Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters The book exposes the current awakening and popularity of occult concepts and techniques in our culture generally, and this expose is applicable to some of what is happening in many churches, i.e., through the "Emergent Church" movement, and in the world in the New Age or "interspirituality" movement. In other words, the spirituality this book warns against is the age-old evil of the occult just dressed up in another garb. http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new <![CDATA[B.C. chiefs deny cursing Norweigian Olympic team]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=22982
Bible notes from Deuteronomy 18:9-12 states: Moses gave a strict injunction not to copy, imitate, or do what the polytheistic Canaanites did. Nine detestable practices the Canaanites were delineated in vv. 10, 11, namely: 1) sacrificing children in the fire (see 12:31); 2) witchcraft, seeking to determine the will of the gods by examining and interpreting omens; 3) soothsaying, attempting to control the future through power given by evil spirits; 4) interpreting omens, telling the future based on signs; 5) sorcery, inducing magical effects by drugs or some other sort of potion; 6) conjuring spells, binding other people by magical muttering; 7) being a medium, one who supposedly communicates with the dead, but actually communicates with demons; 8) being a spiritist, one who has an intimate acquaintance with the demonic spiritual world; and 9) calling up the dead, investigating and seeking information from the dead. These evil practices were the reason the Lord was going to drive the Canaanites out of the land. NKJV

Acts 19:19 Bible notes states: books. of secret magical spells. Burning them proved the genuineness of the magician’s repentance (see note on 2:38); having destroyed these books, they could not easily resume their practices. fifty thousand pieces of silver. Fifty thousand days’ wages for a common laborer – an astonishing sum of money given to indicate how widespread the practice of magic was in Ephesus. NKJV

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/02/19/bc-norwegian-shaman-salmon-farm-curse.html#ixzz0gIHUkpaM

]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:54:25 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=22982 <![CDATA[Happy New Year]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20938
My prayer for us all is that we live lives worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:10 - 14 - NIV

]]> Fri, 1 Jan 2010 11:53:05 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20938 <![CDATA[Christ the Savior is born]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20693
The birth of Jesus Christ

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

From: Matthew 1:18-25 KJV

]]> Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:23:21 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20693 <![CDATA[Christianity is not a mystical experience]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20420
The Two Approaches

There is a huge difference between these two approaches. Biblical meditation focuses on the truth of God’s Word. Unbiblical meditation focuses on entering altered states of consciousness, usually for the purpose of trying to have spiritual experiences and/or to control or be controlled by spiritual forces. It is basically shamanism (witchcraft) and is in direct opposition to God’s Word.

One definition of altered states of consciousness is, “Trances entered through hypnosis, meditation, drugs (including hallucinogenics), visualization, etc. State of being in which one allows the subconscious to take control and guide. May heighten one’s vulnerability to suggestion or susceptibility to deception.” This definition, of course, doesn’t include the yielding of oneself to demonic spirits to gain spiritual power or experiences, which is part of Native Spirituality.

An example from my own life

My walk with the Lord began by asking Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of my life, followed by church attendance, prayers and devotions. One aspect of my newfound faith was that I thought my prayers should have immediate results. When I’d request prayers for healing, for a job or whatever, and those prayers went unanswered, I quickly became discouraged that my faith wasn’t what I’d expected. I believed that a God who would leave you in dire straits wasn’t a God who loved or cared so I began to wander off like the prodigal son.

This idea that God has to immediately answer prayer, or answer it the way we want, shows how ignorant I was of biblical teaching. Furthermore, the more fundamental problem was that I didn’t understand the Gospel, wasn’t born again, and wasn’t living a new life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Those who are true Christians have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb; that is, Jesus Christ paid for their sins on the Cross, and they have a new relationship with God and a new life within them. They are forgiven sinners, although they don’t become sinless beings. And if that redemption doesn’t take place, then although we might do all the “proper” church ceremonies, might read the Bible, pray, and try to lead Christian lives in our own power, we still cannot make ourselves be living members of the Body of Christ. Only God can do this work, and it’s always by grace—that is, it’s a free gift and never anything we earn or deserve. As Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

False Conversion

Today, many who call themselves Christians are disillusioned with their “conversions” and are backsliding, going from bad to worse. But how many are really born again Christians? While the Bible teaches that true Christians can become deceived, the worst kind of deception is to think one is a Christian when one actually isn’t.

False converts are actually in a worse spiritual state than ever before for now they are doubly deceived. You see, I was one of these false converts, for He hadn’t really become my Lord. I only wanted him to take control of some things while I remained in control over other parts of my life. Whether I realized it or not, I expected to be in partnership with him over my life. On the contrary, however, we are not in partnership with the Lord Jesus Christ. To be truly born again is for the sinful nature to be crucified and for Him to replace it with His life, purpose, and power.

One thing was for certain though—throughout this time I always prayed and pleaded with the Lord to show me any way in which I was deceived because His Word says that we can deceive ourselves.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

The message is clear: Do what the Word says. This fact that we can deceive ourselves about so great a matter is cause to be very afraid. As a result of my seeking Him in these matters, He has been faithful to answer my pleas and has shown me many areas of deception in my life. Since then I have repented of them and put things right with the Lord.

Listening to the “heart” instead of God’s Word

Another example of deception is listening to what the heart says rather than what God’s Word says. This is one major way occult mysticism can wrongly influence real Christians and fool others. Jeremiah 17:9–10 warns,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

And Titus 3:3 says,

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”

Let us then examine ourselves by God’s Word and align ourselves to it. If anything is contrary to His Word, we need to repent and flee from it, lest we also be deceived. The Apostle Paul feared that Satan would deceive our minds; therefore it is possible for Christians to be deceived and still be Christians whereas it is also possible for people who aren’t Christians to be deceived and think they’re Christians (Romans 3:24).

Before accepting others as being Christian, let us, with a humble attitude, examine their lives—the fruits of the way they live—according to 1 John 1 and 2. Deceivers would tell us that if we want to get to heaven we just need to magically say a prayer and then go on living our lives as though being made into ‘a new creation by the Holy Spirit’ does not matter. It does matter, as the Lord states in Matthew 7:23 (KJV): “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Becoming holy doesn’t happen instantaneously

Some people of mystical persuasion believe that sanctification is instantaneous and that when we fall into sin or deception we automatically lose our salvation. This is another form of self-deception. Growing in truth and overcoming deception as a Christian is part of the ongoing process of sanctification, whereas salvation/justification—repenting and putting one’s faith in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord over one’s life—is instantaneous. Those who are Christians are born again of the Holy Spirit and justified. The cleansing blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, has washed away their sins, and God has declared them righteous. Praying a prayer or “making a decision” with the will does not automatically make you a Christian. Salvation is the sovereign work of grace through faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is He and He alone who can give you a new heart.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8–9
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 1:23

Prayer for Those Seeking to Become a Christian

[You don’t have to follow this prayer as a “magic formula.” It’s meant only to help you focus upon the truth.]

Father in Heaven, I come to you recognizing my great need for a permanent deliverance from my old way of life. I know I am separated from you by my own sinfulness, but I acknowledge that you can give me a new and abundant life because you love me and sent your only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for my sin by dying on the cross in my place. Your Word says that if I believe in you I will not perish but have everlasting life, for what you accomplished through Jesus Christ has broken the power of sin and death. Please forgive me all my sins, specifically as follow: (ask the Lord to show you how to pray).

I invite you, Jesus, to be my Savior, and I dedicate every portion of my life to you. Open my heart and mind to your truth and fellowship, fill me with your Holy Spirit, and lead me daily. Protect me from the devil’s wiles, teach me to pray, to read and understand your Word, and to be rooted in and grow in the Body of Christ and in your grace. Thank you Lord.

If You Are Uncertain Whether You Are a Christian

Father in Heaven, I confess that although I have called myself a Christian, I have only paid lip service to your call to live a holy life and to walk in obedience to your Word. I am not even sure if I am truly born again, but I know I want to be. Please forgive me all of my sins and fill my life with your great light. I confess and renounce: (ask God to show you what to repent of). Help me to straighten my life out, Lord, and open my eyes to see how great your way is and to desire it only. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me power, wisdom, and endurance to follow you. You say in 1 John 1:9 that if I confess my sin, you will be faithful and just to forgive me and purify me from all unrighteousness. Help me to cooperate with You in your straightening out of my life by your Holy Spirit.

[If you are still uncertain whether you are truly born again, then refer to the first prayer above. Remember that you can have a feeling that you’re not saved and still be saved. It isn’t a matter of how you feel—it’s a matter of what God does. See Ephesians 2. A life renewed in the Holy Spirit bears good fruit.]

___________________________________
http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm#Meditation#Meditation

]]> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:38:37 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=20420 <![CDATA[Examples of Native Regalia that should not be used to worship the one True God]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=18103
Below are some examples of Native regalia that we should not use to worship the True God, as they are an abomination. The use of such items is idolatry and does not lead to salvation or holiness, nor does their use bring glory, honor and exaltation to God.

• Drums made from animal hides previously used to worship any god(s) and re-used to worship the True God are an abomination because the very act of making an offering for the animal is an idolatrous pagan act. This happens when a hunter that kills an animal thinks it gave up his life for some physical use such as food or hide and leaves a thank offering of tobacco behind.

• Native arts and jewelry that have certain symbols representing darkness are another example of ungodly worship, i.e., when certain rugs with uncut loops are used to supposedly trap evil . This is similar to dream catchers or any art work that symbolizes graven images, for instance, the carving of spirit guides on totem poles. They do not bring glory, honor or exaltation to the Lord God in any way. Always pray before purchasing as in most cases natives pray witchcraft prayers over such items to move people to buy them—even unnecessarily—in order to increase sales.

• Pictures and carvings that symbolize animal, bird or plant spirits. Such objects represent animism, which clearly is an abomination to God. The Bible says we are to have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God did not say these things are to have dominion over us—how can they? They do not speak, they do not think, they do not study God’s Word, they do not pray.

• Sweet grass/sage/fungus. All these items are used to worship the god of this world. We do not have God-given authority to smudge ourselves for purification. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can purify us from our sins. Only He has that authority as He died on the cross for our sins so that He might redeem those who are willing to be saved from sin and eternal death. Salvation is not found in any other man or religion.

• Sweat Lodge. This practice originated in the world of darkness; it was not a spiritual gift given by the True God. There is a pit inside the sweat lodge. When the Bible mentions the pit, it is almost always referring to hell. For example, Psalm 30:1–3 says, “I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.” The depiction here is as follows: depths, the grave, the pit, darkness, destruction, corruption, mire, and slime. This clearly shows that the pit is contrary to the Word of God, which should bring us to the understanding that we need to flee from the pit. For further study about the bottomless pit read Revelation 9:1 NIV Bible

• Water dowsing tools, dreamcatchers, and any carved images. Water dowsing is a form of divination or witchcraft. Dreamcatchers are an open invitation to the forces of darkness as they are a pagan method of attempting spiritual protection. And the fourth of the Ten Commandments forbids us to make an idol in the form of anything in heaven, or on the earth, or in the waters.

]]> Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:55:37 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=18103 <![CDATA[Popular ways shamanism is appearing in our churches and culture]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=16045 Shamanism

A shaman is a religious leader who usually functions in an animistic culture to contact the spirit world in order to be empowered by it. He is expected to protect the tribe, cure illness, predict the future (divination), and offer practical advice.

In Biblical terms, shamanism is the use of demons to attain spiritual power. These days we call it channeling.

Enormous dangers: Shamanism is one of the most dangerous and popular of modern New Age practices in our culture. Its hazards are ghastly, its dangers savage.

Summary of dangers: “Suffice it to say that shamanism often involves the shaman in tremendous personal suffering and pain (magically, he often ‘dies’ in the most horrible of torments), and that it often involves the shaman in demon possession, insanity, sexual perversion, and so on.” (From the series on shamanism at Ankerberg’s Theological Research Institute at http://www.ankerberg.org/).

Popular Shamanism:

The following show some of the popular ways shamanism is appearing in the Church and in our culture.

Shamanism in the Church

Nowadays trusted Christian leaders and media are often endorsing shamanism, which is appearing more and more frequently in Christian circles through such avenues as:

-“Christian” psychology
-Inner healing & visualization of “spirit guides”
-Mind science
-Positive confession and positive/possibility thinking.

There are excellent articles on this subject at http://www.thebereancall.org. Simply type “Shamanism in the Church” in the search engine.

Shamanism & Popular Movies:

Star Wars – Astral travel, Eastern meditation (Yoda), God as an impersonal force of both good & evil

Indiana Jones – Occult Jungian psychology, Eastern mysticism, finding “God" within instead of acknowledging the Creator God of the Bible.

The Golden Compass – People's souls are outside their bodies and manifest themselves as animals. Witchcraft.

Harry Potter – Numerous witchcraft techniques: spells & rituals, magical items, false dichotomy between “black” & “white” magic.

The Lord of the Rings –The films’ worldview presents a “force” with two sides controlled by magic spells, potions, etc. A wizard (Gandalf) experiences death and resurrection after descending into hell. Numerous techniques of witchcraft appear.
]]> Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:11:26 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=16045 <![CDATA[Links to articles and book reviews on 'Muddy Waters']]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=15058
http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/books/2009/07/nothing-new-under-the-sun-the-link-between-native-spirituality-and-the-occult-by-jenn-doucette-17/index.html#more

http://issuu.com/jcmediagroup/docs/june_reporter_2009_final1

Book Review Online by Gregg on ‘Muddy Waters’
http://kpxq1360.com/subpages/kpxq-am/alookatbooks.aspx

Book Review by Paul Bury on ‘Muddy Waters’
http://www.familyfriendlygaming.com/Editors-desk.html

]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:53:28 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=15058 <![CDATA[Law Enforcement Officers Sensitized to Native Spirituality in Canada]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=13147 i

Another example of the problems law enforcement officials were having occurred when police or correctional officers conducted searches of medicine bundles and sacred pipes. They didn’t always realize which native artifacts were sacred or how to handle them appropriately when they requested that the carrier or owner show what is inside. If they handle them without asking, Native Americans believe that the medicine bundles/sacred pipes have been desecrated. In one way, it was good for officers to be sensitized to issues pertaining to Native Spirituality because inmates were using medicine bundles and sacred pipes for the sole purpose of drug dealing. They would hide their drugs inside these artifacts and walk around from unit to unit freely selling them without the officers’ knowledge until the officers finally learned that no one should be carrying these items around all the time—and especially not unit to unit. I’m sure the police forces have also run into this same problem.

Female officers (or any female) are requested to refrain from searching bundles or anything else when they are in their “moon-time” due to the belief that they possess special power because of the blood during this time. This is another clever way to hide drugs.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve relations and to better understand other races of people, but vulnerability to spiritual deception is at stake particularly when law enforcement officers are being drawn into participation in smudging or in sweat lodge ceremonies. (For more on this, read the book Muddy Waters: An Insider’s View of North American Native Spirituality available at www.winepressgroup.com or www.amazon.com.)

"An even more sensitive issue is the intensive searches of packages and goods crossing the U.S. border. “Our medicine men are being harassed at the border,” says Faith Keeper Mike Mitchell. “They are being made to open bags of sacred objects that they were taking to a ceremony across the border. We drew the line [at the border summit], and I told the U.S. officials that we need a policy that respects our cultural traditions in inspections.”

Curtis Lazore related a recent incident that just avoided serious confrontation: “My cousin was going to a ceremony and taking a medicine bundle with ritual objects across the border. The customs officers looked in his trunk and wanted to open the bundle, but my cousin had to get aggressive and stand up to them. He told them that it wasn’t going to happen.” The guards wisely decided not to search the bundle.” ii

In cases like these, it is wise to sensitize law enforcement officers to issues of Native Spirituality only insofar as necessary to give them a working knowledge about their beliefs. This can assist them in doing their jobs properly when it involves searching medicine bundles or anything else. The question border guards must ask themselves is: Do we know for sure there is no illegal substances in that medicine bundle that just crossed the border? Desecration isn’t really a problem because elders are able to bless the medicine bundles or sacred objects after a manual search. Using x-rays to scan medicine bundles will not alleviate the problem because to practitioners this is taboo. Asking the owner or carrier of the medicine bundle to show the contents to the officer has been done in Correctional Services of Canada for years without a problem. Why is this a problem at some of the Canadian/USA borders?

People need to realize that criminals will do anything in their power to get their drugs across anywhere they can even if it means doing so under the guise of religion or something ‘sacred.’ For this reason, a truthful practitioner would not oppose a search. However, it is unwise for law enforcement officers to smudge or to enter a sweat lodge due to the spiritual implications such practices could have in their lives.

_________________

ENDNOTES

See http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/aboriginal-autochtone/pub/spirit-spiritualite-eng.htm

See http://www.akwesasne.ca/news/ASPSP/ASPSPV1A16.html
]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:50:43 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=13147 <![CDATA[Message to readers]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=11775
Have a great day!
]]> Thu, 7 May 2009 12:14:22 PST http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=11775 <![CDATA[Dark legacy: residential schools]]> http://nancidesgerlaise.authorweblog.com/default.asp?date=new&permid=11733 Note: fictious names and/or place names used for protection of identity.

Residential schools are boarding schools maintained by the Canadian government and churches for First Nations people. They came into existence in the early 1800s from Manitoba to British Columbia in western Canada and extending northward to the Northwest Territories. Western Canada was better known as the Northwest Territories up until the early 1900s, which was then divided into provinces. The very first school was documented in the 1600s in the Quebec region, and the last school closed in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1996.

The ostensible purpose of these schools was to prepare Native children for life in “civilized” white society. But instead they devastated First Nations people by separating the children from their parents and forcing them to speak only English (and punishing them even if they didn’t know the language), adopt Western religion, and undergo unspeakable abuses.

Earlier schools were strictly church run, but the federal government became involved after 1842. The Gradual Civilization Act of 1857 followed by the Indian Act of 1876 gave even more responsibility to the federal government for Native “education”—or, as it became, attenuation. The residential school system reached its height in the 1950s with 76 schools then declined as the abuses became known and the government began to change its policies.

Survivors

I was born and raised by parents who are residential school survivors. Mother was forced to attend a residential school in Onion Lake, Saskatchewan, in the early 1940s along with most of her siblings. Papa was not so willing to talk about these schools. Grandma though did mention that he had escaped from one while he was under the care of Great-Grandma Isabel. One of the more heinous crimes committed by a priest was against Mom, who was raped in her teen years. She was sent home to have her baby. Although we were often told that she gave up her baby for adoption, we discovered later that her parents had forced her to have an abortion. Prior to my aunt’s recent passing, she told us that their parents took Mom to medicine men who gave her something to drink to abort the baby.

Nuns taught us as we were growing up, and they obviously gave us the same teachings that the residential schools did and were callous and physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive. Rather than discussing our mistakes and gently correcting us, they would strap us instead. We were forced to study Roman Catholicism, to attend mass on Sundays, and to be baptized into that religion as babies. We children resorted to passive compliance and learned not to speak out. Their toxic communication led us to mask our true emotions for fear of punishment. I can recall how callous some of them were, especially when they were disciplining students. They would use a thick black strap with holes in it and have the students hold out their tiny little hands to receive a strapping with adult force.

Growing up over the years in our family, I often heard Grandpa tell atrocious stories about residential schools; most events culminated in tragedy. Thousands didn’t return home, and I heard that many lost their lives at the hands of adult caregivers. Many of these children were said to have died from improperly treated diseases, as in cases of tuberculosis or the 1918 flu epidemic that ravaged their helpless lives. In some cases, the schools housed healthy students in the same buildings or rooms as the tuberculosis patients, and they subsequently caught TB or the flu. To all appearances, the government attempted to rid Canada of its Native people through genocide, but that obviously didn’t work. God in his mercy made sure that we weren’t completely wiped out, and today we number just over 1 million here in Canada.

In the early 1920s the Canadian government amended the Indian Act and made it mandatory to educate all aboriginal children from the ages of seven to fifteen in residential schools. Some children younger than seven though were taken to these schools if they were orphaned, and sometimes those older than fifteen stayed on to work at the schools.

One story shared by a friend that stands out in my mind concerns the Grave Mission where his grandfather was employed as a janitor. He was paid $100—a handsome sum in those days—for keeping silent about priests and nuns throwing babies into burning furnaces. They were covering up their adultery by killing their own flesh and blood and then burning the evidence—the byproducts of their “celibacy.” Some babies were buried in the graveyard nestled at the bottom of the Grave Mission hill.

Other children were kicked down into the basements of these residential schools and met their fate at the bottom of the stairways just because they challenged an adult about something they perceived as wrong. Small children who trusted these so-called religious folk faced only terrorism—and only because the schools felt that Native people had nothing good in their culture to share or preserve. Or was that the entire reason? Another powerful reason was the theft of Canadian soil under the guise of education (an “education” poor in curriculum). I believe that clear evidence of this reason exists in the myriad of land claims being fought today.

Forced Europeanization

The Canadian government then decided that the best way to deal with these unsuspecting aboriginal children was to teach them European culture by sending them to the residential schools to be desensitized from what little they called their own—their families, homes, languages, traditions, and so on—through forcible confinement administered by the European government and manmade religion.

To this very day First Nations people have a difficult time believing in the only True God, which leaves them vulnerable to Native Spirituality—a ghastly price. In addition, as a result of spending so many years imprisoned in a government institution, many go on to become incarcerated in prisons. Currently, there is a disproportionate rate of incarcerated aboriginals in our Canadian prisons from coast to coast to coast. It is not improbable to assume that these are the result of being brainwashed during the school years when they were constantly referred to as inmates rather than as students.

Apologies and Payoffs

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were the first to apologize to the First Nations people for the role they played in the residential schools by complying with the federal government of Canada’s orders—which was to abduct children from parents who refused to let them go.
The churches followed the Mounties’ apology to the Native people of Canada with their own for the atrocities they committed against them.

“Aboriginal people have demanded, and received, official apologies from the Anglican, United and Roman Catholic churches which operated residential schools. As more and more former students of residential schools come forth with stories about the sexual and physical abuse they experienced, several religious authorities who administered the schools are being charged criminally.”

The Conservative Government of Canada finally did apologize to the First Nations people in June 2008.

In addition, the Conservative Government of Canada was in power when the residential school battle that had erupted in the Supreme Court of Canada was won. In the class action lawsuit, most surviving First Nations people were awarded what they called “Common Experience Payments,” which ranged from $3,000 to $29,000. Some who have passed on did not receive a settlement payable to their estate.

The Dark Legacy

Despite the apologies and the cash settlements, to this day most of the residential school survivors continue to be victims. You can still see these survivors on any skid row in any city looking like Holocaust victims attempting to numb or drown the raw memories that still eat at them. The terrible fallout of this ghastly treatment has led to tremendous deterioration of the health of First Nations people—spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The apologies and the cash are mere bandages over an abscessing ulcer that will not heal.

Part of the fallout from this inhuman treatment is that many First Nations people pass the teachings that came from residential schools to their children and to the next generation and to the next—the lack of love, the lack of meaningful discussions, the lack of parental skills—abuse, neglect, masking true feelings and so forth. This is what I recently have discovered in my own self… You see, I had learned how to behave and think like those who suffered at the hands of the residential school survivors. Parents from generation to generation are still passing down these teachings and bondages knowingly or unknowingly.

I repented of these false teachings and behaviours because they had a negative effect on my life and my relationships with others. Strange as it seems, even though Jesus Christ forgave my sins and saved me, I found I was still practicing these harmful behaviours that hinder my pilgrim walk. When we are forgiven we need to flee from sin. I kept pleading with God to show me why some things in my life were just not right, and he was faithful to answer my cries for help. Salvation is instantaneous upon receiving Christ as Savior and Lord, but the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification takes place over a lifetime.

Apologies and cash settlements will never take away the pain, terror, bitterness, hatred, fear, abuses that First Nations people have suffered. Secular sorrow, though well meaning, is useless for achieving freedom. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, and repentance leads to healing and freedom—not that it will be forgotten, but God removes all bondages that result from anger, bitterness and hatred and in his grace and mercy bestows peace, joy and love instead. These bondages may come in the form of substance abuse, greed, gambling, drug dealing, and prostitution and so forth. If one cannot escape by oneself any of the aforementioned bondages, or anything else not listed here, then it is a spiritual problem—particularly when it is consistent with a spiritual pattern. Prior to any release from bondage(s) one needs to be born again and to repent of the false teachings received from the residential schools, along with forgiving those inflicted such ill treatment, murder, terrorism and all else experienced at these dreadful schools.

You may be wondering why you need to repent of these things that you may not have committed. It’s because such things can have a negative effect on us, and to be sure we don’t commit the same atrocities, we need to repent of them—to cleanse our hands of the blood, so to speak. Only then will we gain true freedom from these bondages that keep us from peace, joy and love.
There are many in our prisons who have committed sexual assaults—often a learned behaviour from the residential schools. Usually a victim will wind up committing the same assault he or she experienced during his or her tender years in the residential schools. Many have said recently that they were victims themselves.

Grandpa John used to tell me that these behaviours were learned in the residential schools and were non-existent in families prior to the Europeans coming to reside in Canada. I can recall Grandpa John sitting in his favourite chair speaking just above a whisper, bent over with his elbow on his knee, smoking his pipe and telling me about how they brought diseases and alcohol along with their heinous crimes and then turned around and preached religion with the expectation that they be heard and obeyed. Jesus Christ condemns such hypocritical practice and teaching.

Judgment Will Come

Even I, a First Nations believer in Christ Jesus, have been attacked when telling the truth about Native Spirituality because people sometimes think I’m forcing something onto them. On the contrary—I’m warning people before they die because Judgement Day is sure to come… I haven’t ever threatened or imprisoned anyone like these residential schools did and cannot be accused of using force.

I once had a conversation with my own brother regarding his beliefs in Native Spirituality; he was quite upset with me and told me not to force anything on him. I told him that I was just warning him with God’s truth because I loved him and didn’t want him to go to hell. I then asked him, “What do you call being made into a Catholic as a baby?” He didn’t have a reply.

Christ Jesus Died for Sinners

When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins to redeem us, he stretched out his hands to the Native people as well and said, “I love you this much!” In John 3:3 he says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Resources:
http://archives.cbc.ca/society/education/topics/692/
http://www.albertasource.ca/treaty8/eng/1899_and_After/Implications_and_Contentions/residential_schools.html

ENDNOTES

http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/
See http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:XFbbVGqCoxYJ:www.elements.nb.ca/Theme/political/dan/ennis.htm+land+stolen+from+aboriginals+under+the+guise+of+religion&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk
See http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/aboriginal-autochtone/apo-reg-eng.htm
See http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-canada-catholic-abuse-a04150sbapr15,0,418627.story
See http://www.albertasource.ca/treaty8/eng/1899_and_After/Implications_and_Contentions/residential_schools.html
See http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/rqpi/apo/index-eng.asp
See http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/aboriginal-autochtone/irs-spi-eng.htm

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