We're currently spending some time in Taos--my first time here. It's picturesque and still largely an undeveloped land of mountains, streams, and prairies. Today we took the tour of Taos Pueblo, where multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years.
Our tour guide repeatedly emphasized the religious nature of the Taos pueblo people as uncorrupted by the influences of civilization. They lived in innocent harmony with nature, were generous, faithful and selfless.
Our guide's monologue was full of disdain for Christianity--which apparently had been forced upon them hundreds of years ago. We entered the pueblo's Roman Catholic church to find an icon of Mother Nature elevated over an image of Jesus Christ, and learned that parishioners choose during the service which god they worship. But she made it clear that the younger, hipper natives reject the Christian faith.
Anthropologists have constructed an idyllic but imaginary past for the native American peoples that has largely been accepted in our culture, but all sentimentalism aside, these people are still in their sins and without Christ.
Here's another reminder that foreign mission fields exist within our own borders--in our own backyard. The reservations scattered throughout our country--sovereign nations--deserve more missions-minded attention and prayer.
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