The Gospel and the Traditional Beliefs

sulad Jhun Cardeinte

One of the reasons of the existence of their traditional beliefs and practices are to answer their spiritual problems and questions in their real life situation. Children learn them from their old aged folks. People believe their ritual leaders, thinking that they have wisdom to answer their spiritual emptiness. Since that is the only available and common answers they have around them which were handed down from the old to the present society they are in.

Though there are certain traditional beliefs that are useful bridge to let them understand the gospel, many of the aspects of traditional beliefs and cultures are contrary to the Gospel. For example, the Mien people pay their health, protection and fortune to the spirits by making spirit money and ritual ceremony. Mien rituals and ceremonies are very costly, tiresome and time consuming. The literal payment and their sincere effort assure them their security in all aspect. The Bible confronts this belief. Believing Jesus Christ is far different and free of charge.
If the challenge in the city evangelism is replacing their inappropriate livelihood, the challenge in the hilltribe church planting includes finding Biblical ways to replace their old sinful ways of responding to life’s struggle with Christian ceremonies and activities that bring glory to God.

Each hilltribe group has their own ritual ways in responding to unexpected and unpleasant situation. Now observe what your people do in difficult times and when they are sick. Use these questions as a guide;

What are the things they do when they are sick? Or when something bad happen to them? How do they respond to sickness or to bad situation? How should Christians respond to sickness and to any unfavorable situation? What can you do to replace their sinful ways to Biblical ways?