Indigenous: the missing Voice of the LORD (Noel Blyth and Robert Capp, cited below, were long term missionaries to Aboriginal people.)
Introduction
Most of us have never heard an Aboriginal person preach or prophesy. And amidst much longing for an apostolic eldership for Perth, who is prayerfully seeking an Indigenous elder called and prepared by the Spirit for such a dignity? My heart felt concern of mine climaxed when recently invited to lead a small group at the Global Day of Prayer on “The Indigenous peoples of the world, or any topic of your preference.” This unintentionally dismissive tone arrived during National Reconciliation Week (27/5-3/6/23)! It speaks clearly of the invisible, to conservative Christians, marginalisation of our First Nations peoples. I am not capitulating to the bad conscience unifying 20+ national organisations to publicly support a referendum-based Voice to parliament. The Church today does not need to hear voices speaking from unresolved race-based angry hearts. The Lord is calling for the miraculous transracial unity of “such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one (heart and) voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 15:5-6). The activation of Indigenous peoples as a gift for the sake of the salvation of the world (John 4:42) through the reconciling power of Christ’s blood (Col 1:22) is a present priority of the Spirit.
The Ultimate Foundation
The “Lord of heaven and earth…made from one [man] every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” (Acts 17:24, 26-28). Since our Father made all ethnic peoples from Adam, who is “a type of the one who was to come” (Rom 5:14), Jesus, our Indigenous peoples were predestined to come to Christ. Unsurprisingly then, from earliest times of European settlement up to today, there have been many Indigenous revivals. (The 1979 Galiwin ‘ku, Elcho Island revival was perhaps the most widespread ( https://www.chr.org.au/revivals.php)). Such visitations are still happening (https://vision.org.au/articles/revival-in-arukun/ ),though often occurring far from centres of white civilisation they are rarely prayed for! Why are we so ignorant and blind to this?
Spirits of the Land
Vast evil powers frenetically oppose gospel illumination. Ancient Aboriginal myths exist to explain everything. Best known is the Dreamtime story of the “Rainbow Serpent” (Wagyl in S.W. WA), whose movements shaped the earth’s landscape. Behind the myth is an evil spirit whose immediate authority is merely demonic (Deut 32:17), but whose ultimate authority comes from Almighty God. “When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God/angels.” (Deut 32:8 ESV cf. Job 1:6; 2:1). Whilst the illegitimacy of this invisible “authority” (Eph 6:12) has been exposed in the cross (Col 2:15), Christians can discern the prevalent presence of such spirits on the lives of Indigenous peoples, and others, through their effects.
“Shame on You”
Western societies are traditionally guilt-innocence cultures, but Indigenous cultures manage behaviour through shame and honour. Family is the most important thing in the life of an Aborigine (Noel Blyth), and as family includes all extended relations, “toxic shame” (Robert Capp) penetrates all aboriginality. “Toxic shame” is a multi-generational malaise exacerbated by fatherlessness and numerous addictions Indigenous people employ to escape feelings of inferiority. “Toxic shame” is an oppressive paralytical wet blanket over Aboriginal peoples and is virtually inescapable (https://khesed.org.au/articles/5-rebuilding-australia.html). Given God’s original call on Indigenous culture is fast disappearing, only a death-and-resurrection can free Aboriginal society from the power of “the elemental spirits of the world” (Col 2:8, 20). Neither regressive traditionalism nor conformity to Western ideals can restore the call of the Lord on culture. It is amongst Indigenous believers that we should anticipate the purest recovery of the gospel power for community healing we all need. This must motivate us to pray for long term revival + reformation amongst aboriginal peoples.
Pay Back
Mainstream Australia has at best minority regret over the many massacres of the frontier wars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_frontier_wars) and the long term disadvantage caused by colonisation, from which we all prosper. As the blood of Abel perpetually “cried out” from the ground for vengeance (Gen 4:10-11; Heb 12:24), and given Indigenous languages lack a word for “forgiveness”, today we witness God is increasingly “handing over” mainstream culture to shaming, especially amongst young people via social media. This is no mere sociological tragedy but a divine judgment. We are reaping what we have long sown (cf. Rom 1:24. 26, 28; 2 Cor 9:6; Gal 6:7-8; Rev 16:5-11; 18:4-8). In failing to make biblical restitution for the sins of our ancestors the Lord is chastising us (https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/1591-essay-australia-whose-land-2). As economic concerns dominated debates about emancipating slaves in the18th century, they dominate fears of “treaty” today. Yet through mutual confession, Indigenous-and-others, healing of the land is promised (2 Chron 7:14).
Fathers
A few years ago, the Kimberley (WA) had the highest youth suicide rate in the world. This fulfils a prophetic warning of a national curse: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.” (Mal 4:5-6). A warning long realised in “the lucky country” through Satan’s endless attempts to destroy Aboriginality by endless shaming, with a fold-back now on our children/grandchildren. I exhort you to pray that the Spirit of Father-Son (John 14:25-26) be poured out on the Indigenous Church to raise us fathers and mothers in God for all Aboriginal peoples.
Conclusion
Government initiatives can never heal the essentially spiritual corruption of First Peoples. Any such “closing the gap” would still leave us with a lost nation. May godly shame (1 Cor 6:5; 15:34; 1 John 2:28) produce godly repentance (2 Cor 7:8-10) from our ignorance and prayerlessness concerning our Indigenous Peoples whom our all wise Father sovereignly placed here (Rom 16:27) for the purpose of the glorification of his Son Jesus Christ as Lord of all (Acts 10:36). Only mutually confessing sin “with one (heart and) voice (will) glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 15:5-6) and precipitate a genuine national revival.