Most probably you have never heard of Quanah Parker. He was a native American Indian chief. The son of a Comanche Indian chief and a captured English girl, Cynthia Ann Parker, Quanah was fluent in English and studied American laws so he could help his people with property and water rights laws with white people. He became a lead spokesman for Indians in the early 1900s.
He became friends with President Teddy Roosevelt and went on hunting trips with him. Quanah was summoned to the White House to meet with the President. Roosevelt informed Quanah that having five wives was against the law of the land. He looked into Quanah’s face as if wanting an answer to the dilemma and wanting Quanah to commit to one wife only.
Quanah paused and, with a sly grin, he said, “You tell ‘um which one.”
Obviously, the President couldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole.
Missionaries in Africa today have the same dilemma. Most missionaries just leave the issue alone and expect the problem to clear itself up in the next generation as Christ is taught in the culture.
How would you answer the question?
Tags: divorce, Indians, marriage
In the early days of America missionaries came from Europe to evangelize the native Americans. In 1805 a number of Indian chiefs and warriors met in council at Battle Creek, New York, to hear a presentation of the Christian faith by a Mr. Cram of the Boston Missionary Society. It is said that after Mr. Cram made an excellent presentation of the Gospel, and the life-changing power it holds, one of the chiefs, Red Jacket, got up to speak.
Red Jacket said, “Brother, we are told that you have been preaching about the Great Spirit to the white people who are our neighbors. We are well acquainted with our neighbors. We will wait a little while and see if the effect of the Great Spirit is upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less inclined to cheat and belittle Indians, then we will certainly consider what you say.”
People are watching. When was the last time you became aware that non-Christians were watching you?
Tags: evangelism, Indians, witness