Wednesday
Jul082009
Why Ministry Doesn't Work on the Rosebud Indian Reservation
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 12:00 AM
It's been more than a week since I've returned from the Rez and I haven't written any solid post on it. For that, I'm sorry. You can only blame sickness so many times, but personally, I blame jet skis. See Monday for what I'm taking about.
Going to the Rosebud Indian Reservation is always such a mixed experience. It can be an uplifting experience because you are forced to embrace a life of simplicity. All the complications of life tend to fade away and all that is left is figuring out how to serve others. Although it is a tiring way to live life, it can be a rewarding one. One might go crazy doing it constantly (and by one, I mean me), but it is always nice to shake up the system so.
However, one of the most frustrating things about being on the Rosebud Indian Reservation is seeing how many churches exist on the Rez. Going down the streets of Mission, SD, you can run into more churches than I can count on one hand. Now let's face the facts for a second. Mission, let alone the Rosebud Indian Reservation, isn't the most densely populated place on earth. One would think with so many churches that you would see more people wanting to embrace a Christian lifestyle. Instead what is seen is quite the opposite. A lot of churches with no one wanting to inhabit them.
This is what drives me crazy about the Rez. There are many people there that want to make a difference for Christ, that want to reach out to people on the reservation, but yet, they all have their own idea of how to do it. They all refuse (mostly) to work together. Imagine what could happen if everyone banded together with one common goal, to glorify the name of Christ, instead of lifting up their own personal mission.
It it moments like this that lead me to believe that ministry is dead and perhaps the Holy Spirit is either a) not being utilized or b) not real. If God really wanted to reach out to this people, wouldn't He take all of these "willing" servants and make sure they are all on the same page?
I don't think there will be a large shift there until the local ministries can begin to learn to work together. That usually requires humble spirits and selfless attitudes, but those are hard to come by wherever you are, not just the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Perhaps there will be a day when people will be able to lay aside their differences and work together. Until then, the message will be fragmented and the audience confused.
Going to the Rosebud Indian Reservation is always such a mixed experience. It can be an uplifting experience because you are forced to embrace a life of simplicity. All the complications of life tend to fade away and all that is left is figuring out how to serve others. Although it is a tiring way to live life, it can be a rewarding one. One might go crazy doing it constantly (and by one, I mean me), but it is always nice to shake up the system so.
However, one of the most frustrating things about being on the Rosebud Indian Reservation is seeing how many churches exist on the Rez. Going down the streets of Mission, SD, you can run into more churches than I can count on one hand. Now let's face the facts for a second. Mission, let alone the Rosebud Indian Reservation, isn't the most densely populated place on earth. One would think with so many churches that you would see more people wanting to embrace a Christian lifestyle. Instead what is seen is quite the opposite. A lot of churches with no one wanting to inhabit them.
This is what drives me crazy about the Rez. There are many people there that want to make a difference for Christ, that want to reach out to people on the reservation, but yet, they all have their own idea of how to do it. They all refuse (mostly) to work together. Imagine what could happen if everyone banded together with one common goal, to glorify the name of Christ, instead of lifting up their own personal mission.
It it moments like this that lead me to believe that ministry is dead and perhaps the Holy Spirit is either a) not being utilized or b) not real. If God really wanted to reach out to this people, wouldn't He take all of these "willing" servants and make sure they are all on the same page?
I don't think there will be a large shift there until the local ministries can begin to learn to work together. That usually requires humble spirits and selfless attitudes, but those are hard to come by wherever you are, not just the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Perhaps there will be a day when people will be able to lay aside their differences and work together. Until then, the message will be fragmented and the audience confused.
Reader Comments (5)
I guess to what extent do you believe in spiritual warfare and Satan being a hinderance to the ministry on the reservation? But then is God not stronger than those forces to help people overcome their divisions and be unified in Christ. But does it take human effort to say that yes there are divisions and yes I will decide to break them?
My friend's dad said that you can tell alot about a neighborhood by the amount of churches it has. The more there are, the neighborhood tends to be "worse". The fact that certain areas are targets for outreach indicates that there are people who (hopefully) genuinely want to help people. It also shows that perhaps that there is a bit of pride in doing so. Each denomination thinks they are "right" and it seems to me that it becomes more about "saving" people becuase this church/denomination has the truth.
This is one of my biggest problems with the church is that there is a lot of pride in possesing "the truth". The mission to spread this truth seems to supercede the commandment to just love people becuase it divides the church and allows people to forget that, yes, it is the holy spirit that "saves" people. There are definitely beautiful things happening on the reservation, but these instances of stubbornness make me wonder if there is a feeling that some churches spiritual calling/method is more superior than others.
All this to say: together, we the church need to humble ourself and meet the people where they have needs and not just set up a church that has the only way "present the truth" . If only it were that easy...it was a lot clearer in my head
You have to go into an area and ask God, "Who is the spiritual authority here?" And when He tells you, humble yourself, submit and help whatever God is already doing even if you think you can do a better job. God is not the author of confusion, but peace. He gave some to be leaders, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors.... God loves everybody the same - That is God's equality. But not everybody has the same spiritual calling, authority and gifting.
Man's church is run in the soul trying to usurp authority because you can bang off more scripture verses... stuff like that
God's Church is established in the spirit realm by the Holy Spirit and you have to submit to His spiritual order.
You can have all the soulish giftings in the world... the highest IQ, the best degree, reputation among man, cute hair cut.... and still have zip in the spirit.
I don't think there are too many churches. The church after all is not really the building, but the people. What I think that there is too much of is ineffective churches. Not like there is a perfect one, but as you said, why aren't more poeple running for a CHristian lifestyle.
I think it has to do with what the church has done in the past on the reservation and the fact that the people see all these "buildings
" and see how the people that claim to be CHristians inside them really act towards the community and towards other churches. i know that hypocracy by members of the church has adversly impacted people on the reservation.
The first century church wasn't about going to this building to sing songs and learn about how to not sin. It was more a group of people who met to encourage each other, say "I've got your back", and meet God as they studied the scriptures. THis isn't lost today, but in my experience, "the church experience" has become something about going to this building and doing this list of activities. Jesus did not walk down the street and say, "come to my church on sunday so you can learn about God!" He was involved in the community and listened/talked to them in everyday life.
I think this involvement in everyday life is how the church (the people) should be functioning. Yes, those chruch buildings are important too, but I think the real, "life changing" factor comes when people go into the community and love selflessly and endlessly, having only the label of Jesus Christ.
I think you all make some valid points here, and I think these funnel into part of the problems we are seeing on the Reservation.
Becky, I think you're onto most of what the larger problem is, the concept of the "Church" in North America is majorly flawed. However, it is easier to see in such an isolated setting.
Hello,
my name is mark and I have been longing to get out and go minister in a reservation. I have been searching the internet for ways to do this but have come up empty until I came across your blog. I share your frustration but, I know that was very frustrated with the church at a very early stage in its existence. REVIVAL is always the answer to a dead church and the Holy Spirit has been bringing new wine to new wine skins through out the centuries. Unfortunately the old wine skins sit around and rot after they have been replaced. Can you email me to let me know who you ministered to and how. I promise you that when we go to minister that we will not take a church name or brand but simply Jesus our Lord and Savior and the love he has shown to us.