Identity

There is an assumption we make about citizenship that may be false for some.  Not all want to be citizens.

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. - Ephesians 2:17-20

In today's reading from the letter to the church in Ephesus, we hear about becoming citizens with the saints. members of the household of God.

Yesterday, I caught part of The Takeaway on NPR and they were talking about identity, and in particular the self-identification of indigenous tribes here in this country.

I was a bit surprised to hear that some who identify as members of one of the 567 federally recognized native tribes do not see themselves as Americans.  In their view, they are being denied their true national association.

It never occurred to me that Native Americans, as we have come to call them, would not want to be Americans.

Ninety four years ago this June, the American Citizenship Act was passed granting citizenship to Native Americans born within our borders.  It appears that not everyone wanted it.

What may have been viewed as a good thing back then, has negative connotations today, with some saying the denial of recognition of their proper national status is a form of genocide.

So, what can we learn from this?

In today's reading, the blanket citizenship in God's Kingdom is granted to those who chose to accept the gift from God.  While it is a new identity, it doesn't abandon the old.

Maybe that's what we should do for those who we think want to become citizens of our country.

Those who choose to become citizens may, but those who don't need to be able to hold onto their natural citizenship.

That's easy to do for Native Tribes that have their own land within the borders of this country.  All we need to do is recognize their status as members of their own nation.

It sure would be easier for all of us to be members of God's family, but so long as there are national boundaries, we will have the problem of figuring out who governs whom.

So, what do we learn from this?

I think we need to know what people want and stop trying to help with our idea of what that might be.

More to come...