History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 245
Psalms 89:7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all
who surround him.
31. Dignity, Credibility and Character of Leaders
Past
Bixby reported from Toungoo in 1863, “He comes into the Church with a Christian character
well developed and established and a fat of Scripture knowledge surpassing all the older members
baptized by me. He is a man of intelligence, speaks Burmese, Shan and Karen and reads English a
little. For some weeks he has given his whole time to the study of the Bible and to efforts to convince
others of its truth. The well known good character of the man previous to his conversion and the
manifest work of grace upon his heart and mind together with his knowledge of languages lead us to
hope much from him as a preacher of the gospel.” 134 It was reported in 1869, “The careful daily study
of the Epistle was I think of great benefit to them in their own personal Christian character. I am sure it
led some of them to a very careful self-examination and whether they had any right to be teachers of the
word of God.” 135
It was reported by Rev. Young in 1894, “The work has been temporarily retarded by the unchristian
walk of one of the teachers that I discharged in November and later a teacher in the school falling into
sin that necessitated her exclusion from the Church. The effect however seems less damaging than we
had feared.” 136
Present
Credibility, dignity and character of the leaders, pastors, missionaries, Church workers and
Christians are very important in leadership and our witness to the Buddhists. Some of our pastors and
leaders are full of dignity and good character, very dignified, reverent and well respected by others. But
regretfully some of them give bad impressions to others. Some Buddhists claim that the Buddhist
monks are more noble and reverent than our Christian ministers. They say that Buddhist monks live a
very simple life. They do not wear expensive clothes except yellow robe, they do not live in the
luxurious house but in monastery, they do not possess worldly materials, they don’t work or do
business, they even do not wear sandals, they are not allowed to be touched by women, they don’t look
up or side but on the ground when they walk, they don’t get marriage, etc. Our ministers also ought to
show that we are the reverent and holy men of God by our living example. The Christians must live the
life of Christ and imitate Him. We must give the good witness and example to non-believers. If the
drunkards are Christians, the drug addicts are Christians, the criminals are Christians, the adulterers are
Christians, how can we teach and evangelize the others? Sadly to say some, not all, pastors and leaders
loose their credibility and dignity because of the words they speak, the way they behave and they life
style they live. The followings are the bad examples of some of our Shan pastors and leaders.
An ordained pastor was trying to make fun, making dirty joke and telling dirty story in his preaching
sermon. People call him “dirty pastor.”
An ordained pastor is a heavy smoker. When asked why he smoke he said that it’s good for his
hypertension (high blood pressure). In fact it’s not true. It makes hypertension worse.
An ordained pastor has beaten wife and children in front of the others. He has to be called back from
mission field.
A pastor has misused Church money.
An ordained pastor use to carry a fighting-cock and having a cockfight in town even on Sunday.
134 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Jan. 6, 1863. Toungoo.
135 55th Annual Report, July 1869, American Baptist Missionary Union, report from Mrs. Bixby
136 81st Annual Report, 1895, Baptist Missionary Union, p295