HVK Archives: Questions for modern missionaries; and a response
Questions for modern missionaries; and a response - The Examiner
Fr R. H. Lesser
()
8 March 1997
Title : Questions for modern missionaries
Author : Fr R. H. Lesser
Publication : The Examiner
Date : March 8, 1997
Sir, With reference to the report that Vatican is concerned about
the problem of Indian theologians, who in the Vatican view,
soft-pedal the proclamation of Christ as Saviour. One needs to be
fair here. Surely the theologians in question are sincere. Also
they are intelligent. And they are more in touch with the real
situation 'on the ground' than those in the Vatican. That there
has to be a certain amount of adaptation and inculturation even of
theology, all agree. But how far can one go?
Accordingly may I be permitted to ask a few questions? But first
let me relate a personal experience. A member of a certain
religious order was giving a seminar on the media. In passing he
said that the young members of his congregation in the diocese
where they worked - 'did- not believe in baptising.'
>From my study of Ad Gentes, Evangelii Nuntiandi and other such
Church documents, I am aware that evangelisation is wider than
preaching and baptising. I realise that Baptism should not be given
lightly - only after due discernment and proper preparation of the
candidate.
Now to begin my questions. Is Baptism to be excluded from our
evangelising efforts? Is Christ's command: "Go therefore, make
disciples of all nations, Baptise them" (Mt 28:19) "Go, proclaim
the good news to all creation. He who believes and is baptised
will be saved" (Mk. 16:16) "You will be my witnesses... to the ends
of the earth" (Acts, 1:8) etc, etc. Is Christ's command, put in so
many ways. in such different circumstances, null and void?
I am aware that some (not all) modern biblical scholars say that
the endings of Mathew and Mark are later additions. But is it
likely that those hard-pressed 1st or early 2nd century Christians
should add these most difficult commands - unless they ultimately
originated from Christ himself? By loving you can get a Nobel
prize; by preaching you quite often get stones and abuse. and not
only from non-Christians.
I am aware that education. and healing and general development are
and must be a part of our evangelising effort. I might remark that
I have lived and worked among primitive aboriginals for fourteen
years. During that time I was responsible for the making of a dam,
for digging of many wells, and schools and a hospital. But I also
preached Christ and, after due preparation and instruction,
baptised those who asked for it. Is not this total integral
development? I might remark that I did not entice people into
Baptism through development work. In fact my policy was that aid -
and I tried to make aid as constructive as possible should be given
to all irrespective of creed - there is no caste among tribals
except to those who were preparing to by Christians. If I may say
so the process is beautifully illustrated in my novel, 'Forced
Landing' (St Paul Publications).
And what are these 'Gospel values' that we are to preach instead of
Christ? I suppose love, concern for others, for giveness, honesty
etc... But these are not just Gospel values. They are to be found
in the Scriptures of almost every religion. The only thing that is
unique to Christianity is - Jesus Christ. If one just does
development work without reference to Christ, what is the
difference between such a person and a Buddhist, Hindu or Parsi
doing the same work?
____________________________________________________________
Response:
The letter writer above is an active missionary working in the
Vanvasi area of Rajasthan around Udaipur. He is considered to be
one of the successful missionaries in the sense of doing large
amount of conversions. The above letter clearly shows that his
so-called development activities are guided by conversion as a
primary activity.
To highlight two quotes from the letter shows the mind set of the
writer:
"....I was responsible for the making of a dam, for digging of many
wells, and schools and a hospital. But I also preached Christs..."
"The only thing that is unique to Christianity is - Jesus Christ.
If one does development work without reference to Christ, what is
the difference between such a person and a Buddhist, Hindu or Parsi
doing the same work?"
Development work for the sake of it is not uplifting. What Fr
Lesser is saying that Christ will not be happy if dams are built,
roads made, schools constructed, etc., unless the message of the
centrality of Christ is also given. Thus the work of Fr Lesser is
conversion first and development second. It is this attitude that
creates tensions in the society.
In any case, perhaps Fr Lesser should go to the Christian countries
and convey the message of the centrality of Christ, which message
seems to have been forgotten by them.
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