability, it causes a person “to put up walls”. When we encounter fear our defence mechanism is usually either to fight or flee.The dynamic that takes place in the church about this topic is to fight against it or to close the door on it and reject it

God-centred spirituality vs. Culture-centred spirituality
I strongly promote, from a Christian perspective, First nation culture and traditions, but it is not a promotion of culture to the point where culture and tradition takes the place of God. I don’t think Jesus would be or is displeased when we worship him and pray to the Father in a traditional ceremony.

To have a truly healthy and effective spirituality, Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Father of All has to be the focal point. Culture and tradition is a tool that helps to teach us about God/Creator and is to be used to improve our relationship with God. With God/Jesus as the focal point of any tradition, practice or ceremony, then the possibility of the traditional practice to harm the worshipper is minimized.

Tradition when it is misused and misinterpreted allows for the animals, elements, or ceremonies to be in control. Creation and ceremony when given control becomes our spiritual guide, and thus our God. When culture, traditions, or objects are in control or are given control, then an abnormal spirituality is created that is based upon superstition and fear. I don’t think God meant for any tradition or ceremony to be in control of our spirituality. I believe true spirituality is found when an individual meets the Father in a setting or place that the Spirit has arranged.

So with that in mind I feel that every believer, when in a ceremony or service, needs to ask him or herself the following questions, “who is in control here?” Is it me?

Two important considerations for the leaders within this theological revolution
Although I am in favour of practicing Christianity in a purely First Nations setting and I have a set of beliefs and answers to the following questions, I believe there are a couple deeper theological considerations that need to be asked of the collective and should be addressed by all those involved in practicing Christianity in a First Nations manner. 

• To what extent should First Nations traditions be incorporated into the present church context and into the life of the individual follower of Christ? Are their limits that need to be set
• If traditional ways have been incorporated into a local ministry, to what extent should a Non-native person participate in native traditional ways

Twelve Questions

I think my journey from the tradition fearing Native Pentecostal minister to genuine explorer and to eventually becoming a native theological voice in the wilderness has given me some perspective on the questions or concerns that a person may ask as they are forced to encounter First Nations traditional beliefs.  It with this in mind that I present these twelve questions and concerns that have been consistently asked or raised at seminars and gatherings by those encountering First Nations traditional beliefs. I will also present a brief response to these questions and concerns in the next blog. The questions have most likely been encountered at one time or another by the handful of ministers leading the theological revolution. It is my intention by presenting these only to further the dialogue on the issue and to provide theological minds with another perspective on the issues.  

Twelve Common Questions/Concerns

The twelve common question, concerns, responses from Christians regarding the topic of First Nations traditions are:  

1. Is it necessary? Why do I need it? This is the number one question at every seminar and is asked in many different ways.  For example, since Jesus’ blood and sacrifice is what brings cleansing to my life, why do I need sweetgrass or a sweatlodge?

2. I am concerned about the pipe, the sweatlodge, tobacco, sweetgrass, cedar, and sage, or any other native tradition being brought into the church. Is it right to mix native traditions and Christianity?

3. Doesn’t the Bible tell us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and thus we shouldn’t put harmful things in our body, like tobacco? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:19-20.

4. Where do I “draw the line”? I like some things like the dancing and drums, but not other things, such as pipes, sweatlodge, and smoke.

5. What if I go into a ceremony and a “bad spirit” comes on me? Can a bad spirit come on me and will I need deliverance later?

6. I don’t understand the significance and I am apprehensive or fearful of native symbols, songs, protocol, and ceremonies. Do I need to be afraid of these things?

7. Native people who lack understanding of the traditional aspects of their people will ask how to go about learning traditional ways or they will make a comments like “I was never brought up this way”, or “my culture was alcohol, abuse and dysfunction”.

8. Do native people worship or call upon many gods/spirits? Do they talk to evil spirits, animal spirits, or spirit guides?

9. Should I participate in a native practice that causes my brother to stumble? What about the weaker brother?

10. How come you don’t see examples of traditional people living a victorious life or living in freedom?

11. Are you a Christian?

12. Non-natives will wonder “Why should I be responsible for the sins my ancestors perpetrated upon native people?

The manner in which you answer the questions and how much thought you want to put into the process is up to you. All I know is that your answers will set the path you want to take on this subject.