Christ and Culture: the Native American Drum

To many people the thought of a certain instrument being banned in church sounds silly. I mean, what if suddenly there became a strong movement in the church against organs. . Not much of a rationale for putting a ban on organs is it? Yet, the Indian drum has been banned in Native churches for centuries via a mission philosophy that teaches that everything Native must be tainted with evil.

So what makes an Indian drum different than others? Let's take a look at the process. Generally, there are two types of Indian drums, the hand drum and the big drum or Pow Wow drum as some call it. Usually when a Native American begins to get a desire to obtain a drum they begin to pray that the Creator would supply one somehow. It may be through a gift or it may be the right drum at the right price somewhere, it may be a trade or possibly even by harvesting the raw materials and building one. If the later is done, every step is done in prayer and thanksgiving to the Creator for supplying these things. Now, so far the big difference is that the Native American drum is prayed for before it is received.

The next step would be the dedication process. Usually the keeper of the drum (church folks would say "steward" or "owner") will take it to a Holy man (i.e.. pastor, elder, spiritual leader) and ask him to assist him in dedicating this drum to the Creator and that it always be used with respect and in a good way. Now, it is both prayed for and dedicated to God.

Finally there may be a difference when it is played. Prayers are said each time the drum is used. Prayers that ask God for the ability to sing in a good way. Prayers that thank the Creator for the animal that gave it's life to become the hide for the drum. Prayers for the people who hear, that they would be blessed and feel good when they hear the songs played. So the drum is prayed for before it comes to the person, dedicated in prayer before it is used and prayed for before each use. Yes, there really is a difference between the Native drum and others, the difference is obvious.

Do you see the point? Perhaps a few church organists could learn something here. Ironic isn't it? Not only has the Native church been robbed of its own instruments throughout the years but the church at large has suffered by missing out on part of the giftedness in Christ's Body. The good news...there is a new sound in the land... Native drum songs for Jesus Christ! Listen for it and praise God with us. "Let EVERYTHING that has breath PRAISE THE LORD!"