"The Christ Bundle, i.e. Salvation"

     Another year of IYC has come and gone, and one of the things that I have subsequently been chewing on is how to address another aspect of Native traditionalism.  Again, I don’t attempt to dissuade culture of another group of people, however, as a Christian, I believe and know that any way to get to God outside of Christ is futile.  When I listen to how a traditionalist shares their belief, I am already thinking, “How might I share Christ?”  At IYC, it so happened that one of my cabin girls admitted that she believes more in the traditional ways than in Jesus.  She then started sharing about the medicine bundles, the reverence due them, as well as the purpose. 

     My brainstorming was already stirring.  When I got home, I went into studying the Scriptures and making comparisons between medicine bundles and that of Jesus Christ.  This time around, there is no story to write, but rather an understanding of the bundles (to the extent I know…I will admit that I may have to study more to gain a more comprehensive ground, but this is a start), and see where the power in the bundles may fall short, and where Jesus actually fulfills the purpose of them. 

     Some people may think what I am attempting to do is incredible or incredibly stupid.  How can a Christian explain the Gospel by using the already existing traditions of a tribal people?  Or the other extreme – how dare I attempt to say that traditionalism isn’t enough for Natives?  Aren’t I just forcing my own beliefs on another group of people?  These are legitimate questions, and I believe that I have an answer. 

     First and foremost, I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and furthermore, to God.  God is holy, and as all of us are ready to admit, are not perfect.  Truth is, we all have sinned; missed the mark and have disobeyed God.  Thus, we needed saving.  We cannot get away from the reality that our own actions are not good enough, because even one spot in the face of a Holy and Mighty God is not reverent enough.  Thankfully, He is also a loving God, and sent Jesus to take our place and now, a faith in Him is all that is required to approach God.

     Now, on the aspect of forcing my beliefs on another group of people…If one were to go into the way back traditions of Europeans, one would find that there was a lot of paganism and other weird traditionalism going on.  We don’t remember now, because the Western world has been dominated by science and proving of theories and beliefs for the last 400 years.  (So much for Christianity being a “white man’s religion”.)  There is no culture, by nature, that is atheistic.  Even the Western world believed in a higher power before it ran off to its Scientific Revolution.  Nevertheless, I believe that God revealed components of Himself, and a need for Him to all cultures of the world.  We have ceremonies, bundles, rituals, etc…in order to reach God.  However, in our own efforts, it is still not yet good enough.  Back to the original point, we still need a Savior to do the work for us.  Since then, missionaries have found ways of sharing the Gospel with tying familiarity of culture to the Truth of Jesus.

     I read it in a book called Peace Child, which took place in the 1970s.  But even the apostle Paul did it.  In Acts 17:22-34, he came upon the Greeks and all their temples and idols.  Then he found that they had an altar to an “Unknown God” and shared how that the Unknown God was known; His name is Jesus and is Lord over anything else that was worshipped.  In the same manner, I hope to approach studying Native traditionalism, in an effort to share Christ with them. God is already at work on the Rez, but I can’t help but remember that Jesus wants all people to come to know Him, even those who are holding onto traditional beliefs.  As stated before, I may still need more studying, but for now, this is what I have on the medicine bundles of the Blackfeet, and how it compares/contrast with Jesus.

Blackfeet Medicine Bundles	Christ Bundle; i.e. Salvation
To carry a medicine bundle, it is a life or death decision.  One does not bring it into their home flippantly or on a whim.  There is a cherishing and a reverence for the bundle, and to take it may mean one has to change their life-style.	(Similarity) Jesus wants all of us; not some of us.  We don’t claim to be Christians and then walk out, living in sin.  When it comes to obeying Christ, we take up our cross daily to follow Him. (Mark 8:34-37)
One takes the bundle as a whole.  Do not take it apart and keep some of it.  In reverence, you take all of it.	(Similarity) Christ is not an adage to our lives.  We don’t keep the parts that we like, and then throw out the parts that we don’t like.  Often, we like the idea of being saved from hell, but we can balk at having Him transform our lives.  This should not be.  We take Jesus fully. (Romans 6:1-14)
The bundle is meant to be passed on (i.e. when a holy man is about to pass away, he must find someone to carry it for the next generation).	(Slight similarity)  The Christ Bundle is not meant to be taken in, and then never shared with others.  The news of Jesus’ salvation is meant to be passed on!  This is so that all people may come to know Christ as their Savior, adopted as children, and transformed into His likeness.  (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Bundles are carrying the power of creation (i.e. animals, ex: beaver bundle, owl bundle, buffalo bundle).	(Difference) According to Romans 1:22-23, 25, we don’t need to look to the power of creation, but rather, we should be looking to the power of the Creator.  Moreover, this power isn’t just the power of Someone, but rather is that Someone coming to live inside of us (i.e. the Christ Bundle is a Person).  How amazing is it that our Creator came in the form of man and died for us that we might be saved!  (John 1:1-14)
The bundle carries a power to heal and brings peace to the home.	(Slight similarity…but extension) When we accept Jesus into our hearts, He makes us new, brings healing to our whole being.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)   Again, there is an emphasis that the Christ Bundle carries a greater power than what other bundles could carry, because it is power straight from the Creator God Himself.
The bundle chooses a specific holy person to carry it.  They will carry it into their home as long as they live.	(Difference) Jesus’ salvation is for everyone who will believe and receive it.  All those who take up the Christ Bundle are God’s children and part of a royal priesthood.  (1 Peter 2:9-10)
The bundle chooses a holy person.	(Difference) Whereas the Blackfeet bundles wait for someone to be holy before receiving it, Jesus on the cross has already done that work for us.  The Christ Bundle does not wait for us to become holy, but rather, invites us to take Him, as we already are.  Then the Bundle has full reign to do its work in us and make us more like Christ.  (Romans 5:6-11; 17-20)
One house carries the bundle at a time.	(Difference…extension) Many can be saved simultaneously. I can share the good news of the Christ Bundle (salvation), and while He is in my heart, they are able to take Him into their hearts.  The Christ Bundle surpasses the boundaries of homes, people, nations, and even generations.
One must be careful to not disturb the bundle (cannot be fooling around and not living a holy life and doing wrong things).  If wrong things are being done, it can only give back what it is given.	[Extension] (Slight similarity)  It is true that while the Holy Spirit (Creator who lives inside of us when we take in the Christ Bundle) is in us, we do not want to sin.  If we sin willingly, we are on dangerous grounds (Hebrews 10:26-39), because we are not revering who God is, and letting Him transform us.  We are then trying to live as we want and pushing the Christ Bundle in a corner of the houses of our hearts.  This simply won’t do.  When we live a sinful life, we push God out (Romans 1:24-25).  God is a giver of good gifts (James 1:16-17), but if we want sin, God will allow us to have it, and the consequences we bear are the ones we brought on ourselves. (Difference)  However, the Holy Spirit is a power greater than any other.  Jesus Himself conquered the grave and disturbed hell.  Thus, if life happens, and you have someone enter your home who is sinning; if you see things that aren’t right going on in your community, we don’t have to be fearful that the Christ Bundle is going to be disturbed and give it all back.  Stand firm in Christ.  This bundle is so powerful that when He encounters sin, He convicts and impacts it with His life (if only we just allow Him to do it)!  He has the force and power to change the circumstances, rather than be riddled by any demonic forces.  So, if the Holy Spirit tells you to go into situations that are nasty (on a spiritual level), GO! because the Christ Bundle is about to do its work!  (1 John 5:1-5)