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Joined: Oct 2008
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Still, reasonable people respond to reasonable argument and the display of love is not without merit - archaic traditions not withstanding.
Case in point: In Burundi there was civil war in the 1990's. Fundamentalist missionaries worked with great personal sacrifice among the refugees to bring relief. Now since the refugees have returned to their villages and homes, the faith that those missionaries taught has gained notable currency among those Africans. Ask those faithful what truth is.
If we love the "pagans" among us then some will hear the reasonableness of our argument and turn to God in faith. As the missionary Paul noted:
"For the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith which towards God has gone abroad, so that we have no need to say anything; for they themselves relate concerning us what entering in we had to you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from among the dead, Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath." 1 Thess 1:8-10
μιχαηλ τον αιρετικον
Last edited by Systratiotes; 02/14/12 02:12 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Put it another way. If you were a pagan in Africa and saw 8 different missionaries with 8 different messages and teachings about the same God, would you tend to believe them or think they were all quite a bunch of nutters?
That's probably how the pagans in the USA see us. I quite agree. Christ built His Church on the Rock of St. Peter and his testimony. As long as we are not one we will not be as strong as God wishes.
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Actually, it doesn't seem to faze the pagans in Africa at all, given that Christianity is the fastest growing religion down there.
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Put it another way. If you were a pagan in Africa and saw 8 different missionaries with 8 different messages and teachings about the same God, would you tend to believe them or think they were all quite a bunch of nutters?
That's probably how the pagans in the USA see us. You remind me of a book I read called "Ahead of my Time: My Early Years as a Foreign Correspondent" by Ruth Gruber. She traveled to Siberia (Yakutia, or the modern Sakha Republic) and associated with the local Yakuts. She said that back when the Russians came to bring them Orthodoxy, they nodded and said yeah that's wonderful, we will now absolutely worship the true God. The Russians felt their mission was accomplished, built some churches and left. The Yakuts continued with their shamanism. Then, Communists came and brought another true philosophy. Again, the Yakuts nodded and said wow that's amazing, now we will absolutely and definitely follow the true philosophy. The Communists considered that accomplished, as well. The Yakuts continued with their shamanism.
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