Share the Truth - Lent 2020

I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

The band, Guess Who, sang the words “Too many churches and not enough truth” in their song, Undun. It is a song is about the impending nervous breakdown of a young woman seeking answers and not finding any.

After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, his parting words in the book of Matthew are: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

His final words… they’re probably important.

Notice the Lord does not say establish churches. He says to make disciples of all nations, like Native nations. The United States, from its beginning, has dealt with Native American tribes as independent nations, which they are. And what have we, as Christians, done to follow Jesus’ final earthly command to us in regard to the Native American nations?

Have we shown them love, and as a function of that love, respect?

The sad truth is, we have not. In the least of our transgressions, we ignored them. In the worst, we (as in the early Christians in America) taught them their culture wasn’t worthy of God’s salvation for all nations. We damaged them with false doctrine and misguided mission work. Native Americans are in every state of the union and most major urban areas, but Native Christians are hard to find.

Too many churches and not enough truth. Indian Country is suffering a nervous breakdown where trauma and its manifestations – addiction, abuse, neglect, broken homes, suicide, violence – are becoming the identifying characteristics of its culture. Until they hear the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they will continue to search for the truth in false gods and worldly cures.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through Lutheran Indian Ministries' programs, we are finally bringing the true Words of God to the nations.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the truth we find in your Word. Help us to share that truth with our Native brothers and sisters seeking answers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galen Gritts (Cherokee)
St. Louis, Missouri