Missionary Killed on Remote Island

[Roy]

...which is to say, no communication at all. He was sorta stuck there once his assistants dropped him off. Keep straining, you might find something.

I have no idea what you think I might be missing.

[Cow Poke]

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

I somewhat tongue-in-cheekedly refer to this as "hearing in ears" rather than "speaking in tongues".

That's very similar to what happened in my living room about 15 years ago with our South American / Mexican missionaries.

[seer]

Funny how that never happens publicly, except in the biblical fiction.

How do you it never happened publicly, beside what was recorded in Scripture?

[Roy]

I can't say what he was counting on... haven't seen enough facts to validate that assumption on my part.

It seems reasonable to me, however, that he may have been expecting (or hoping) for the Holy Spirit to intervene in a way that would cause the islanders to understand his intent, if not his message.

Maybe. But if so, why try speaking Xhosa? Unless he thought they might understand it. And he must have been optimistic to have tried a third time after the Holy Spirit didn't intervene during his first two visits.

[JimL]

I can't say what he was counting on... haven't seen enough facts to validate that assumption on my part.

It seems reasonable to me, however, that he may have been expecting (or hoping) for the Holy Spirit to intervene in a way that would cause the islanders to understand his intent, if not his message.

Right, that's what I said. He was a bit daft, and now he is dead as a result.

[Cow Poke]

Maybe. But if so, why try speaking Xhosa? Unless he thought they might understand it.

I don't know, Roy, except that may have been the 'act of faith' he thought God would bless... I really don't know.

And he must have been optimistic to have tried a third time after the Holy Spirit didn't intervene during his first two visits.

There are a couple of parables (Luke 11 and 18) where Jesus implies that "importunity", or persistence, pays off. Again, I really don't know.

[Cow Poke]

Meanwhile, his friends and family are holding out hope that he's still alive somehow...

WHERE'S HIS BODY? US missionary John Chau who was shot dead with arrows by tribe on remote island may still be ALIVE, friends and family believe

[mossrose]

I don't recall the Apostles having to speak in e.g. Japanese for the gift of tongues to work.

The apostles spoke in, likely, Greek, as that was the language of the common man in that day. The people HEARD the message in their own languages.

I like to call it the gift of the hearer. It has been badly corrupted, and since not long after the first instance of it.

[Sparko]

How could he have been telling them about Jesus? He didn't speak their language.

Maybe he planned on making friends with them, then learning their language?

Christian Missionaries have been doing this for 2,000 years now. Sometimes they get killed, sometimes they succeed. Actually, EVENTUALLY they succeed (as Missionaries are known to keep going until they do)

Currently there are Christian missionaries in many hostile lands, like China and the Middle East, bringing bibles, teaching, and helping people with food and supplies. Many times they are killed or tortured if caught.

[Cow Poke]

Maybe he planned on making friends with them, then learning their language?

From my previous link...

[rogue06]

Meanwhile, his friends and family are holding out hope that he's still alive somehow...

WHERE'S HIS BODY? US missionary John Chau who was shot dead with arrows by tribe on remote island may still be ALIVE, friends and family believe

I think they might be trying to force India into recovering the body

[JimL]

Maybe he planned on making friends with them, then learning their language?

Christian Missionaries have been doing this for 2,000 years now. Sometimes they get killed, sometimes they succeed. Actually, EVENTUALLY they succeed (as Missionaries are known to keep going until they do)

Currently there are Christian missionaries in many hostile lands, like China and the Middle East, bringing bibles, teaching, and helping people with food and supplies. Many times they are killed or tortured if caught.

They've lived contentedly and died for thousands of years without the virus of some other groups beliefs infecting them. I'll bet you don't like it, or allow, Jehovah Witnesses's to come into your house to preach to you either. Apparently the tribespeople told him to beat it, but he had to keep coming back knowing that he was angering them and that they might kill him. Well, he was right, end of story.

[Zymologist]

They've lived contentedly and died for thousands of years without the virus of some other groups beliefs infecting them. I'll bet you don't like it, or allow, Jehovah Witnesses's to come into your house to preach to you either. Apparently the tribespeople told him to beat it, but he had to keep coming back knowing that he was angering them and that they might kill him. Well, he was right, end of story.

Serves him right, eh?

[JimL]

Serves him right, eh?

Nope, at least I wouldn't put it that way.

[One Bad Pig]

They've lived contentedly

and died for thousands of years without the virus of some other groups beliefs infecting them.

They're still in the Stone Age, Jim, living hand to mouth.

I'll bet you don't like it, or allow, Jehovah Witnesses's to come into your house to preach to you either.

I've talked with JWs AND Mormons at my residence, Jim. I'm more than happy to do so again. Heck, you're free to wander by and attempt to convert me, too.