8. What do mission organizations do for these people?
The true definition of a “missionary” comes into question. According to dictionary.com, a missionary is defined as, “a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work.” As a missionary, I believe that Don Richardson is not a destroyer. My perspective is that he is a culturally well educated man who reached out for a culture- a culture without a sense of moral judgment. Whether the “morality” of their world is correct is a different question, but if their world’s “morality” were to be placed in our society today, would it still be acceptable? The purpose of missionaries and missionary organizations is to inform and educate the needy. Yes, it may be argued that some cultures do not need education but only to preserve what they value. But the question is value of what?Don Richardson states that the world is not small enough anymore. He’s belief is that it was best for him to have reached the Sawi culture first, for example, because others in the world would have reached them in time to come, but not necessarily with the same positive influence. It is without a doubt that whoever would come into the Sawi culture would have changed the people into their standards. What type of people would the Sawi people have changed to if someone other than Richardson reached them first? Merchants, farmers, tourists-people with different visions and goals would have shaped Sawi into what themselves were. Christian theology on the other hand, is based on love, patience, and forgiveness. Missionary’s job is to give hope and help people to see something that they do not realize. What that factor is depends on the conscience of the missionaries. It is crucial that the missionaries carry out not their needs to change the cultural aspects of the needy, but to inform them about God’s love and their life’s purpose. Informing people of the morals and commonsense does not necessarily mean that all of their cultural aspects would be touched. It just may mean that their hearts would be touched. So when God asks, "Missionary, Why are you here?" what would be your ultimate answer?
1 comment:
Grace, I think from a Christian perspective you have hit upon the deeper Christian themes in the book. Contrary to what most non-Christians think about Christianity, and contrary to how most Christians live their lives, Christianity is about Love, peace, and eternity. Unfortunately, Christians have so marred the name of Christ, that most people can not reconcile the difference between what the Bible says Christianity is and their friend who claims to be "Christian." I think that is why many people who read a novel such as this, have a very hard time understanding that there is a possibility that Richardson's motives and actions were pure. It is a difficult thing to determine though because we are only getting the perspective from his book.
Post a Comment