Missionary wrote ‘God, I don’t want to die’ right before tribe killed him

NYPost ^ | November 22, 2018

[SMGFan]

John Allen Chau, the American missionary who was killed by an isolated tribe on a remote Indian island, reportedly wrote in his journal hours before his death, “God, I don’t want to die.”

Chau, 26, of Vancouver, Wash., chronicled his last days while traveling to the Andaman Islands. He was intent on making contact with the Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island, according to his journals shared by his mother with The Washington Post.

“You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people,” he wrote in a last note to his family on Nov. 16, shortly before he left the safety of the fishing boat to meet the tribesmen on the island. “God, I don’t want to die.”

The tribesmen, who stand about 5-feet-5-inches tall with yellow paste on their faces, reacted angrily to Chau’s presence, he wrote, as he attempted to speak their language and sing worship songs.

[Ezekiel]

RIP, whatever his motives for being there.

It looks like a case of his being as harmless as a dove, while neglecting the part about being as wise as a serpent.

[Bonemaker]

“...as he attempted to speak their language and sing worship songs...”

Stone Age 1

Dimbleshit 0

[Salvavida]

Jesus is our example. God doesn't care about borders. He calls people and I'd be wary of pointing our puny fingers at God to instruct Him on what He is sovereign over.

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." - Jesus Christ

Do you assert that because the man was not Jesus, he (nor any other Christian) should not model themselves after Christ? What do you suppose the Bible teaches on that?

[freeandfreezing]

You shouldn’t call the guy stupid if he was sharing the Gospel.

His stupidity is not because he was trying to share the Gospel. His stupidity was trying to do so without bothering to learn the local language or understand the culture, and ignoring the local law and reality. That's as stupid and misguided as deciding to go to Africa from New York to share the Gospel by sailing across the Atlantic on a paddle board.

[Bonemaker]

His family can claim his posthumous Darwin award.

[myerson]

“...adding that a child shot at him with an arrow that missed and pierced his waterproof Bible.”

The Bible saved him once. The kid didn’t take the hint.

[steve86]

He was trying to communicate in their language not English.

[dfwgator]

[super7man]

Like those missionaries in South America that were massacred, then later came to Christ.

?????????????????

[Salvavida]

how long should the faithful wait before they attempt to visit these people again?

---------------------------------------------------------

The prophets were murdered before all Israel. That didn't stop Jeremiah or any of his contemporaries. You keep going as God sets you apart to do his will.

[reasonisfaith]

Maybe his death will then be used to share it more widely.

[going hot]

Actually, an optical illusion. The yellow paste only seems to make them taller.

Now, red paste, for example, would make them appear more skinny, and untrustworthy.

And don't even go there with the blue paste.

[Proud White Trump Supporter]

We need to station these natives at the Mexican border with their bows and arrows and let them display how to protect their sovereign soil from foreign invaders.

[freeandfreezing]

"he attempted to speak their language and sing worship songs."

Apparently the attempt was insufficient, and his failure to work to gain trust and acceptance of contact led to his tragic demise.

[Lurker]

“Do you assert that because the man was not Jesus, he (nor any other Christian) should not model themselves after Christ?“

Whatever. He could have modeled himself after Christ on the west side of Chicago. His odds of surviving would have been far better.

L

[Beagle8U]

“Stupid is supposed to hurt.”

I bet it did.

[EliRoom8]

>>Jesus didn't "want" to go through what He knew He was about to endure but He said, "nevertheless, You're will be done."<<

IMO (and with no offense directed towards you) this is such a wrong concept of the Gethsemane prayer that it borders on the blasphemous. Prior to the "take this cup" it is made clear he was surprised and amazed at a life-threatening physical ailment (hematidrosis -- blood mixed with perspiration).. Furthermore, the LJC knew by the OT that it *was* the Father's will that he die on the cross. Note also that the prayer of the Lord was answered in the soon arrival of an angel who strengthened Him and that immediate medical problem passed. Our Lord also upbraided Peter for trying to go against the Father's will when he cut off the ear of Malchus. Why would He upbraid Peter if He, Himself, had just prayed to avoid the cross?

Nevertheless, you are on the side of most expositors on this. Blessings to you this Thanksgiving. Thankful that the Lord indeed set His face to go to Jerusalem and suffer that awful death on our behalf.

[reasonisfaith]

If you understand a little about how writers write, you’ll understand the message intended by the title of the article. Expand your thinking!

Deception is indeed an arrow.

[The Grammarian]

What makes you think that the will of God was that he not be martyred?