Eternity in their Hearts: Analysis Has God prepared for every nation and tongue to accept His Gospel? Eternity in their Hearts is a riveting novel that contains pertinent information; it reveals answers proving how every nation, tribe, and tongue is in fact ready to accept the good news that Jesus saves. However, this book portrays the situation of most people in the way that the people who do not know Jesus actually create their own way of removing their guilt for keeping their peace and to give them some confidence in what happens to them after death or even what their life means. Eternity in their Hearts reveals the willingness of these cultural groups to accept the Gospel and makes the reader realize that the problem is that some Christians …show more content…
Revelation is defined as “the divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world (dictionary.com).” He explains that general revelation is personified in the character of a high priest in the Bible named Melchizedek (28). With Melchizedek, there is such a thing as the Melchizedek factor. This Melchizedek factor brings the welcome to everyone in order to accept the Good News (29). General revelation and special revelation can both be compared to light. General revelation can be compared to light such as that of a lantern, while special revelation can be compared to light such as a laser, a direct beam of light. This type of revelation is personified in Abraham. With Abraham, there is such a thing as the Abrahamic factor. This factor reveals to us that the Abrahamic covenant reaches to Old and New Testament eras (29). These are the two factors that Richardson places at the main focus when understanding how each tribe, tongue, and nation is readily accepted to accept the Good …show more content…
The Lahu people were located near Laos. These people had their own traditions as well; they believed that a law called the Gui’sha was instilled in them and their forefathers had sent them a book; however, this book has been lost in time. Missionaries to the Lahu people can use this as an outlet to preach that that book is the written Word of God. Their hope is that someone will restore this book for them. They believed that a “white brother” would restore the words of the law in this book for them. How surprised they would be once they found out that Jesus was from the Middle East and that He ascended to a place called Heaven to prepare a place for us to enjoy eternally. To remember that this is to happen, some of the people wore cords on their wrist to symbolize their bondage and that this “white brother” would cut the cords off of their wrists (77). Just like the Kachin people, the Lahu were ready to accept whatever Good News the missionaries had to bring. In such cases as these, then Richardson discusses with readers that people are more prepared to accept the Good News than some Christians are ready to go out unto them
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all faith based religions with the shared belief in revelation, which in the text is described as “ the divine disclosure of sacred knowledge” (Ch. 4 Pg. 95). All three of these religions show the importance of revelation, whether it be through John the Baptist in the jordan river, through Muhammad in the Arabian desert, or through a burning bush in the middle of the desert with Moses. In Christianity the importance of revelation is shown through none
Another strength, which also seems to be the helpful part of making this article effective and overall worth the read to a Christian as a whole, is seen in his concluding statement of a quote by Timothy Richard of China, “How can we expect an unbelieving world to take us seriously in our talk about a gospel of reconciliation when we remain so obviously un-reconciled to one another?”4
The English translation of the Hmong phrase “quag dab peg” is that the spirit catches you and you fall down. While western society knows this as epilepsy, the Hmong believe that the seizures are caused by the presence of a “dab” or soul stealing spirit, which leads the soul to leave the body.1 The Hmong consider those who suffer from epilepsy to be respectable and of a higher status. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, the doctors and the Hmong are looking for a solution to the same problem; how to stop Lia Lee’s seizures. However, miscommunication between the doctors and the Lee family worsens Lia’s condition. There were disagreements between the family and the doctors on how to treat Lia, and the appropriate resources to overcome these disagreements were not available. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Anne Fadiman shows how cultural differences and miscommunication between the western doctors and the Lees leads to the demise of Lia Lee.
Unfortunately, time-honored Hmong traditions are challenged by American culture. For example, there is conflict between Hmong Christians and Hmong Animists. Animists sacrifice animals to worship spirits; they believe “that all living things have spirits” (Brittan, 1997). Hmong Christians worship God and condemn animal sacrifice. As a result, Christianity altered traditional Hmong rituals and ceremonies. For instance, Christianity eliminated the payment of a bride price
For centuries, Africans and their belief systems have been derided. Instead of being studied as “valid and meaningful responses to the universal terms of human existence,” African religions have often been considered “exotic objects… peculiar and incomprehensible or repellent.” For many Europeans, Christianity was by far the superior religion, and they strove to convert Africans. One kingdom where they seemed to enjoy success was Kongo. By 1704, the people living there had been Catholic “for six generations – nearly two centuries.” The Kongolese took great pride in this, believing that it made them “superior” to their neighbours. Moreover, both the Kongolese and the Church took pride in the fact that Christianity “had come to Kongo not through conquest and forced conversion, but through the voluntary conversion of João I.” Despite this achievement, though, the Church more – the Kongolese had to practice Catholicism exactly as the Europeans did. With the coming of Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita, who claimed to be possessed by Saint Anthony, this conflict would become more apparent than ever before. Though the Capuchins succeeded in having Dona Beatriz burnt at the stake, they failed in their ultimate goal of fully converting the Kongolese to their form of Catholicism.
While it may be easier to persuade yourself that Boo’s published stories are works of fiction, her writings of the slums that surround the luxury hotels of Mumbai’s airport are very, very real. Katherine Boo’s book “Behind the Beautiful Forevers – Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” does not attempt to solve problems or be an expert on social policy; instead, Boo provides the reader with an objective window into the battles between extremities of wealth and poverty. “Behind the Beautiful Forevers,” then, exposes the paucity and corruption prevalent within India.
What God reveals to humanity, is not given all at once. He progressively reveals Himself and His strategy of redemption. The Scriptures affirm to God's progressive revelation of Himself in the fact that He does not fully reveal His truths from the beginning. However, all He reveals to the world is always true. Each Scripture builds on the previous one, revealing a little of God’s mystery at a time (Rom. 16:24). Theses factors of revelation inform understanding of God’s progressive revelation of redemption as
I believe that the community of India is hopeless. I believe this because by comparing their community to ours, there isn’t really much hope for recovery in their present situation. The poverty in India is different from the poverty in the United States. Between India and the U.S., homes, revenue, and jobs are drastically different. In the U.S., homes are bigger and are built by organization who help those who live in poverty. Those who are homeless are presented with food stamps as a way of currency so they can survive. Also for those who live in poverty in the U.S. are presented with more jobs and more opportunities than the people of India. These differences show how even though both India and the United States have similar economic difficulties, one almost has no hope of return.
Katherine Boo’s novel, Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, depicts the view of corruption among Westerners and Indians elite differently than corruption among the poor. Corruption, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people”. The poor regarded corruption as a vehicle to escape and rise above their impoverished conditions. The other classes saw corruption as a hindrance to the development and ambitions of India. Slum residents dreamed of escaping poverty and moving up in class.
A Mind For God Introduction The book “A Mind For God” by James Emery White is a very relevant book to todays’ Christian culture. In the book, he hits on seven major topics as well as several ideals every Christian needs to be aware of as they share the gospel with the world. The three ideals that I chose are how Christians spend their time developing their minds, the benefits of knowing the culture around us as Christians witnessing to the world, and Christians being oblivious to the culture around them yet needing to defend their faith.
The book of Revelation, the final book of the bible, is one of the most interesting and symbolic readings for many. With an unknown author, apocalyptic foreshadowing, and obscure meanings, it has been interpreted a number of different ways. Starting with the history, the symbolism, and ways to interpret it, the aim of this paper is to give the reader a better understanding of the book.
Paul’s goal or research question is to learn the music and dance methods of the Lak people. These rituals or practices seem to make them feel connected to the spiritual world and give them a sense of protection or to honor those that have died.
Albert Einstein once said “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” This is an extremely powerful quote, and I will seek to convey its strength, as applied to our lives as Christians, upon the careful review of Sandra L. Richter’s The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament. Richter designed this text as merely a tool by which we might further our understanding of the Old Testament narrative. With one minor glitch in her system, Richter handled the task as that of an expert in the field would - with patience, attention to central detail, and arresting
In the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, author Katherine Boo sheds light on the topic of corruption. Corruption is something that is seen everywhere, but varies in depth. She chooses to focus on India, because she is fascinated with how so many people are impoverished while others prosper. Boo is able to convey both the benefits and downfalls of corruption within a community by deciding to only focus on a sliver of people from a single slum. She chooses to focus on the citizens from a slum called Annawadi due to sense of possibility in the community. Boo decides to watch this community for several years to see who gets ahead, who doesn’t,
In a world that does not know the Gospel anymore, we must indulge in it, and love our fellow community though they may not share similar values, but find balancing in still remaining in our own values. Though many of times we find ourselves in opposition of the majority of the world, we must exude Christ love onto others as He does to us unconditionally. The author addresses ways in which we are able to live out our faith and still find a place within our community though they may not share similar values.