A friend of mine recently shared a social media post from somebody named Siouxsan Robinson.  She is the daughter of a residential school survivor and also believes in Jesus.  When she first put her faith in Jesus, she was called a traitor and worse by her own people.  In their estimation, Jesus was part of a religion that hurt their people.  However, Siouxsan makes a distinction between the real Jesus and the Jesus who was taught in the residential schools.

            She writes, “The fact is, I didn’t choose a religion . . . I chose a way of life that healed my spirit. The religion I can do without, but I can’t do without Jesus.”  Siouxsan loves the native traditions and teachings and also loves Jesus.  She has chosen to see the beauty in two different worlds and recognizes the blessings bestowed by the Creator.  She is also blessed to have encountered the real Jesus in spite of the experience of her people.

            It is difficult for many of us to comprehend how things could have gone so wrong in schools that were run by the church.  In fact, settlers have denied for years that things were as bad as all of the reports.  However, now some of the residential school survivors are having their stories believed for the first time – an additional tragedy to be sure.

            There seems to have been a rather unholy alliance between church and state – something that is not unique to Canada, but has happened around the world.  In fact, I have come across a number of sermons recently that were preached in Germany in the 1930’s during the rise of Hitler.  All of them point out the folly of allowing the Christian faith to be co-opted by the state and used for the state’s own purposes.

            There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus (the real one) would have had no part in the abuse and untimely deaths that were rampant at residential schools.  Instead, Jesus would have welcomed those same children, blessed them, and affirmed that they are loved by God.

            For us, however, this is not the time to point fingers at others and what they have done.  Whether we are talking about in Canada or in the church, things have happened and continue to happen that perpetuate racism and pervert justice and cause hurt rather than healing.  Sin continues to flourish – whether national or individual or institutional.

            The response to sin – as Jesus preached – is repentance.  There is a hymn that appears under “National Songs” in our hymnal – “Before You, Lord, We Bow.”  The following words are part of the hymn: “Cast down your pride, your sin deplore, and bow before the Crucified” (#893, ELW).  That seems like an excellent thing to do this Canada Day.

            In this country which we call home, there are many blessings and many things for which to be thankful.  There are also deplorable actions and situations that are rightly acknowledged with humility and repentance.  Our national church has been leading us in this humility and repentance for years now – especially in our relationships with indigenous people.

            May all of us reflect the compassion and love of Christ as we hear the stories, acknowledge the truth, and strive to be agents of healing in this and every place.  And thanks be to God for the “real Jesus”!

            In Christ,

            Pastor Lynne Hutchison