Monday, February 11, 2008
Perspectives, 460, Assignment
Please read and respond to the article, "Do Missionaries Destroy Cultures," by Don Richardson, beginning on page 460 in your Perspectives on the World Christian Movement book. You will be required to respond to at least one other student's comments to successfully complete this assignment. Please ensure that you put your name in parenthesis if you post anonymously.
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9 comments:
It is easy with twenty/twenty hind sight to criticize those whom have gone on before us. We must acknowledge they were good intentioned. I am certain not one missionary down through the ages deliberately tried to wipe out an entire people group or culture. They saw what they perceived as wrong and tried to confront it. We need to realize years from now people may look back with hind-sight on us and see problems in our actions.
This chapter seems to beg the question it never asks outright. How do we determine a real cultural problem that needs to be confronted and a cultural preference? For example obviously a culture that offers child sacrifices or calls for child prostitution we need to stand against (what some would say wipe out). Others like in the book the totem poles we could overlook as long as it did not become idol worship. I am sure the missionaries thought the totem poles formed some kind of idol worship and was therefore against scripture.
One missionary I know performed a Christian burial against the custom of the people (some kind of worship of the dead). The towns’ people insist they see the ghost of the teen boy going around terrorizing the city at night because his body was not worshiped and treated according to custom. They wanted to dig up the body to perform a worship service to it. This was worked out with discussion and another service without digging up the boy’s body. Other situations may not work out this way.
One problem going on today in our culture I think is physical burial or cremation. Some say cremation is not acceptable in scripture, and insist Christians must not be cremated.
How do we ensure we do not interpret scripture by out customs unawares. Remembering I am sure previous missionaries did not stay awake at night thinking of how to wipe out certain customs or entire tribes for that matter.
Mark
It is sad that missionaries have tried to destroy cultures by trying to westernize people. What is even sadder is the fact that Catholic missionaries have a better reputation than true believers in some parts of the world. I can understand that it is very hard for a missionary to refrain from changing the ungodly customs immediately upon arrival. Missionaries must be careful not to offend the people they are trying to reach. Relationships and trust must be established.
Some of the stories in the article reminded me of the five missionaries to Ecuador in the fifties that were killed. Some of the very things they did are still being tried today to reach tribes. The story of Stan and Phil’s death was very reminiscent of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and the other missionaries. It took these men willing to go and sacrificing their lives to get the attention of the tribe. God was able to do more with their deaths than they might have been able to do if they had lived. That is a very hard reality.
I must comment on the statement one Catholic priest made found on page 464. He said, “God is already working through the existing culture.” This is an amazing statement. God created everything and in His sovereignty He knows how culture can be used to spread the gospel. He can use anything He so desires to accomplish His work. The thing missionaries must be careful with is the parts of culture the go against the word of God. The practices must be changed, but God has to be the One to do the work. Missionaries cannot force people to change their ways, only God can change their hearts and their actions will follow.
(Meisha Deane)
I agree with Mark on the fact that missionaries didn't intend to wipe out entire people groups. That would me a mercenary not a missionary. Missionaries’ purposes are to reach people for Christ and help them. It is hard to know what the best thing to do in many situations. It is easy for us to criticize those before us as Mark said. When we are in the situation then we can judge and make our best guess or better yet let the Holy Spirit guide us.
(Meisha Deane)
In the article "Do missionaries destroy cultures?," author Don Richardson does a wonderful job describing and analyzing missionaries past and present. After a thorough study, he asks the question, "Do missionaries destroy cultures?" As a whole, missionaries today have done a great job at not forcing western culture upon the foreign cultures they minister to. We have seen in the past where missionaries have not been aware of their culturual differences. This causes them to force their culture, which results in the death of the existing foreign culture. Cultural destruction happens when the missionary quenches the spirit, and has a one-way method thought process. Missionaries, and Christians as a whole, should stand for what is right, but must also analyze if it is really wrong. Some cultures practice different traditions, that would be probably be viewed as wrong or disgracing to God in the mindset of our western culture. For instance, body piercings in places in Africa are considered acceptable, and are even encouraged, as a sign of age and courage. There is nothing wrong with that tradition, so for missionaries to come in and radically change that would cause culture split and destruction. We don't see missionaries from Korea, which is the leading country for missionaries sent out, coming to America to change our religious customs. They focus on the secular customs, and we should follow in their footsteps. Let us always be spirit led, and let the spirit decide the changes. Let not pride or philosophy dictate our mission, but rather the Holy Spirit. (John Hyman)
Mark-
I agree with most of your comment on the topic. I agree that we, as Christians, should stand for what is right. Missionaries, in general, should be aware of the culture they place themselves in. The Holy Spirit should be the reason and cause for change, not philosophy of missions. On the other hand, I disagree that all our forefathers were goody two-shoes. The word "missionary" means one that is sent. In a broad sense, it is for Christians and non-christians alike. Jim Jones was considered a sent one, and we know his story. There was nothing good about him, and he wiped out an entire culture. So, to say that you're certain might be an overstatement. Noone is perfect, not even missionaries. (John Hyman)
I've met plenty of Native Americans that are christians. I've met plenty that are not Christinians. A majority of the ones I've met are not and don't think too fond of missionary. It's a touchy topic that have to be approached with ease. All customs can't be confused as idolatry. that a mistake that will keep a barrier between us, when we are trying to reach those that have not accepted Christ. Some recognizes personal and family property, and they are remarkable for their willingness to share, a practices more Christians should have.(thayer lawson)
Mark,
Different culture have different ways of disposing of their loved-ones. Christians as a whole tends to be buried more. But today the choice to be cremated is growing rapidly. One particular Funeral Home I know buries somewhere around 1300 a year. The numbers use to be higher but now they cremate around 200 a year. Some families wont consider cremation because they believe the body can't be lifted on the day of the Second coming of Christ. Cremated or not my God can raise you from the dust of the earth, no physical corpse or body is required. But traditional Baptist is usually against cremation.(thayer lawson)
Mark
I have to respond to someone and you are the only one posted. Mark, I think I agree with you. It is so easy to point out everyone else’s faults years after they have left the scene. The thing about 20/20 vision is it is always what you want to see, as it is always looking to everyone else’s faults, never your own faults.
Mark A.
John
Your right I did not think of Jones as a missionary. I was just thinking in the larger sense that most missionaries do set out sincerely and not try to destroy cultures or offend people. Now Jim Jones well I have my own opinions there.
Mark
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