GOD THE FATHER / GREAT SPIRIT

 

 SPOKE

 

 

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

 So the LORDscattered themabroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

  

 

 

Genesis 11:1-9

 

 

 

 

 

HE   INSTRUCTED

 

 

 

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.   Deuteronomy 6:5 

 

 

 

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."                                                                                                            Mark 12: 30 -  31  

 

 

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.                                                                                                                                                      Galatians 6:10

 

 

For God does not show favoritism                                   

 

Romans 2 : 11

 

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,  and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"  have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?  Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;  but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.       

James 2 : 1 - 10

 

 

 

WE WILL SEE HIM FACE TO FACE

 

 

 

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: 
   "Salvation belongs to our God, 
   who sits on the throne, 
   and to the Lamb.

Revelation 7 : 9 - 10

 

 

 

A PATH TO UNDERSTANDING 

 

 

 

The First Nations and Native Americans have always had a deep rooted faith, in GOD / GREAT SPIRIT, also known by other names, from different tribes and nations, but means the same.They believed in an order to things and taught their children from birth to follow the beliefs of their ancestors.  When the white people overtook the land they also attempted to convert the Native Americans to their own religious views. 

 

 

his was met with great resistance from the People and they held tightly to their faith in the Great Spirit.  Ceremonies were banned, religious artifacts were burned and the People were forbidden to worship in the ways of their ancestors but still they cried out to the only God they'd ever known.   I often wonder what will happen when we stand before our Creator and discover that the "God" of the whites and "The Great Spirit" are one and the same.   Who will explain what was done to His red children in His name?

 

 

The following statements and prayers serve as testimony to the great faith our ancestors had in their beliefs of the GREAT SPIRIT.

 

 

 

From Wakan Tanka, The Great Spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things---the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals---and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man.  Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle.  In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them.  And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

 

 

The animals had rights---the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man's indebtedness---and in recognition of these rights the Lakota never enslaved an animal, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing.This concept of life and its relations was humanizing, and gave to the Lakota an abiding love.  It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

 

 

The Lakota could despise no creature, for all were of one blood, made by the same hand, and filled with the essence of the Great Mystery.  In spirit, the Lakota were humble and meek.  "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth"---this was true for the Lakota, and from the earth they inherited secrets long since forgotten.  Their religion was sane, natural, and human.

 

 

 

 

Chief Luther Standing Bear
Teton Sioux

 

 

 

 

 

I think that wherever the Great Spirit places his people, they ought to be satisfied to remain, and thankful for what He has given them, and not drive others from the country He has given them because it happens to be better than theirs!This is contrary to our way of thinking; and from my intercourse with the whites, I have learned that one great principle of their religion is "to do unto others as you wish them to do unto you!"  The settlers on our frontiers and on our lands never seem to think of it, if we are to judge by their actions.

 

 

For my part, I am of the opinion that so far as we have reason, we have a right to use it in determining what is right or wrong, and we should pursue that path we believe to be right.If the Great and Good Spirit wished us to believe and do as the whites, he could easily change our opinions, so that we would see, and think, and act as they do.  We are nothing compared to His power, and we feel and know it.

 

 

 

Black Hawk
Sauk

 

 

 

Our wise men are called Fathers, and they truly sustain that character.  Do you call yourselves Christians?  Does then the religion of Him whom you call your Savior inspire your spirit, and guide your practices?   Surely not.It is recorded of him that a bruised reed he never broke.  Cease, then, to call yourselves Christians, lest you declare to the world your hypocrisy.  Cease, too, to call other nations savage, when you are tenfold more the children of cruelty than they.

 

 

Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)
 Mohawk 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit.  If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it?  Why not all agree, as you can all read the book (Bible)?Brother, we do not understand these things.   We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son.  We also, have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children.  We worship in that way.   It teaches us to be thankful for all favors we receive; to love each other, and be united.  We never quarrel about religion, because it is a matter which concerns each man and the Great Spirit.

 

 

Brother, the Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between His white and His red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He has made why mso great a difference between us in other things, ay we not conclude that He has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for His children; we are satisfied.Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own.

 

 

 

Red Jacket ( Sagoyewatha)
Seneca Chief