The Heart of the Cherokee – from a Native

I have spent much time with an amazing man of God this week. He is Cherokee and knows his people. I asked him to write me some truth on the Cherokee people. Below, you will find a peice of his heart….

Missions to Indigenous Peoples

In all grace and humility I will attempt to share some insights about missions and indigenous people groups.  As a native American pastor of a church that is located on a reservation, I have observed many things done right and wrong by brothers and sisters who come to minister to the people of Cherokee. I will share a few instances of each in the hopes of bringing encouragement and exhortation with the stated goal of bringing glory to our King.
 

Things that are done properly:

1.  Missionaries that go to minister in a region where there is already an established Biblical church, go and be a support to what God has already established.  Those mission teams that have come in and said "pastor, how can we serve the church in it's mission?" are a blessing to weary pastors, and pleasing to our Father in Heaven.

2. Those missionaries that understand that Jesus is not an American.  Missionaries who go with a Kingdom agenda, to see the kingdom of God and Christ formed in the hearts and lives of an indigenous people and not an attempt to make the indigenous people look like the missionaries and their western culture.  In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, free nor slave, male nor female, American or Cherokee, but Christ is all and is in all, and that is all that matters.

3. Those missionaries that understand that while an indigenous people may have never heard the name of Jesus, they may possess a level of understanding of the truth that God has written on their hearts.  See Romans chapter 1!  Rather than rejecting everything about their culture because it doesn't look like yours, instead, redeem what is true and instruct in the way of truth in those areas that are not in accordance with Kingdom living.
 

Things that are done incorrectly:

Rather than list them all separately, suffice to say, the opposite of everything above.  History has shown the opposite of the above to be standard operating procedure for many well meaning and not so well meaning missionaries.  We have seen the fulfillment of such scriptures as when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and told them that they would "travel half the world to make one convert, and when you do you make him twice the son of Hell that you are!" So the question of the heart that each must answer before the Lord is this:  "has GOD called me to the work that I am engaged in, or am I doing my own will (choosing a profession for yourself and hanging God's name plate on it)?" If the answer be yes, He has called me, then walk in humble submission to the word and to the Spirit as you go.  Fear GOD, honor the King and in all things to Christ Jesus be the glory!
 

————————