Whiteman's Gospel

by Craig Stephen Smith, Bill McCartney (Foreword)

"Christianity has wonderful answers to questions Indians aren't asking!" Craig Stephen Smith, a Chippewa, from northern Minnesota, seeks to answer the questions they are asking or ought to ask. His experience has led him to believe that change is desperately needed in both Native and ecclesiastical communities. Smith writes out of his own experience as a Native American growing up in a white man's world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Native American, Evangelism, Christian Living

153 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Paul Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smith takes the reader on a journey through a historical and relevant landscape of the situation of missions work in America. His observations regarding Anglo-styled ministry and church leadership can and should be applied to missions around the world, not just to First Nations people. I would like to read more written by this author. I enjoy his style and the perspective he brings.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was informative and helped me raise questions and think through some things. However, the author did not clearly explain some concepts, such as repentance and reconciliation, which left me confused.

[Abbey Schmucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating book. I read it in preparation to go to Beaver Lake Camp.

It was mainly educational, but I found it reworking some of the ways I think about my faith and culture.

I found it sort of badly written and hence hard to read. But it grew on me.

[Pauline Musembi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and painful read about the impact of toxic Christianity across Native American tribes during the European discovery of the Americas.

[Mark Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

My big takeaway: focus on our potential not our plight.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated but good information to consider

[Pete Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful.

[Daniel Soukup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must read. Craig masterfully addresses both the white Christian community and the Native American Christian community pointing both out short comings and strengths. He offers sound advice for a way forward for unity among these diverse believers that would allow both to flourish. I would give it five stars but the writing falls flat at some points and leaves something to be desired. Despite this, it is an excellent and necessary read overall.

[GoneFishingwithJesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a helpful book to gain the perspective of a Chippewa (Ojibwe) Christian leader on some of the past and current methods used to evangelize and church plant among native Americans. Smith is a Christian and Missionary Alliance evangelist.

As to the title, the "whiteman's gospel" refers to the belief among some natives that Christianity is a religion founded by white men. Smith does an excellent job telling Israel's history. He shows that Christianity is a religion with Jewish roots. Israel, like native people in America, faced hardship from dominant surrounding people groups. God chose Israel because they were the "underdog," not because they were great and strong (Deuteronomy 7:7). He thinks God would be pleased to use natives (current underdogs) to reach other people groups with the gospel.

Smith gives his opinion of the three-selfs of indigenous churches made famous by Venn and Anderson in the 19th century. For those of you who are not familiar with those, self-propagating, self-financing/ supporting, and self-governing are the three marks of an indigenous church. Smith argues that self-supporting is not the New Testament model. Instead, he believes churches mutually supporting each other like in Acts 11:27-30 is the biblical model.

I remember it as a mostly theoretical book with lots of ideas of what to do in the future (in order to not repeat the wrong/ unhelpful things done in the past). It lacked examples or stories from the author's life of what he has done to put into practice the things he is recommending. The author may have a wealth of experience of trying to implement what he is suggesting, I just do not remember such stories and examples in the book, and I wish I did.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. There were some chapters that were more helpful than others, but overall I would recommend this book to any Christian who wants to learn more about Aboriginal culture. It talks about the history of Christianity's interaction with First Nations here in North America, the hurt and the hope the author has for reconciliation. He calls us to examine our motives, and not just with respect to working with First Nations, but in general.

This book changed a lot of how I thought about working with Native peoples (in a Christian missions context) it challenged me, and not just in regards to missions to North American Natives, but in missions in general. Smith really changes motivation behind ministry with Native Americans and Canadians. Do you pity them? Or do you see their potential? Smith also outlined the historical reason there's a cultural resistance to the gospel, and how Anglo society has perpetuated those misunderstandings. The biggest idea in the book is about the vast importance of cultural relevance and sensitivity when bringing the gospel. He outlines the similarities between Native history and culture to the Jewish experience, and how with these similarities, the resistance to the gospel is misguided. This book with change your worldview of missions and Native culture if you let it.

[suzannah]

Learning about the evangelical oppression of Native America and the Christian responses within and without.

[John Fetterhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed every page! Great tool in ministry to my people!