New Book: Dying in Indian Country - An Amazing Family Story

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This is a true story of an American tribal member who, after coming to know Jesus Christ, realized just how much liberal policies within tribal and federal government were hurting his extended family.  

Roland grew up watching members of his family die of alcoholism, child abuse, suicide, and violence on the reservation. Like many others, he blamed all the problems on “white people.”  

Beth Ward grew up in a middle class home in the suburbs. Raised in a politically left family, she also believed that all problems on the reservation originated with cruel treatment by settlers and the stealing of land. Meeting her husband, her first close experience with a tribal member, she stepped out of the comfort of suburban life into a whole new, frightening world.

After almost ten years of living with his alcoholism and the terrible dangers that came with it, they both came to realize that individual behavior and personal decisions were at the root of a man’s troubles, including their own. After coming face-to face with the reality of Jesus Christ, their eyes opened to the truth of why there is so much Dying in Indian Country.  

What cannot be denied is that a large number of Native Americans are dying from alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, and violence. The reservation, a socialistic experiment at best, pushes people to depend on tribal and federal government rather than God, and to blame all of life's ills on others. The results have been disastrous. Roland realized that corrupt tribal government, dishonest federal Indian policy, and the controlling reservation system had more to do with the current pain and despair in his family and community than what had happened 150 years ago.  

Here is the plain truth in the eyes of one family, in the hope that at least some of the dying in Indian Country — physical, emotional, and spiritual — may be recognized and prevented. Unfortunately, persistent public misconceptions about Indian Country, misconceptions sometimes promoted by tribal government and others enjoying unaudited money and power, have worked to keep the situation just as it is.

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• “Roland truly has encouraged many people…the last trip to D.C. was a testimony to God’s faithfulness.” Rev. Robert Guthrie, B.Th. M.A. –Professor, Vanguard College, AB
• “…he earned my deepest respect, and…made heroic and very honorable attempts to improve the lot of Native Americans in this country.” Jon Metropoulos, Attorney, Helena, MT
• “‘Dying in Indian Country’ is a compassionate and honest portrayal…I highly recommend it to you!” Reed Elley, former Member of Parliament, Canada; Chief Critic for Indian Affairs in 2000; Baptist Pastor, father of four native and metis children
• “I truly admire Roland for the message he was trying to have heard.” Ralph Heinert, Montana State Representative
• “He was a magnificent warrior who put himself on the line for the good of all…. I can think of no-one at this time in this dark period of Indian history who is able to speak as Roland has.” Arlene, tribal member
• “…hope emerging from despair… This is a story about an amazing life journey.” Darrel Smith. Writer, Rancher, South Dakota
• “He’s a Christian now you know… I saw him crying on his knees on my living room floor. I was there.” Sharon, tribal member
• "...truly gripping, with a good pace." Dr. William B. Allen, - Emeritus Professor, Political Science, MSU and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1989)

Read More:

• Website: dyinginindiancountry.com
• Twitter: twitter.com/WriteBethWard
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/DyingInIndianCountry

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Theology of Atonement - Part II, the History

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History, Continued from Part I:

Fifty days later, at Mount Sinai, God gave His law as the foundation of His covenant. (Exodus chapters 19-24). The early animal sacrifices were always symbolic, and blood was always known to be sacred and necessary for atonement and forgiveness. This was true of all bloody sacrifices from the beginning, but now, with Mosaic Law, it was especially true. Burnt offerings, originally from the primeval and patriarchal age, were now joined by other forms of sacrifice. With the previous burnt offerings, the worshipper had not yet broken the Covenant God was to have with Israel, and the offering was meant to cover the general sin attached to every man. The new "sin offering" expressed that covenant WAS broken through the offense, and the offering was meant to restore relationship with God.

There are several Old Testament words for sin. The primary ones being looked at here are Chataah, Chattath, Chata, and Chet. They all refer to an offense, a sacrifice for sin, or a sin offering. Chata is a deeper word, and can also refer to the offender himself, to a habitual sin, to forfeit, repent, lead astray, condemn, bear the blame, or purify. Also used in Lev. 4:3b is the word "Ashmah," which means guiltiness, a fault, or the presentation of a sin offering. It is translated as "offend," "cause of sin," and "trespass." "Shagah," used in Lev. 4:13, means to stray, transgress, be encaptured, and is translated as to "err," "be ravished," "sin through ignorance," and "wander." "Peri Amartia" from Lev. 4:35, 5:6, and 6:17 of the Septuagint, meant "sin-offering."

These offerings were not for the sake of man or the state, but for God. (Lev. 4:1-32, 5:1-8). In addition, the law now divided sacrifices into different classes for different purposes and kept them before the eyes of Israel. God demonstrated the importance of the blood at the consecration of the priests, birth of a child, and even high festivals. (Ex. 23:14-18, 29; Lev. 1-4:1-32, 5:1-19, 6:1-37, and 16:33).

After the covenant was read and accepted by the people of Israel, it needed to be established with blood. Several bulls were killed, and their blood was sprinkled on the altar, the book of the covenant, and the people. This event was the first recorded time of blood being sprinkled directly on people, and therefore, intimates greater accountability.

Immediately after this sacrificial rite, the Lord announced that he wanted a sanctuary built and He would dwell among them. (Exodus chapters 25-30.) He gave strict directions for the building of the tabernacle and it was functionally designed for blood sacrifice. God's blueprint included the necessary furniture designed for the purification of worshippers and the killing of animals, as well as the Most Holy Place, where only the high priest could enter - carrying blood.

Later, the fact that the sanctuary furniture was sprinkled with blood during certain sacrifices reminds the Israelites that the sanctuary was an symbol for the way God inhabits His church and dwells among His people. (Lev. 16:16) It wasn't the building itself that was unworthy; the sins of the people made the sanctuary unworthy as a dwelling place for God. However, God could continue to dwell there if He beheld the blood of atonement. That the people needed the reconciliation and not the place is evidenced in the fact the ceremonies were for the transgressions of Israel (Lev. 16:16) and made atonement for the people and the priests (Lev. 16:33)

The importance of the Blood is further illustrated through the description of the Day of Atonement. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest brought the Blood of the sin offering, which had been collected in front of the people, into the Most Holy Place, where no one but himself was allowed. This illustrates that the Blood offering was for God alone, and the transaction was to take place between only God and His representative. Lev. 17:11.

ALL Bloody sacrifices were atoning. Number one, blood sacrifice was shocking in its character; satisfaction came only through a victim's death. But they also pointed out to the worshipper that he had offended God and God was forced to separate from him. God could not sacrifice His holiness for the sake of His love for the worshipper. So while estranged from God for having broken the covenant, the Israelite was very aware that not only did he have ceremonial guilt and was separated from God's presence, but that death must ensue because the wages of sin is death. The main thought under Mosaic Law was that transgressions violated the order of the universe and had to be punished. No regrets could remove the guilt, so death is the only recourse.

Interestingly, the sins that the Mosaic sacrifices atoned for were not moral sins, such as murder, adultery or idolatry, but offenses against ceremonial law and theocratic purity, including involuntary oversights and sins of ignorance. (Lev. 12:7-8, Num. 6:11). The Law was an external, arbitrary law, and external, arbitrary atonements could cover the resulting offenses to the Law. The Law and its atonement had come into being at the same time, in order to relieve the worshipper, to develop the idea of sin, and awaken consciences to the fact of sin. The same authority that instituted the ceremonial rites could cancel the offenses.

This was not mere penitence. The mediating priest and the laying of his hands on the worshipper's head indicates that the guilt was transferred vividly. The effect of the sacrifices was remission of the penalty, independent of contrition and remorse. Nor was it renewal of homage. It had nothing to do with a friendly feast, but was intended to transfer the sinner's guilt on to a victim. It was meant to prevent penalty that had been earned, and to secure remission of sin (Lev. 4:20)

Continued Part III - The Ritual

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Prayer for dealing with hurts

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Continued from Part III, Seven Promises of Forgiveness

Steps in Prayer to find relief and release from the pain of having been hurt by someone -

Some like to have a Prayer Partner to walk through this with.  Others prefer it to be just between them and God.  Either way, Go before God in prayer and…

1. · Identify the hurt you feel.
2. · Admit you are angry.
3. · Admit you want to hurt back.
4. · Acknowledge that hurting back is futile, damaging and increases evil.
5. · Release the need and choose not to hurt back.
6. · Absorb the hurt for Jesus' sake.
7. · Turn your self and hurt over to God.
8. · Turn your "enemy" over to God, trusting Him for justice.
9. · Meditate on the justice and mercy of God
10. · Feel your enemy's need for mercy in the face of God's justice.
11. · Pray for your enemy from a heart of compassion.
12. · Look beyond their faults and see their needs.
13. · Respond to their needs rather than punish them for their faults.
14. · Thank God for lifting the burden of justice from you and fore making you a minister of mercy, reconciliation and healing.
15. · Worship God who is glorious in satisfying both justice and love.

BLESS YOU -


END
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Seven Promises of Forgiveness

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Continued from Part II - What is Forgiveness?

(Pastor Jeff Kingery, Ronan, Montana, sermon Nov. 21, 2004)

Forgiveness does not come easily to most of us. So here are some steps we can follow to help us along, learning to Forgive...

Promises I make, between myself and God:
Stage 1)  I Promise....

· I will not return hurt to my "enemy."
· I will not keep thinking about the incident and brood over it.
· I will pray for my "enemy" and bless and not curse.


Stage 2) I Promise....

· I will not bring this incident up and use it against my "enemy."
· I will not talk about this incident to others. (Very, VERY Important...)
· I will not allow this incident to stand between us or hinder our relationship
· I will pray for healing and reconciliation as a brother/sister in Christ.

I will Promise and I will pray for these above points.

But...how do I pray for healing and reconciliation?  How do I cope with the tremendous pain I had felt, especially if this other person has not apologized, has not acknowledged being wrong, and remains difficult?

Part IV - Prayer for Dealing with Hurts -
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What is Forgiveness?

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Continued from Part I - Why Forgive?

What is Forgiveness?

From the Encarta World English Dictionary:

Definitions of forgiveness (n)
for·give·ness [ fər gívnəss ]
1. act of pardoning somebody: the act of pardoning somebody for a mistake or wrongdoing
2. forgiving quality: the tendency to forgive offenses readily and easily
Synonyms: pardon, absolution, amnesty, reconciliation, exoneration, exculpation

The Oxford English Dictionary

-  'to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offense or debt'.

There is currently no agreed upon psychological definition in research literature. From a purely Christian percpective, when someone hurts you wrongly, they incur a debt to you. Forgiveness is choosing not to collect the debt, turning it over to God to pay or collect, and blessing the one who owes you.

Easier said than done. The question is -is an apology required prior to forgiving?  For most people - we'd sure like to see some humilty and repentance before we forgive them.  We want them down a peg or two - at the very least, acknowledging that they know they did something wrong.  But should we be waiting for or looking for that?

From a health perspective, studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who don't. A University of Wisconsin study found "the more forgiving people were, the less they suffered from a wide range of illnesses. The less forgiving people reported a greater number of health problems." (Dr. Robert Enright, Forgiveness is a Choice, American Psychological Association , 2001 ISBN 1-55798-757-2)

Therefore, waiting for an apology might not be in YOUR best interest.  It might never come, and you will have wasted your life and happiness waiting for it.

For your own sake as well as the sake of people around you - Forgiveness is choosing not to hurt back, turning the matter over to God, and blessing the one who has hurt you.

Part III - How To: The Seven Promises of Forgiveness -
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Why Forgive?

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· It is only fair, since God has forgiven me of a much greater offense.
· I want to be forgiven by God.
· Forgiveness is a fountain of life and love.
· It brings great glory to God and joy to the heart.
- Because He said so.

God said it better than any man's lecture can:

Scripture: (NIV)

Genesis 50:17
'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Matthew 5:23-24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 6:12-15
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 18:35
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Luke 6:27-29
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Luke 6:36-37
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Luke 11:4
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ' "

The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:21-22
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
Luke 17:3-4
So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."


Luke 23: 34
Jesus asked for God's forgiveness of those who crucified him. "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"

2 Corinthians 2:5-11
[ Forgiveness for the Sinner ] 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Part II - What IS Forgiveness?
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