"Keep America Beautiful" commercial

April 22 is Earth Day – a day to foster awareness and appreciation for the earth’s environment.

Over the years, I’ve seen an increasing awareness of the deep abiding respect that Native North Americans have for the earth.

I think I first noticed it as a child, when I saw the “Keep America Beautiful commercial on t.v., which featured an Indian who shed a tear over the growing problem of pollution and littering.  Perhaps you saw it too.

A friend of mine, Dean Ohlman, says there are several aspects of Native spirituality, centering around their respect for creation, that can provide a natural bridge to Christianity.  I’ll list just a few:

1. Belief in God (the Great Spirit) and that He is the Creator, the source of life, the source of intelligence, and sovereign over the affairs of people.
2. Belief that the Creator desires for His people to live together in unity in caring communities.
3. Belief that it is important to show thankfulness to the Creator on a regular basis.
4. Belief that people ought to be content with enough and always be ready to share.
5. Belief that technology is not the source of true happiness and satisfaction in life.
6. Belief that the earth is a gift from the Creator to be used with care and compassion.

As I’ve reflected on Dean’s thoughts here, I realized how very true the Apostle Paul’s words were in Romans 1:19-20:

“What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (NIV)

Richard Twiss explains in his book, One Church Many Tribes, that God has been at work among Native communities long before the first European missionaries arrived.  He says “The witness of God – the natural revelation of creation – was so strong on this continent that no tribal person could ever say as an excuse, ‘We never knew of You’.”

Sadly, some Natives, and a growing number of non-Native people today, have come to worship the creation instead of, or in addition to, the Creator.  We must be cautious of this – and we must take advantage of the opportunity it gives us to point people to Christ.  Earth Day gives us a great opportunity to remind people that if you seek to honor and celebrate the earth, be sure to also honor and celebrate the One who made it:  Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5 (TNIV)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created:  things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – Colossians 1:15-20 (TNIV)

For thoughts on Christian environmental stewardship, check out Dean Ohlman’s website, The Wonder of Creation, from RBC Ministries.

- by Rich Avery

U. S. Tax Deadline

Today, April 15, is tax day in America.  Like most people, I don’t typically have warm feelings for “the tax man.”

However, I do have great appreciation for one retired tax collector who wrote a book that has taught me a lot about how to live a generous life and build authentic relationships with others.

His name is Levi (some call him Matthew).  He liked to hang out with people who were “messed up”, who didn’t believe or do the right things.  Some said it was wrong for him to associate with them until they got their act together.  But a new friend, Jesus, said it wasn’t Levi’s job to change them.  All he needed to do was introduce them to the One who could bring about real life change.

Sadly, some well-meaning people in the Church (and in WNAM’s 60-year history), have wanted to force “change” on Native people – to make them dress, talk, or act the “white”, um, I mean “right” way.

I’m so glad for the wisdom of our dear elder, Dr. Jerry Yellowhawk, who reminds us that Jesus called us to be fishers of men.  Our job is to catch the fish, Jerry says, and leave it to the Holy Spirit to clean them.

In other words, it is not up to us to change Native people or their culture.  Our job is to help Native people make the connection to God through Jesus Christ.  Then, through culturally-appropriate mentoring and discipleship, the Holy Spirit takes it from there.

Thank you for your continued support, which will help us impact several new Native communities this year, across North America.

- by Rich Avery

"Sundancer Christ" by Fr. John Giuliani

Most Native North American people groups have a story of how their people were created, and this story has been passed down orally for hundreds or thousands of years.

And many have a story of a Messiah-like figure who will sacrifice himself in order to deliver or bring greater enlightenment to their people. But few make the connection to Jesus Christ as both their Creator and Messiah.

The Lakota, and other nations of the Plains, have a ritual called the Sun Dance, where men will punish or sacrifice themselves by piercing their body or tearing their flesh in order to hopefully bring about a closer connection to Creator – not only for themselves but for their entire community.

On this Good Friday, I thought you’d enjoy watching a video by Rev. Larry Salway, the Lakota pastor of He Sapa New Life Wesleyan Church in Rapid City, SD.

In this video, Pastor Larry helps Lakota people see the cultural connection between what the Lakota Sun Dancer hopes to accomplish by punishing his body, and what Jesus accomplished, once and for all, through his death and resurrection. Larry calls Jesus “Chief Cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22-23; Luke 20:17, Ephesians 2:19-20), and the “Greatest Sun Dancer”.

Click here to watch the video “The Greatest Sun Dancer”.

This video is part of a series produced by Larry and Rev. Ron Jensen, who together are co-presidents of a ministry called Life Initiatives in Rapid City, SD. Life Initiatives works in partnership with He Sapa to equip mentors who come alongside people in the community who want a better life through spiritual and personal life guidance, help in finding employment and achieving self-sufficiency, and more.

Happy Easter from Wesleyan Native American Ministries!

- by Rich Avery