From the website for The Lausanne Global Conversation, here's a great post by Dewi Hughes with his thoughts about ethnicity and identity as it concerns indigenous Christianity and evangelization. Although he focuses on language as a source of cultural identity, it has a lot of application to the arts as well. Please check it out!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ethnicity And Identity | Lausanne Global Conversation
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This article touches on something the western church is guilty of and most of us don't really know what to do with that guilt. Seriously, what do we do as 21st century believers upon realizing our ancestors have belittled and dismissed the cultures unlike our own as "uncivilized"? What do the English do regarding their treatment of the Irish? Or the Australian's treatment of the Aboriginals? What do we Americans do regarding our treatment of native Americans? All three of these cultures (English, Australian and American) tried to obliterate what they saw as "inferior" cultures and in many cases, the people doing the obliterating were professing Christians. I'm just beginning to realize how arrogant I really am (culturally speaking) and also beginning to realize that this is horrendous sin. Now, what does the offending culture (like mine) do in regards to those cultures my culture has offended? I honestly don't know. I would love to see the arts act as a bridge between cultures -- to build up and affirm each culture as created and validated by God. That sounds like a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts. I know (though not in a detailed way) that the Australian government has tried to address some of those issues. I'm not sure about Britain, regarding the Irish (or Scotish for that matter). And, of course, our government has done practically nothing in any official way to apologize for what was done (and is still being done) to Native Americans.
ReplyDeleteWhere does that leave you and me as individuals? I don't know an easy answer, either, although a couple of books I've read have some general thoughts about the church's role (One Church Many Tribes and Whiteman's Gospel). I'd recommend reading either one as a starter. Supporting native-led ministries (financially or otherwise) is another step, which is something I've been considering. And to see the arts utilized as a bridge of healing would be awesome, although that might have to be approached on an individual basis per artist. Have you had any ideas in that direction?