Hands Off Indigenous Peoples, No Christian Missionaries Allowed

[Palatka51]

Over 100 uncontacted tribes exists in the world and are becoming extinct.

 

[Born_in_Crewe]

Where does it say anything about missionaries? My view is, those who have not heard, either they will be judged according to the light they have known, or that God will know whether they would have accepted him if they had the opportunities. It would not be fair for God to keep them out of Heaven if some of them would have believed if they had heard the message.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Who's to say the Gospel won't reach them by way of their fellow Brazilians?

 

[Palatka51]

Where does it say anything about missionaries?

"The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct."

New international law may prohibit Christian Missionary Contact of any determinate indigenous peoples.

 

[Palatka51]

Who's to say the Gospel won't reach them by way of their fellow Brazilians?

Now that would be awesome. :thumbs:

 

[Martin]

Over 100 uncontacted tribes exists in the world and are becoming extinct.

I have very mixed feelings on this. As a historian who studies early contact between American Natives and Europeans I know what happens when well meaning people make contact with uncontacted people. The uncontacted tribes are lost to disease and the over powering force of advanced civilization. Therefore as a historian and a conservationist I long for these people to be left alone. However as a Christian I believe we must find a way to get the Gospel to them. After all, does not Paul warn that apart from the preaching of the Gospel there is no salvation (Rom 10:14-15). Indeed that is why our LORD Jesus commanded us to take the Gospel to the entire world. Ignorance is no bliss and it is certainly no salvation. So I am torn. I pray that there is a way to leave these people alone and get the Gospel to them. raying:

 

[tinytim]

Where does it say anything about missionaries? My view is, those who have not heard, either they will be judged according to the light they have known, or that God will know whether they would have accepted him if they had the opportunities. It would not be fair for God to keep them out of Heaven if some of them would have believed if they had heard the message.

If that's the case, then why do we spend so much on missions?

Heck, why witness to anyone?

God knows who intended to be saved...

 

[donnA]

You can't use man's idea of fairness to judge God. He is above us and has different standards we do not understand.

 

[carpro]

I have very mixed feelings on this. As a historian who studies early contact between American Natives and Europeans I know what happens when well meaning people make contact with uncontacted people. The uncontacted tribes are lost to disease and the over powering force of advanced civilization. Therefore as a historian and a conservationist I long for these people to be left alone. However as a Christian I believe we must find a way to get the Gospel to them. After all, does not Paul warn that apart from the preaching of the Gospel there is no salvation (Rom 10:14-15). Indeed that is why our LORD Jesus commanded us to take the Gospel to the entire world. Ignorance is no bliss and it is certainly no salvation. So I am torn. I pray that there is a way to leave these people alone and get the Gospel to them. raying:

You really shouldn't be "torn".

You've just outlined the reasons why.

 

[Andre]

So I am torn. I pray that there is a way to leave these people alone and get the Gospel to them. raying:

I understand what you are saying and have some empathy. However, obedience to the gospel message will inevitably change the culture to which it is introduced. So one cannot completely have it both ways, one cannot believe in the gospel and have your culture remain unchanged.

 

[John of Japan]

I understand what you are saying and have some empathy. However, obedience to the gospel message will inevitably change the culture to which it is introduced. So one cannot completely have it both ways, one cannot believe in the gospel and have your culture remain unchanged.

This is very true. And the culture is always changed for the better through the Gospel. The idea that such a primitive culture is somehow unspoiled and pure since it hasn't encountered modern civilization is naive at best. Usually such cultures are rife with disease, sexual immorality of all kinds, child abuse, idolatry (which is extremely immoral in God's sight), slavery to demon spirits, etc. Missionaries almost without fail improve the life of the tribal peoples with the Gospel first of all, but also medicine, teaching about marriage and child rearing, helping to stop tribal warfare (as witness the story of Peace Child), etc.

Here in Japan the following things were introduced by missionaries: modern education, modern medicine, modern transportation (including the rickshaw), etc. The lifestyle of the Japanese has been immeasurably improved by the Gospel, even though still less than 1% claim to be Christian. I could give many, many other examples from many cultures, both tribal and "civilized." :type:

 

[Andre]

This is very true. And the culture is always changed for the better through the Gospel.

I think you are probably right and we under-estimate the degree to which the gospel has been a force for good in shaping the cultures where it has been introduced. God's word indeed does not return to Him empty.

 

[John of Japan]

I think you are probably right and we under-estimate the degree to which the gospel has been a force for good in shaping the cultures where it has been introduced. God's word indeed does not return to Him empty.

A couple of excellent books on this are The Legacy of William Carey (subtitle, A Model for the Transformation of a Culture), by Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi, and What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy. And of course almost any book about tribal missions will prove what I'm saying, also. :type:

 

[Palatka51]

This is very true. And the culture is always changed for the better through the Gospel. The idea that such a primitive culture is somehow unspoiled and pure since it hasn't encountered modern civilization is naive at best. Usually such cultures are rife with disease, sexual immorality of all kinds, child abuse, idolatry (which is extremely immoral in God's sight), slavery to demon spirits, etc. Missionaries almost without fail improve the life of the tribal peoples with the Gospel first of all, but also medicine, teaching about marriage and child rearing, helping to stop tribal warfare (as witness the story of Peace Child), etc.

Here in Japan the following things were introduced by missionaries: modern education, modern medicine, modern transportation (including the rickshaw), etc. The lifestyle of the Japanese has been immeasurably improved by the Gospel, even though still less than 1% claim to be Christian. I could give many, many other examples from many cultures, both tribal and "civilized."

Thank you JoJ. Your last several post are very informative and insightful. :thumbs: May God always bless your missionary work. raying:

 

[John of Japan]

Thank you JoJ. Your last several post are very informative and insightful. :thumbs: May God always bless your missionary work. raying:

Thank you. And may God call many more to His harvest fields, especially to reach the unreached tribes. I have tremendous respect for missionaries in tribal work.

Imagine not only helping such tribes to learn to be healthier and happier physically, helping them to increase their life span and their daily quality of life, but after having to learn a strange language from scratch, teaching them to read and write, translating Christian literature and the Bible into a language for the very first time, giving the Gospel of Christ and seeing the light in their eyes as Christ frees them from sin and the power of evil spirits! What an incredible privilege to serve Christ in that way! :jesus:

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Seems like it is time to roll out the Prime Directive!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I prefer this Prime Directive

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I prefer this Prime Directive

Even though I have concerns about interfering in virgin cultures, I do like your reply, Roger! :thumbs:

 

[donnA]

Is preaching the gospel interfering in a culture? Isn't that what we are supose to do? Preach the gospel?

 

[Born_in_Crewe]

If that's the case, then why do we spend so much on missions?

Heck, why witness to anyone?

God knows who intended to be saved...

I understand your view, but I still feel God would be just, and would punish or save accordingly.

The difference between the West and these remote places, is that people are at least vaguely aware of Christianity [and other faiths for that matter] and if they die unsaved, they can't say they didn't have a chance to believe as there are plenty of places you can go to learn more about God/Jesus. However, we still need to witness because a lot of people either don't know what to believe or misunderstand Christianity because they haven't heard the exact message. A lot of people in the UK, including some people who class themselves as Christian, believe if you are pretty good you will go to Heaven.

With these unreached tribes such as in Brazil, they may or may not have a concept of God, but either way they haven't heard the Christian gospel, so in effect they can't reject Christ. Therefore, it may be a case of God knowing how they would have reacted if they had been born in a country where they would have had the opportunity to believe or not believe.