Here is an excerpt from an article published by Plain News that could bring a larger perspective to the sacrificial death of John Allen Chau.
Since many people who don't have the courage of Chau are being quite critical of him, we think it may be helpful to raise some good questions.
- Laying aside the questions of whether Chau wisely approached the Sentinelese, would I be willing to give my life for a small group of people who have never heard the Good News of the Kingdom of God?
- Should a Christian disobey a government’s rule to avoid contact with a people group, if the law is based upon the fear of spreading disease to people who are likely not immunized against common diseases? How should Christians view the insensitivity of Europeans who brought diseases to America and other continents, and wiped out large numbers of the native populations?
- Not only did he break the law himself – and there are many times that Christians including the Apostles have done this – but he implicated other people in his lawbreaking. Is that justifiable?
- Is the goal of preserving a culture a good goal, when thinking of limiting contact with uncontacted people groups? Or, as some people feel, is it rather cruel to keep a small people group isolated from the benefits of modern medicines, better tools, and higher quality foods?
- Is keeping outsiders away from an uncontacted tribe similar to keeping a group of monkeys or other animals in a pen, so that others can marvel at them?
- If someone is called of God to a specific task, should he assume that all subsequent choices he makes in fulfilling that call are also from God? Does God always or usually use other Christians to help a person fulfill the call in His timing? Consider [Saint] Patrick, who felt called as a young man to evangelize in Ireland, but waited and prepared for this work for about 30 years until his church blessed him to go.
- Can methods other than the “brave missionary with a Bible under his arm" technique be used in approaching unreached people groups? For example, could drones be used to drop gifts or pictographs for a while, before making contact? What would happen if a team of dedicated, accountable, and praying Christians would seek the will of God in finding the most effective way of approaching a people group that are hostile to outsiders?
These questions are to stimulate our thoughts; not provide absolute answers. While Chau’s death may look like a failure, one positive thing it has accomplished is to draw people’s attention to this little people group. Previously unknown, many people around the world will likely be praying for the Sentinelese now. Will you join them in prayer?
Used by permission of Ernest Eby, founder of Plain News and a member of the call center team at GospelBillboards.org (CAM's Billboard Evangelism Program). Ernest and his wife Cathy are guest hosts and property caretakers here at the ABT base.
Read the complete article from Plain News.
CC-SA 3.0 by Wikipedia User:Uwe Dedering
