When we were back from Trieste, Italy, on a 6-month “Home Assignment” in 2011, we enrolled our older three children in school for a semester. I remember chatting with the secretary in the office about what we’d been doing as a family in Italy while filling out the necessary paperwork. After a few minutes of friendly conversation, her posture stiffened. “So what are you doing, just trying to convert Catholics, then?” she asked. “Just the ones who don’t know Jesus,” came my quick reply. Thankfully it seemed to put her a bit at ease. How could she, after all, argue with that?

In Psalms 96, the people of Israel are told to, “Proclaim the good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.” And to, “Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns…”  They’re essentially told to evangelize the nations. So are we! We’re called to make disciples of all nations. But, much like the secretary I spoke to back in 2011, the world doesn’t respond well to that idea. The general response is the idea that we’re trying to change people or force something on them. What audacity for us to think it’s our responsibility to tell people they’re wrong or try to change their culture?! 

This response isn’t new. I remember back when I was growing up as an MK in Bolivia, I’d hear stories of anthropologists coming through the various tribes where we had missionaries working trying to find reasons to make the missionaries stop the work. “They're happy the way they are!" "Leave them alone!" "Why are you trying to destroy their culture?” These were some of the typical objections. Were we destroying their culture? Yes, in a way we were, because the Gospel changes culture. The Gospel changes everything but is that bad? According to those anthropologists it is. According to the world, it is. But you’ll never hear that from someone whose life has been transformed by the Gospel. The Gospel does indeed change culture but it does so for the better, even for those within that culture who don’t believe in Jesus.

I’m reminded of the testimony of Bautista, a powerful Yanomamo shaman who had come to faith in Christ, when he was challenged about the changes the Gospel made in his life and his people. The following account is found in the book Growing Up Yanomamö by Michael Dawson. 

Mark Ritchie went on to write Spirit of the Rainforest: A Yanomamö Shaman's Story. On subsequent book tours to some of the most prestigious universities across the United States, Bautista and Gary, along with Mark, have spoken at these universities. On one of these tours, during a question-and-answer time, someone asked Bautista a question."You keep talking about your people needing change. Just what kind of change do your people need?”

Bautista answered: "First of all, I want to make it very clear that any change apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ will not help my people.”

One of the professors stood up. "I know you have been brain-washed by your friend there, she said, pointing toward Gary, "because I have a good life, and I have not had to convert to Christianity to get it. My parents immigrated over here to get away from the fighting in Lebanon when I was just a little girl. ham at peace, yet I have not had to change my religion or culture to have that peace.”

Bautista was silent for a moment, then spoke. "While out in the jungle, if I notice a storm approaching I grab my machete and begin to build a lean-to shelter. Working quickly, I cut the poles and palm leaves I need. I then run and pull some vines to tie the whole thing together. I build my shelter and get under it before it starts raining. Now, if you come running up right before the storm breaks and I let you come in, you are just as dry as I am, although you have done no work. You are dry because you are under my shelter. I submit that that is what you have done here. My friend here has told me how this country was founded by people coming across the great water because they wanted to serve God. They built this country great by having the shelter of God's Word over them. You can live a life of peace here because you are under the shelter that they built. You have done nothing to deserve this life, but you are enjoying the benefits of their labor. Now my people, on the other hand, have no shelter. So that is why I say the first and only change that will really help my people is to have this shelter that is Jesus. We have no other hope.”

Slowly the professor sat down. Bautista looked around, bewildered at the standing ovation he received from the student body.