Question #8: How do I relate to faith?

FAITH. How do I relate to faith? That is a difficult question to answer. I am still learning about God and being faithful. Faith is something that I have to believe with my whole heart even though I do not see the evidence. Unlike science or math, faith is not what I can prove. I just have to believe in God and rely on Him.

I did not know much about being a Christian until last year. I mean, I knew what it is to be a Christian in my head, but not in my heart. Then about a year ago, I suddenly started questioning my life. ‘Why am I here right now? Why do I need to study hard? What should I do in my future???’ The questions were countless and more questions I asked, I was more confused and lost. After several months of wondering, on one summer day, I realized that it is God who keeps me alive. When I finally noticed it, God was already in my heart.

Faith in God made me a stronger person. Now I know that I have God’s support and love, I am more confident and optimistic. He has given me a new, brighter hope in my life. He has also given me new perspectives of people and the world. My faith in God sustains my life and gives me happiness everyday. He is my Savior, Supporter and Companion. Whatever I will do in my life, I know it will be done in God’s presence.

However, having faith in God does not make my life easier. My life is the same: same family, same friends, same school, etc. It is my perspective of life that is changed. Everything stays the same, but I am changed.

Question #7: Choose a representative passage from this novel that holds particular significance to you. Type it in and comment on its significance.

“And everyone who laid his hand on the given son was bound not to work violence against those who gave him, nor to employ the waness bind for their destruction. The little bell clanged again, and this time it caught my attention. I perceived its message and gasped! This was the key we had been praying for!” (175).

When he said this quote, Don Richardson finally found a way to deliver the story of Jesus to the Sawi people. He knew that Jesus Christ is the ultimate peace child for everyone (even for the Sawi!) and after observing the exchange of peace child, he realized that he should introduce Jesus as the ultimate peace child for the Sawi.

This quote is significant because Jesus is peace child to me, too. Before I accepted Jesus as my peace child, I used to have a lot of complaint and troubles in my daily life. I took everything I receive as granted and was never satisfied. But Jesus gave me ultimate peace in my heart. Because I now have Jesus in me, I am more modest and receive things more graciously. I know that I am blessed so much and am thankful everyday.

Also, after reading the passage, I realized how great my God is. In every nation or culture, God has planned everything beforehand and created the people. There is always something in every culture in which we can find God’s message. For example, Don Richardson at first doubted if there is any way that he would inspire the Sawi people to seek and to accept God. It seemed as if there is no way that the Sawi people would be transformed into Christians. However, there was the way! There were the concepts of peace child. Soon, Don Richardson was able to connect the Sawi’s peace child with the ultimate peace child, Jesus Christ. God has plans for everyone.

Question #6: What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

First of all, I was surprised to find out that there are still “uncivilized” tribes like the Sawi around the world. I knew that a lot of people live in poverty and are in need of our help but I have never thought that such primitive tribes still exist in some parts of the world. However, as I read more stories and learned more about their culture, it was even more surprising to learn how they have been continuing their lives!!

I could not understand their tradition of killing people and eating the flesh. Even though it says that killing enemies is honor and eating the human flesh opens eyes of knowing good and evil, the tradition does not make sense to me at all. This concept angered me because I felt that the Sawi people do not respect other people. As a human being, how can one eat another human being’s flesh? That is really barbaric! However, on the other hand, it saddened me, too, because people are just killing each other due to lack of knowledge and understanding of human rights. I do not think that they would have been keeping this tradition if they only knew that each individual is unique and special and should be protected with some fundamental human rights. Relating to the human rights, I also thought that polygamy (having more than one wife) was ridiculous. Why would a man need more than one wife? Men are women should be equal. I mean, when I get married, I would not want my husband to have any other wife/wives.

The concept of the Sawi’s peace child surprised me, too. The Sawi people said it was the way to make peace, but I thought it was unnecessary. They should have trusted each other. Then, they would not have needed the actual “peace child” to make peace between tribes. Giving your child to someone whom you do not trust must be very heartbreaking. Trust was what they really needed.

Question #5: What does God expect us to do for other cultures and faiths?

Nowadays, Christians are all over the world. They are in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa: everywhere. They are different in ethnicity and cultures. However, the one thing, and the most important thing, in common is that they believe in God. No matter how old they are, where they live and what they do for living, they are Christians. Christianity is for all people and God wants Christians to spread His words, so more people would have intimate relationship with Him and find happiness and peace in Him.

This is it! The Lord tells us (Christians) that we should help people in vain, who might have different cultures from us. Their cultures and previous faiths cannot block us from spreading the gospel. He expects us to be His messengers, so when we encounter other cultures and faiths, we would deliver His words.

Romans 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles, too. - NIV

In Romans 3:29, it says that God is God of everybody. Gentiles in the verse refer to people who are not Jewish. Therefore, God of the Bible is the God over the whole world.

Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. - NIV

This verse means that people of difference races, social positions and gender are all equal in God. To God, every person is important even though the person may have different culture from others. Thus, everybody can have the same hope of being heirs of the promises given in the Bible.

Since every person is valuable in God’s eyes, we, as His messengers, have obligations to embrace other cultures and faiths and to guide the people to seek God. God expects us to love people of other cultures and faiths as our own brothers and sisters and to be good examples of believers. We, Christians, should invite others to the journey with God and improve this world with them.

Question #4: How different is your modern culture from the Sawi tenets?

Here is the list of the Sawi tenets that my English class created:
1. Kill enemies from other tribes.
2. Honor treachery.
3. Fattening with friendship for the slaughter is encouraged.
4. Eating human flesh opens your eyes of knowing good and evil.
5. “Peace Child” is a promise of peace.
6. Worship river spirits.
7. Number of wives you have represents your power and strength.

Modern culture is based on the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments includes:
1. You shall have no other gods before God.
2. Honor your father and your mother.
3. You shall not murder.
4. You shall not commit adultery.
5. You shall not steal.
6. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
7. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house and anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Yes, there are some similar provisions. For example, both cultures generally respect the elderly. Also, they believe in a supernatural being. The Sawi worships river spirits and people in modern society worship God (or other gods). However, from the two lists above, it is clearly shown that Sawi tenets are far different from the modern culture. The biggest different between the two cultures is how each respects human beings. Modern culture respects every person. Even though discrimination against minority is still present in some parts of the world, the global trend is that we should respect every human being. Majority of people in modern culture believe that we should protect all human rights. Nowadays, men and women are equally treated (although this is not always true…). Men cannot have more than one wife; polygamy is not accepted. But in the Sawi culture, men are considered to be superior to women.

We, people who are living modern society, should not kill anyone. Unlike, the Sawi’s culture, killing personal enemies cannot be accepted in the modern culture. Also, we value friendship and virtue very importantly. On the contrary, the Sawi people tend to honor treachery and betrayal of friends. Overall, modern culture respects human beings while the Sawi tenets infringe some of important human rights.

As a person who is living in modern society, I cannot accept some of the Sawi’s tenets. How could killing people from another village and eating the flesh be praised? I understand the Sawi’s beliefs, but cannot agree with it. I personally think that we all MUST protect human rights ALL THE TIME. We always live among other people and interact with them, so we should respect others as we want them to respect us.

Question #3: What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

As I read the book, there were a lot of passages that made me think about my past experiences, my life and the society I live in today. Don Richardson worked hard to inspire the Sawi, so the Sawi people would accept God and Jesus Christ. Don Richardson said, “He [God] is everywhere and no one can ever get away from Him … He knows all about everything. He knows what everyone is saying, doing and thinking. We cannot see Him, but He sees us!” (149). When I read this quote, I was able to agree with him because I believe in God. I have Christian perspectives, so I had no problem of understanding the quote. However, I questioned, “Would the Sawi people believe it? Would the words of Don Richardson touch the heart of each Sawi person?” I did not think so. Before Don Richardson came to the village, the Sawi did not know anything about Christianity. Therefore, without the prior knowledge or experience, the Sawi people were not probably able to understand what Don Richardson said at that time. I believe that one has to experience the presence of God in order to become a Christian. No matter how hard his friends or family encourage him to believe in God, it is him who makes the choice. He has to experience and feel it!

I, too, felt the presence of God and became a Christian. I knew who God is and what Christianity is since I was a child. At TCIS, I took Bible classes and heard stories of God from my teachers and speakers in chapel. But I was not a Christian; I did not fully believe in God. Then, hardships came to me. Last year, my life suddenly seemed meaningless. I spent several months, searching for the answers to the questions that I have asked myself. One day, during the summer vacation, I found myself relying on God. Since then, God has given me a new perspective, new hope and new meaning in my life!

So, what if a person decided to believe in God? What is next? I have heard several times that being a Christian is often going against the crowd. Faithful Christians should be brave enough that they follow the words of God even though people around them may say “no.” Don Richardson wrote, “…the real battle here is not between Kamur and Haenam – it is between this savagery and my gospel” (134). I think this quote applies to the modern society, too. Most of times, what the society asks us to do is not in accord with what God tells us to do. I think we always live with the dilemma of whether to follow the society, or to follow God. Even though the answer is obvious for Christians, it is not as easy as we think when we actually have to make the decision and put it into action. When I read the quote, I asked myself. “Between society and gospel, what would win in my battle? Will I be able to turn away from the crowd and follow God?”

Don Richardson is an amazing person. I admire his faith and bravery. It would not be easy for anyone to go to an unknown place where people still practice headhunting and cannibalism and to live among the people. I am not sure if I would be able to make that choice. But at least I would like to try. At some point in my life in the future, I want to dedicate my time and energy to help less fortunate people around the world. The novel taught me the beauty of serving others and delivering God’s words to unprivileged people.

Question #2: What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

I believe that the first thing we need to do when we are confronted with other cultures is to RESPECT. We should not think that our culture is superior to other cultures. Every culture is important and valuable. Even though other cultures may have different beliefs and traditions, we must show respect.

In Peace Child, Don Richardson has shown a good example of respecting other cultures. When he first started living among the Sawi people, he was surprised by several legends and customs of the Sawi. For example, a baby from one tribe is given to another tribe as a promise of peace. This child is called “peace child.” When Don Richardson first encountered this custom, he was very surprised but he did not run away from the Sawi people. Nor did he chide the people. Yes, he disliked the custom. But instead of criticizing it, he used it as a tool of delivering God’s words. He introduced Jesus as the Peace Child from God and touched countless hearts of the Sawi people.

Respecting other cultures is very important for me because I like traveling around the world and meeting different people. I am going to Thailand for Habitat for Humanity during the Lunar break, and my team leader already commented the students in the team that we must be respectful of the people we meet and the places we go. Food, dress code and body language may be different from what we are used to, but we should respect them in the name of God. It is important that we acknowledge differences among cultures, understand them and learn about them with positive attitudes.

Question #1: What should society do for "uncivilized cultures" like the Sawi?

Should society go into “uncivilized cultures” and intervene? Or should they stay out and let them continue their own way of living? When there are “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi in the world, society has options to choose: 1) society would civilize the cultures or 2) it would not intervene at all.

I would say that society should interfere with the cultures to some extent. For example, it should provide protection from other enemies, medical aids and education. If the people in uncivilized cultures still practice very extreme activities such as headhunting and cannibalism, society must step in and stop the people from continuing those activities because the activities are unacceptable among humans. I think that people in the world should help one another to have higher standards of living. We should not ignore people living jungles or in deserts because they are not directly related to us. As a starting point, NGOs and social workers need to be willing to approach the “uncivilized cultures” and to interact with the people. Getting to know the cultures and acknowledging their values are steps that need to be taken before any actions are carried out.

However, as we go into the “uncivilized cultures” and help people to be aware of other cultures, we should not change or destroy their unique traditions. Every people group has special traits and we should respect them. Society cannot force the people to completely change their ways of living and to follow how majority of the society lives. Instead, we should actually help them not to forget their origins and traditions.

I think there are still some “uncivilized cultures” in the world, where contacts of modern society have not made yet. We do not know where they are, who they are and how they live. But I think we all have obligations to search for them and to assist them in order to make the world a better place to live for everyone.