Defining Evangelism

image library-trek-papua

In search of some kind of photo to put the reader into this tribal setting, I came across images of tribal Papuans just too disturbing to post, so I chose this simple hut. In Lords of the Earth, the author describes Yali huts (homias) like this one with a wooden spike sticking up out of the roof to keep the sky from falling directly on the roof. Now I'm not sure if that was just a response to a child's question, but ancient tribal superstitions and fetishes do run deep in the stories that unfold in the book.

There have been those who may have some trouble with missionaries trying to bring a different belief system to people in order to change the way they live. Hundreds of years ago Pope Gregory III declared that those of other religions are, after all, seeking God and that we should accommodate their beliefs. Maybe this sounds good in theory but missionaries who had to deal with the sinister side of paganism found the problems not so easily resolved in their conscience. In contrast, others have found the chasm between paganism and Christianity so wide that it looked to be  an unbridgeable abyss. 

When Stan Dale lived among to the Yali people with a message that left little room for cultural accommodation, it hit many of them hard, and yet to those who accepted the message of forgiveness and left a life bound up in fear it was freeing indeed. To put it harshly, Yali religion was a system based upon evil and harmful beliefs simply held to for fear of losing one's life, especially for women and children.

As a reader I did appreciate the instances where Stan and his wife found illustrations from the culture to help toward understanding of the Christian faith, few as they found. The Yali used to look up at a rainbow and, seeing the red band, would say, 'See! There is blood! Who has died?" This gave Stan the opportunity to tell them of God's own Son who died and shed His blood for our sins, and how God put His bow in the sky - a bow with no string - as a sign of His mercy.

As for reaching women who had never been allowed to hear of anything spiritual, it took a long time to build a bridge of trust. When they were invited to hear the words of God (in their minds, another kembu), they were horrified, yet intrigued by this smiling, vivacious woman named Pat. I enjoyed how she found a way to apply  the story of Mary and Martha to their culture by telling them of how the Son of the greatest Spirit of all visited a homia where two sisters lived. One was busy preparing the food and complained while the other sat at the Son's feet and questioned Him about sacred things. The women listening thought that the sister's rebuke was earned, yet Pat continued to tell them that the Son defended Mary in her desire to know Him better. She told the women that it was their privilege to chose to hear the words of God and it should not be taken away. In the same way she explained how Jesus welcomed children to come to Him. Another foreign concept, as children in their culture could be drowned for even innocently stepping on holy ground. I could see how wonder of wonders was born in their hearts as Pat taught and modeled truth before their eyes.

I've heard it said that "he who does not know another language, does not truly  know his own." The story of how the Yali religion compares to my personal faith, helps me to see once again the freedom God has called us to. A love where perfect love casts out fear. What more can I say? I've now written a book.