During community group tonight we watched "Beyond the Gates of Splendor," a documentary about the five missionaries killed in Ecuador. The story is familiar and inspirational, but I am simply overwhelmed by the power of the gospel to transcend all things - fear, grief, language, and death itself. I was particularly moved by their conscious decision not to use guns when encountering hostile tribe members because they felt that they were ready for heaven but the tribe members were not. To be so sure of your salvation and to yearn so much for someone else's that you would choose their life over your own. Talk about counting all as loss for the sake of Christ.
The documentary follows the Auca tribe to the present day where a grandchild of one of the slain missionaries has chosen to be baptized in Ecuador; in the river where his grandfather was speared; by one of the men who threw the spear and is now a spiritual leader of the tribe.
As my friend Ran says, witnessing THIS MUCH faith and so strong a demonstration of Christ's redeeming love really brings our lives into perspective.
What perspective aside from the eternal one really matters?
3 comments:
How does a seemingly conscious decision like this really differ from someone, who is off their rocker, making the same decision? You applaud these individuals, but to me, it sounds like a dumb idea. You never really know what goes through these people's heads for sure, and what made them decide to do what they did. I wonder sometimes, who has realistic ideas of grandeur, and who has no grasp on reality. You can't convince someone doing this that God didn't tell them to do this, but I also know that you can't convince someone in a psych ward that the people they are throwing punches at aren't really there. I wonder sometimes how closely knit religion and insanity come.
Good point, Chuckie. Each individual has a choice to view this situation as utter insanity or an amazing act of faith and courage. I choose the latter. C.S. Lewis breaks down faith in Christ in a simiar way. "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would... either be a lunatic - on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God."
"but you cannot call him good, moral teacher..." or something to that effect.
i suppose the five men's decision alone could have stood as an act of insanity. however, what happened afterwards cannot be discounted as mere coincidence, i think.
it's a good reminder that even our own understanding cannot be taken for granted. thanks m@ and pauline. :)
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