A Native American leader has challenged a global Protestant body to create a truth and reconciliation commission to redress the injustice of Church involvement in cultural assimilation against indigenous peoples.
What I want you to do,” Pretty On Top told them, “is help people put up their tepees or tents. Don’t mention the church. Don’t preach. Go out there and help them. You have to build relationships first.
I've been thinking a lot about the most effective ways to minister to people, to tell people about Jesus in a genuine manner that affects their heart. Is the most effective way to start every conversation with Jesus loves you and proceed from there, or is the most effective way to spend time with people and gain an actual friendship which then would lead to discussions about Jesus etc.
Both ways work, it's just how effective are they. How effective is bombarding someone you don't know with Jesus? I see door to door salesman as annoying, no matter what their product is, but they do make sales otherwise they wouldn't do it. The same goes for evangelizing in the same manner.
On the other hand, it seems nice to say that we should build relationships first then start talking about Jesus. That one seems the most genuine externally, that someone would take time out of their life to help another person. It builds loyalty and respect for both parties, and God knows we need more discipleship to accompany our evangelizing. My only problem for this approach is a "What if." What if someone your helping dies suddenly before you get to the point of telling them about Jesus?
Anyway, this article about Rev. Pretty On Top getting a new church building opens up later into his philosophy for the Church and loving God.
Can you find me in this pic?
Piermont church a couple Sunday’s ago.
Inside San Juan Chamula’s church
This religious syncretism has been misunderstood by the non-indian visitors; Tzotzil and Tzeltal ceremonies have more to do with their conception of Nature, life and death and how they had introduced the Catholisism into their own conceptions and ceremonies, than witchcraft.
It is hard for us to understand why inside the church they drink aguardiente (tough liquor) and bring eggs and candles, that there aren’t any benches to sit, that they cover their saints and put mirrors on them, etc. But I think we just need to be more open minded and respect them, which is something that unfortunately not many Mexicans do.
