Sunday 9 December 2007 - The White Man's Book of Heaven
As promised...
During our short history study of early 19th-century native resettlement, I was able to add in some reading from one of my favorite supplementary resources: Genevieve Foster’s World of… series. (I do have to be careful with these books, as they contain such a vast amount of interesting material that it would be very easy to get carried away…) Accordingly, much of our “reading together” on this topic came from Abraham Lincoln’s World.
I discovered therein a short chapter on Marcus & Narcissa Whitman, missionaries to the Nez Perce, and I read it to the kids early last week. In that chapter, Foster relates the event that spurred the Whitmans and others like them to travel west to reach out to the natives beyond the Rockies, and within that story are the poignant words of a Nez Perce who had hungered for the gospel. While Foster was probably not making a direct quote, these words are doubtless based on an actual statement and are haunting nonetheless. The lament of this Nez Perce has nothing to do with land-grubbing or poor treatment, and everything to do with a neglect of the worst kind. I find his words thought-provoking and disturbing, inasmuch as they are as relevant to Christianity today as they were back then.
It seems that in 1832, four Nez Perce Indians had travelled 2,000 miles from Oregon to St Louis on a mission from their tribe: to find the white man’s gospel. They were warmly welcomed, feasted and entertained for months-- and ultimately disappointed. As they were bid farewell, one rose and said:
”I came to you over the trail of many moons from the setting sun. My people sent me to get the white man’s Book of Heaven. You took me to where you allow your women to dance, as we do not ours: and the Book was not there! You took me to where they worship the Great Spirit with candles and images, and the Book was not there. You make my feet heavy with gifts, and yet the Book is not among them! I came with an eye partly open for my people who sit in darkness. How can I go back blind to my blind people? I have no more words.”
Wow. How often is this same scenario carried out today? How often do people come to churches and to individual Christians, seeking one thing-- only to be offered everything but?
I don’t think any further commentary from me is needed.
Quote from Abraham Lincoln’s World (Expanded Edition), by Genevieve Foster & Joanna Foster, p. 173
Edited later to add: I read somewhere recently that this story was probably not true, although it did have some factual basis. Now I am a little chagrined that I made such a big deal about it-- copywork, blogpost, etc. Nevertheless, it is still good food for thought. |
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Loved your comment! You should do the Christmas...New Year...family letter thing again! You crack me up!
Peace and Laughter,
Cristina