Letters From Grandpa #118

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 118

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will focus again on the difference the influence of Jesus makes in society. Here again the a quote from Charles Darwin when he heard people criticizing Christian missionaries: “They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifices and the power of an idolatrous priesthood – a system of profligacy unparalleled in another part of the world – infanticide, a consequent of that system –bloody wars, where conquerors spared neither women nor children – that all these have been abolished; and that dishonesty, intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced by Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is base ingratitude; for should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have reached thus far . . . The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter’s wand. The house has been built, the windows framed, the fields plowed, and even the trees grafted by the New Zealander . . . the march of improvement, consequent on the introduction of Christianity through the South Seas, probably stands by itself in the records of history” (Journals of Research by Charles Darwin, pages 414, 425, and 505).

Our family was able to witness the influence of Christ first hand many years ago on a trip to Mexico. Mark Butler loaned us an old school bus which he had converted into a motor home. His wife and children went with our family in that old bus all the way to Mexico City. On that trip we were able to visit the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon just a few miles from Mexico City. In front of the Pyramid of the Sun is a huge highway called “The Highway of the Dead”.

The Aztec civilization flourished between 1345 and 1521. Central to their “civilization” was the worship of the pagan god “Quetzalcoatl”. That worship involved human sacrifice. The victims were held down by four priests while the fifth priest plunged an 18 inch obsidian knife into his body. His throbbing heart was ripped out of his still conscious body and offered to the god. Then the poor soul was decapitated and skinned. Multiplied thousands of victims were sacrificed in this way. Here is a brief video explaining the sacrifice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQKJRnPpIxw

While this video mentions a possible 20,000 victims each year. In 1487 King Ahuitzotl wanted to do something special to dedicate the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan. Consequently, on that one occasion, between 20,000 and 80,000 human sacrifices were made. The line of victims was several miles long and the incredible holocaust lasted for four days.

Once while returning from a mission trip to Asia I tried to witness to three drunken peace corps workers. Their spokesman insisted that all religions were alike and it didn’t matter what you believed as long as you were sincere. When faced with facts about Aztec worship, however, even this drunk had to concede that he was wrong. All religions are not good!

While critics of Christ point to the crusades and the inquisition, it should be obvious that these horrible events in history do not accurately represent the teachings of Jesus.

Some years ago I was privileged to travel to the Amazon jungle and spend some time with what was once considered the most violent society on earth. Their enemies called them “Aucas” which means “naked” or “savage”. They prefer to be called “Huarani” which means “The People”. Not only did they kill all “outsiders”, but 60 % of the deaths within the tribe came when they killed one another. They made the front cover of Life Magazine in 1956 by murdering 5 American missionaries. A movie about the transformation of this tribe is called “The End of the Spear”. Because of the influence of Christ these precious people are no longer violent. I crawled into a hammock and slept in their midst without fear.

Some time later I was privileged to visit Nagaland, India. This area was also once a violent place inhabited by headhunters. Every village of every Naga tribe featured human heads at their entrance. As with the Huaranis, each of 16 tribes was at war with all the others. The Nagas, however, were also converted to Christ. Again, there is now no reason to fear spending the night in their midst. Some say that over 90% of the people in Nagaland are Christians. I asked the Minister of Tourism if this was true. He said that among the Nagas the percentage was actually higher. The non-Christians, he said, were invariably from outside of their area.

The point is, the teachings of Jesus invariably have a positive influence in society. Please do not be deceived! Jesus is wonderful! You can trust Him for your salvation! Please read His Word and allow His Spirit to direct your life.

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce