Christians in Chiang Mai Aren't So Bad

Old "First Church," Chiang Mai

More than a year ago, blogger John Quinn, reported on his observations of Western missionaries living in northern Thailand in a posting entitled, "Christians in Chiang Mai."  Quinn is a Brit, and many of the missionaries are Americans.  He is an avowed atheist with a seriously jaundiced view of organized religion, and the missionaries, of course, are quite the opposite.  Quinn readily admits that when he moved to Chiang Mai 11 years previously he brought with him a prejudice against missionaries in particular and Christianity generally.  He writes that, "However, after living here for over 11 years and meeting many of them personally, my opinions have mellowed quite dramatically."

In a long posting, Quinn summarizes the history of Christian missions in northern Thailand (most of his facts are correct) and then shares with his readers the views of two missionaries that he knows personally.  Quinn then observes that while there are some negative aspects to the Western missionary presence in northern Thailand, on the whole he is impressed with the missionaries' good works and good hearts.  He closes his posting by thanking the two missionaries who shared their views with him and writes, "Thank you Gary and Gordon for being so open with your responses. People such as you have turned a fairly cynical person into a far more tolerant human being. The positive energy you bring into this world is impressive and long may it continue."

A couple of thoughts.  First, it is held among many who reject organized religion and religious beliefs that religion is an evil thing in and of itself.  They complain that it causes most of the wars we humans fight and is otherwise oppressive and intolerant.  Religion is bad.  For those of us who live "in here" this whole notion of the evil nature of religion is simplistic.  No one doubts that it has its ugly side.  But as a pastor, I see the better side nearly every day, the one Quinn points to in his posting.  Second, it is good to see that on occasion we can balance our differences in thinking and believing with mutual respect for the good in the Other.

And a third thought.  Some of the missionaries Quinn has come in contact with have evidently been engaged in faith-sharing with him.  They have "evangelized" him with their positive vibes and good works as well as their willingness to respond respectfully to his questions.  There are kind, respectful ways to share one's faith, and the outcome doesn't have to be in a baptism.  It can simply be in a little better understanding between people.  In our sadly divided world, such faith sharing offers one important contribution to healing the wounds of our differences.