History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 227
20. Religion of Poor and Outcasts
Past
Dr. Henderson reported in 1907 from MuongNai, “Here, he must shelter the poor witch who has
barely escape from her village with her life here pick up the poor traveler or beggar, forsaken his
companions in his direst need, and left to die like a dog alone. Here he is to raise a refuge for the blind,
the halt, the maimed until gradually the people, forgetting that foreign medicine will cause them to
swell up and die, lose their dread of being cut to pieces by the foreign doctor, are ready to brave the
unlaid ghosts of the patients who have died in the hospital and trusting to Jesus through the doctor (for
the two are strangely jumbled together in their minds) come to him with friend, mauled by animal or
hacked by man, wife in sore distress or child with broken limb, the blind, and the leper, saying as they
lay them at his feet, “trust all to you, do with them as you will. Such in bare outline is the doctor’s work
in Burma.” 98
It was reported by Dr. Henderson in 1907, “Here will he be called on to cure those from whom
the native exorcists have failed to drive out evil spirits? Here must he prove that medicine is more
powerful to stop the cholera? He must shelter and heal the poor witch who has barely escaped from
her village, the poor traveler or beggar forsaken by his companions in his direst need and left to die
like a dog alone. Here he is to raise a refuge for the blind, the halt and the maimed.” 99 When the
people were accused of possessing evil spirit, they would try to exorcise it by witchdoctor. If not
successful, they would drive him out from the village and abandon him to die in the wilderness. Finally
they were rescued by missionaries. Dr. Keith Dahlberg reported in 1963 from KengTung, “Due to
greater ministry to the needy and poor often we are in financial difficulty but God answers our prayer
and we found enough help to meet our geed. We are still able to pay a regular visit to PangWai to see
patients every four week and some of the places on the way are also not neglected. We stop to help
whenever patients on the way halt us. In spite of the presence of some weaknesses in our hospital it is
positively progressing.” 100 Missionaries had to rescue them and save them. Most of the poor and
abandons later became Christians.
Present
Since many of the believers and members of the Church are from former evil spirit possessed,
leprous, abandoned and poor people, Christianity is being seen as a religion of poor and outcasts.
Because many poor and outcast were saved by Christian workers and they came to Christ and became
Christians. Why isn’t the rich and educated Shan becoming Christian?
Shan people are quite stubborn, proud and logical. Unless they see a miracle with their own
eyes, feel the power of the Lord with their own experience, see our words in action; they do not want to
believe. The out casts, the poor, the sick who have seen the love and the power of God, believed. Rich
and healthy people seldom seek God. When people have problems especially with the evil spirits and
sickness, they first try to solve the problems by their own effort and belief. Eventually, when all failed,
they come to the pastor or Christian and ask for help to solve the problems. Some demon possessed are
released by the power of God, some lepers whom are abandoned by the community are helped and
cared by Christians, some outcasts and poor whom are being ignored are fed and supported by
Christians. The majority of Shan Christians are not wealthy. Very few Shan Christians are in the top
position in government offices. Shan evangelists seldom try to evangelize the top, rich and famous
people but the bottom, the grass root and the poor. Sometimes preachers are not courageous enough to
approach and preach gospel to the educated, rich and famous because of fear. Sometimes preachers feel
98 “The work of the doctor in Burma by A. H. Henderson, M.D, MuongNai, Burma, April 1907, The Baptist Missionary
Magazine
99 Ibid
100 Progress Report Of KengTung Shan Baptist Field, 1957-1963, 95 th AGM, Burma Baptist Convention, Rangoon,
December 1963.