Last night I had the privilege of sitting with some good friends and some great Christian leaders here in Winnipeg. Larry Wilson and Terry LeBlanc, two important Christian leaders in the Canadian First Nations community, shared with us their response to the significant apology that our government made to the First Nation's peoples. One important aspect of the apology was an extended apology offered to all of the people of Canada. They acknowledged that our nation's exlusionary policies not only perpetuated injustices towards First Nations Peoples, but that it also impoverished the entire Canadian culture, depriving us all of the important and intelligent cultural contributions of the Aboriginal peoples' worldviews.
After some thought, my wife Sheila suggested that this is an important issue within the Canadian church as well. As we seek to engage with all of our neighbors, our question must be more than "how can we express our Christian faith among First Nation's peoples in ways that affirm our different cultures." We also need to ask, "how can we welcome into our worldview the unique perspectives and expressions of Christian faith that only First Nation's peoples can share with the wider church."
Sheila reminded me of the important role that hospitality needs to play in all of our exchanges, whether we engage across cultural lines, across faiths, or simply across the street. All these exchanges somehow must come to the place where they are exchanges "across the table." May genuine hospitality lead us toward greater understanding and finally mutual love.
Phil
