History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 246
A seminary graduate getting addicted to heroin.
A seminary graduate committed sexual immorality, has a son without married to a woman and has been
excluded from the Church but later ordained and became a leader and pastor of the Church without
repentance and confession.
An ordained pastor has bad moral character and resigned from the Church but still preaching, teaching
and giving benediction in the Church.
An ordained pastor got drunk when he was not nominated for general secretary post.
Ordained pastors were watching TV at home when people are worshiping at the Church.
A Church deacon using foul languages and cursing football players at soccer field.
A heavy smoking deacon of a Church said, “Smoking is not a sin. The Bible doesn’t say it. But
drinking is surely a sin.”
A former Chairman of a Church said, “One day, I went to the Church office. I found out that the key of
Church locker was plied opened and some important documents, which were the complaints against the
pastor, were missing. I talked to the pastor about it but he denied having any knowledge of it. Then I
locked the locker with double lock. Next day it was plied opened again and the documents regarding
two members who complaint against him were disappeared. The locker was kept in pastor’s home. I
talked to pastor again. He denied of doing it. I was so disappointed. I lost my trust in him. I resigned
from the council. I did not go to this Church any more until today.”
All these happenings make a handful of our Shan pastors and leaders losing their credibility,
respect and trust. Some Buddhists accused, “They are worse than us.” A pastor said in tears, at GCI
training in 1999 in Yangon, “I confessed my sin to the Lord as I have been living like a Pharisee and a
hypocrite. I will return to my home Church with a new life and new commitment.” An ordained pastor
knelt down to the ground and asked for prayer to release him from drug addiction.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless
and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like
stars in the universe.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise
your Father in heaven.
32. Christian Suffering
Past
Rev. Bixby reported on November 5, 1861, “These men (believers) are most bitterly persecuted.
One of the leaders has been severely beaten and others are threatened. They are refused water from
their wells and intercourse with their people and the severest anathemas are pronounced upon
them.” 137 And on October 25, 1862, “Public sentiment, which is powerful for good or evil everywhere,
acts strongly against Christianity here and the fear of ridicule may keep back many for a time but if
they are indeed pricked in the heart not simply cut to the heart sooner or later they will come. It will be
according to the election of two graces. People in our country have no idea how much opposition the
native Christians of this country have to meet and nowhere have I ever seen a people more sensitive to
ridicule, abusive language seized him and dragged him upon the ground. If it is known that a man is
and inquirer among the Burman he becomes at once an object of persecution and scorn. That Burman
137 The Missionary Magazine, Vol. XLII. April, 1862. No.4, American Baptist Missionary Union, Letter From Mr. Bixby,
Nov. 5, 1861. Toungoo.