Answers to questions Native North Americans are asking
Question: I'm a Native American Indigenous person. I'm also a follower of Jesus. Some of my friends tell me that I'm abandoning being a Native American Indigenous person because I'm a believer in Jesus. I know that I'm still Indigenous. But I also know that I follow Jesus. I feel confused in my identity. Does God's Word say anything about this?
Answer: There is no direct reference to First Nations people in the Bible, but scripture does say we are all His children.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1.
Psalm 139:13 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
When I think of Psalm 139:13, it reminds me that when God was creating me, He knew what He was doing-making me a strong, proud, Indigenous female. I'm proud of my heritage. The struggle of modern day First Nation Christian is the feeling that we need to choose. Many of us are asked that same question . . . how can you be both? I've struggled with this question for many years since I became a Christian and have many traditional people in my circle. At first, I was scared of being challenged, but over time my actions showed the people around me that I can be both: a strong First Nations woman who follows Jesus.
In Philippians 2:10, I read "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Yes, that includes First Nations people!
The Bible's theme is about love, and the theme verse is one most of us know have heard: John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
This verse does not reference taking away anyone's heritage. As First Nations people, our heritage goes back hundreds of years. Before Columbus set foot on the "new world," First Nations people expressed their faith the only way they knew.
Jesus Christ, God's one and only son, came to earth, being born a babe in human form, to a family from the smallest tribe (Judah) in the Middle East, and knew what it was to be occupied by a strong outside culture. What did Jesus do? He treated them with love and compassion and asked the Father, His Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to "forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Laurie Wood Ducharme is a member of St. Theresa Point Anishininew First Nation (Oji-Cree), living in Winnipeg with her husband, George, and their son. She is involved with Ashawaabic Ministries, and serves on the boards of First Nations Community Church, Inner-City Youth Alive, and Indian Life Ministries.
Answer: First things first ... There are tens of thousands of Indigenous followers of Jesus Christ, including myself. There are also millions and millions of other racial groups from all over the world who are Jesus followers!
Our physical identity of race may be Indigenous, but our spiritual identity is what matters most!
"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach about Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being." (Galatians 1:13-16 NIV)
When I first became a follower of Christ, I struggled with my identity, also. I was born and raised on the St. Mary's First Nation, where I continue to live to this day. I felt like I was somehow turning my back on my people because of our history with the residential schools, but I could not deny that Jesus was doing something in my life that was truly amazing! So, I made the decision to follow Him with my whole heart, soul and mind and to accept whatever consequences may come as a result of that decision. Being told that I could not truly be an Indigenous person AND a follower of Jesus was a type of persecution.
"You are my friend if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater that his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." (John 15:14-20 NIV)
Since my decision to follow Christ wholeheartedly, He has not let me down . . . and He has promised never to leave nor forsake me.
"'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.' Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.'" (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, NIV)
My job as a follower of Christ was-and continues to be-to obey Him, to trust Him, and to live according to His will for my life. I needed to show consistency in my walk as an example to those who were watching me. One time, many people from my community, including my own mother and other family members, gave their lives over to Jesus Christ, also! Many of my friends that I had before I became a Christian came to accept and respect my decision to follow Christ, and they continue to be my friends today!
I have found that when family and friends are going through tough seasons in their lives, they look to us for guidance, advice and help when they need it most. It's important to recognize that when you are a follower of Christ, you will be doing your people a great service by praying for them regularly so that they, too, may experience His goodness and great salvation.
Finally, it's tempting to base your identity in Christ on physical things, such as race, nationality or religion. But the truth is that our identity in Christ is based on what He has done for us!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
An identity based on God's truth will not falter because He is trustworthy!
Here are a few Scriptures that will affirm your identity . . .
Romans 15:7-You are accepted.
John 15:16-You are chosen.
Galatians 4:7-You are free.
1 John 1:9-You are forgiven.
Genesis 1:27-You are made in His image.
Philippians 3:20-You are a citizen of Heaven.
Ephesians 2:19-You are a part of God's family.
Romans 8:38-39; John 3:16-You are loved.
John 1:12-You are His child!
Richard Paul was born in Woodstock N.B and raised on the St Mary's First Nation in Fredericton NB where he currently lives with his wife Melody. Together, they have three children and one grandchild. He is currently the worship leader for the First Nations Christian Outreach on St Mary's FN and leads worship on the Tobique FN near Perth Andover NB. He has recorded three full-length contemporary Christian albums, and is also the owner of Specialty Maples, which provides maple tone wood for some of the world's largest and oldest guitar manufacturers in the world, including Gibson and Fender musical instruments.
