A Deeper Debate over Drums in Church

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A Deeper Debate over Drums in Church
Native Christians still wrestle with how their culture fits into their churches.
Morgan Lee
More than 20 years ago, Mohawk musician Jonathan Maracle says, God told him to use his drum — an instrument used in traditional religious ceremonies — while playing at a conference for First Nation Christians. The ensuing performance spawned his music ministry, Broken Walls. And it also sparked a controversy. The next week, when he brought out the drum to play for another community of Native Christians, he was asked to leave the village. "Religion had come in and taught my people that the drum was evil," Maracle said. "I had no idea how difficult of a task I had been handed. Nobody was using the drum to worship Jesus at this time in 1995." continue reading >>

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