Native American Christianity

[Didymous]

I am blessed to have had some exposure to a very little of US Indian culture. In grammar school, in Long Beach, California, believe it or not, Indians came to one of my elementary schools and demonstrated facets of their lifestyle before "we" got there.
Forgive me, i WAS VERY young, but I believe they wee Navajo. They demonstrated some of their dances, and I was particularly impressed by the rain dance which I "learned." I believe I recall a small bit of th chanting or singing also. Chanter is to sing in French. They were very kind to a little kid, I think I was six or seven. These particular Indians wore feathers in a circular shield-like shape on the outside of their legs at the knees. It is certain I did not get a true image of everything, but I have loved all American Indians since., for all tht is worth.

When I firt came to believe I was given a story about American INdians how they expected a Savior to come from beyond the "big water". Also, though I am not certain if it is connected, I blieve they knew some of the Word from th Sars. I know there is what is called the dragon that wraps practically all around the earth, how appropriate. Anyway it faces a seated woman..Cassiopeia. I believe the American Indians, some at least, saw this in their own way, but a dragon attacking a lady..

All I know is I will not judge anyone as condemned just because they understand differtly than I. I do confront any who claim to be in Christ and misrepresent Him though.

I do know this, God says, "So what if I justify the ungodly." I believe this is in reference to how some people see others, therefore I do not judge unto condemnation for in so doing I would be judging me the same..God bless you.

Yes, the Navajos are a very kind people. I met many when I went to school in New Mexico.

 

[JaumeJ]

I am going to say something about myself, and no, it makes me no more knowledgeable about our family who asre American Indians, but my grandmother told me when I was very young that our family from her husband's side have American Indian blood. I probably have this part wrong because I cannot find any such tribe, but she said the tribe is Pit or Pitt Indian, and they were pea-pckers, meaning they were not warl-like. Anwya, I have always felt a pride in that. Now, My blood is so very mixed from European that I have always kind of liked the idea of having a bit of all bloods, but I do not think I do, tht is unless we go vack to NOah, then praie God, I do.

 

[JaumeJ]

Here is kind of how the singing or chanting sounded. "Hoy-ya Hoy-ya........and more..."

 

[Didymous]

I am going to say something about myself, and no, it makes me no more knowledgeable about our family who asre American Indians, but my grandmother told me when I was very young that our family from her husband's side have American Indian blood. I probably have this part wrong because I cannot find any such tribe, but she said the tribe is Pit or Pitt Indian, and they were pea-pckers, meaning they were not warl-like. Anwya, I have always felt a pride in that. Now, My blood is so very mixed from European that I have always kind of liked the idea of having a bit of all bloods, but I do not think I do, tht is unless we go vack to NOah, then praie God, I do.

There's a Pitt River tribe in California. Maybe that's the onen

 

[Didymous]

I am going to say something about myself, and no, it makes me no more knowledgeable about our family who asre American Indians, but my grandmother told me when I was very young that our family from her husband's side have American Indian blood. I probably have this part wrong because I cannot find any such tribe, but she said the tribe is Pit or Pitt Indian, and they were pea-pckers, meaning they were not warl-like. Anwya, I have always felt a pride in that. Now, My blood is so very mixed from European that I have always kind of liked the idea of having a bit of all bloods, but I do not think I do, tht is unless we go vack to NOah, then praie God, I do.

There's a Pitt River tribe in California. Maybe that's the one.

 

[JaumeJ]

Are they historically pea-picking and non-warlike? That description is not an insult by the way. I speak of people in love always.

There's a Pitt River tribe in California. Maybe that's the onen

 

[Marcelo]

There are a number of significant reasons Native Americans are so strongly against becoming Christians, as the following will show.

First, the whole "Manifest Destiny" thing. The idea that white people were divinely ordained to settle the whole continent of North America-which necessarily meant removing and/or destroying the Native people already here. The premise that white people were inherently superior, and the conviction that God had ordained them to conquer the North American territories from sea to shining sea led to forced removal and/or violent extermination of the Aboriginal people who were viewed as blocking the furtherance of racial and technological progress.

I think Native Americans didn't reject the true Jesus Christ -- they just rejected the Pale Faces' interpretation of the Gospel.

The gospel announced by protestants in the New Land was better than that of the RCC, but was not the same gospel of the Early Church. Our church fathers really had the power of the Holy Spirit and didn't have to rely exclusively on Bible study.

I am proud to have an Indian last name. My great grandfather loved native Brazilians so much that he replaced his original family name with a native one. Back then it was quite easy to adopt a different name when immigrating from Europe to Brazil.

Until mid 1700s Brazil was a bilingual country; apart from Portuguese, most people from North to South spoke Tupi. Too bad this language was forbidden by the Portuguese colonists -- we lost an important cultural asset. Our first and last good ruler, Emperor Dom Peter the Second (mid 1800s), was fluent in Tupi.

 

[pottersclay]

Imo I think we're all missing the point. The author of the o p along with myself.

As long as we keep using the term native Americans...whites.. or even different denominations as the fault which can be historically proven or debated the issue is by cause and effect from wolves in sheep's clothing that made a people harden to the word of God.
Satan has used his racial card on many people.
Jesus has bridged those gaps in so many ways during his ministry. And he does even so today.
We can never undo what has been done but we can shine a light on to it and expose it for what it truly is.
Paul says we are without excuse.....the Lord has covered all the bases....we all must seek his will and ways.
These are the battle grounds all over this globe. And all are precious to the Lord.
There are many different cultures and traditions that exist that blinds them from the truth. Remembering that our King had come to save and not condemn should be our first thought.
I'm not saying that all will be saved but untill the time of the gentiles are fulfilled there will be no end.
Love is the universal language and action that will bring the walls down not unity with race and color.
With Christ as our advocate all things are possible.

 

[oldethennew]

each and everyone's parents and backwards were 'native' to their inherited circumstances -
................................................................................................................................

 

[Didymous]

I'll never understand people who focus on race.

Well, maybe you should try harder.

 

[Didymous]

Depends on the motive. If it is to stick with old pagan beliefs I wouldn't. Otherwise things are just things.

Did you miss the Christian part?

 

[Didymous]

Hello Thomas. I am glad you asked that, because I have been curious about it I have participated in sweats and medicine circles, but that was before becoming Christian. The thing I am curious about the sweats you participate in is, are they traditional sweats where you give honor to your ancestors, or are the sweats you participate in Christian focused? Or is it a mix, with all beliefs welcome, giving you an opportunity to witness to others? Thank you for inviting our questions I have been wanting to ask, but did not want to pry

Did you miss the Christian part?

 

[JaumeJ]

Well, maybe you should try harder.

I totally missed out on following this earlier. Thank you D...……..do you know any more abou the Pitt Indians???

 

[Didymous]

I can see why you are angry. It makes me angry too, to think that so many men and women have been hindered in coming to God because of what men did to them who claimed to know God. I will pray for you that God shows you how to reach them.

I'm not angry, i'm sad.

I totally missed out on following this earlier. Thank you D...……..do you know any more abou the Pitt Indians???

I know a few, but I'm unaware of whatever you're asking about. I don't get much news.

 

[Didymous]

I'm not angry, i'm sad.


I know a few, but I'm unaware of whatever you're asking about. I don't get much news.

You mean the marijuana raid?

 

[JaumeJ]

Just curious about the culture and so on. I have always been aware of the unholy manifest destiny……….just as I am aware of the unholy Monroe Doctrine......hwoe I came to be so , I have no idea.....

 

[Jackson123]

There are a number of significant reasons Native Americans are so strongly against becoming Christians, as the following will show.

First, the whole "Manifest Destiny" thing. The idea that white people were divinely ordained to settle the whole continent of North America-which necessarily meant removing and/or destroying the Native people already here. The premise that white people were inherently superior, and the conviction that God had ordained them to conquer the North American territories from sea to shining sea led to forced removal and/or violent extermination of the Aboriginal people who were viewed as blocking the furtherance of racial and technological progress.

What this meant for us was that the government would force us off our homelands onto reservations, where men professing to be Christians would steal most of the food allocated to us and sell it for their own gain. And then the government forced two generations of children to boarding schools. At these schools, men(and women)professing to be Christians beat, tortured, and raped these children. Punishment was for crimes such as speaking in the only language they'd ever spoken, and other "serious" offenses. My mother told me many stories of her experiences at Chemawa Indian School in Oregon.
When those children returned to their families, they no longer had anything in common with them. Many were sent to trade schools and forced to live and work in cities, so if they ever returned to their people's there was a vast gulf between who they were, and who they should've been.

Then there was the whole eugenics thing, where Indian Health Services clinics and hospitals were routinely sterilizing Native women-perhaps as many as 50% of all Native women, until the giovernment finally put a stop to that in the 1970s.

I am a Native man. Someone pointed out that I wasn't a full blood(which is true), but blood quantum wasn't an issue for us before colonization. Blood quantum is 100% a non Native creation, and nothing we went by prior to the coming of a white man.

Another person pointed out that I was racist, and implied that I thought "whity was bad.". I never thought that, and can't even understand why someone would think I would. Doing so would entail hating half of myself, and that would not only make me stupid, but crazy as well.

The reason I made this post was to let my Christian Brothers and sisters know the challenges I had to overcome, and the challenges other Natives are facing, before becoming Christian. These things are of vital importance to me, because I need to figure out how to respond to these obstacles. I was fortunate to meet a few Christians who weren't afraid to come witness to me where I was. There are a lot more JWs and Mormons out there doing the very same thing, and i've met so many Natives professing to be Mormons and JWs. It ought not to be so. The last time I saw Christians reaching out to this Native community was at Easter, and they came here from Russia to witness to the people in my youngest daughter's community. Some people think I'm angry, and I am, but not for the reason you might think. I'm angry with myself, because I don't know how to tell my own people that we've believed a lie all this time. Real Christians don't do all the things we've been believing they did. I know this because of a few brave souls who witnessed to me. I felt God's love through them, and even though I didn't get saved until years later, I never forgot those people who showed me Jesus Christ, and His love.

So, my brothers and sisters, I don't hate you, I love you. Like Paul, I have an overwhelming love for my people, who are being left to the JWs, and the mormons. I hope some of you will benefit from knowing how hard it is for Native people to even consider Christianity. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, and we know that the preaching of the cross is the power of God.

I know that God is in control, but I also know that He said that the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few

I was talk to Native American man. He ask me as Indonesian who is your God. I say my God is jesus, he put his hand close to my hand, and say, look at you skin, your skin like my skin, you are not white, Jesus is white's God.

I think, most Native American believe all white are Christian, so when white enslave them, they think Christian enslave them, than they look Christian as their enemy.

We have to think correctly, not all white are real Christian, real Christian not racist, not enslave other.

It is normal for worldly people, the strong, or the rich enslave the weak, it happen to every race. White black or red.

If some white do not like you, or racist, it do not mean Christian are racist.
Christianity do not teach racist, Jesus teach all the way around.

Jesus say racist not go to heaven.

Matt 25

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited

me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Depart from me (go to hell) ...................because Iwas stranger you not took me in.


Stranger can mean other race.

So Jesus teach racist not go to heaven.

some white do not like other race do not mean Christian are racist.

Some Indonesian "Christian " do not like white do not mean Christian are racist.

 

[Hevosmies]

Thanks for sharing! Wish I could say something to help but I know absolutely nothing about Native Americans, ive never been to America and i havent read much about them.

The last people you want to be on this planet is indigenous anything! You will get stomped out!

Native Americans, The Australian aboriginals, the Sami people of Scandinavia, and the list goes on

I've often wondered why is it that native populations across the globe are always decimated? Gypsies dont have a homeland but we've always had it rough, lucky we werent natives in a land though!

 

[crossnote]

Did you miss the Christian part?

Yes, I read the word 'Christian',
Are you saying some Christians don't stick with their old pagan ways?

Colossians 2:8,16,20-22 KJV
[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days : [20] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which all are to perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men?

 

[JaumeJ]

While in the Rockies several summers, people would tell me things about the Indians of the US. It is probably mostly oral tradition like the Hebrews but it bears recognition to some degree.

Someone told me how the Indians kndw of the coming one day of people with the truth.. The Indians, w3hich I know not, could read the story of the Gosples in the stasrs. The only part of it I could understand was the part about the dragon attacking the woman. The dragon exgtend over the horizon and faces Casiopea the seated woman.

There was so much more to it I di not capture inmy mind, but it made me think the Indians knew about our Lord's coming via thos announced newcomers one day. Now no one said they would all be good folks, actually the vast majority were very cruel to the indigenous folks.

If all were proper and honest, the land belongs to all people, but thss will not become commonplace until the Kingdo when we live with our Father forever.