I was listening to my audio Bible several weeks ago when I came across the account of Paul and Barnabas at Lystra (Acts 14:8-17). As I read about their encounter with the pagan Gentiles, I couldn’t help but imagine the same scenario happening with my pagan ancestors. The scripture reads:
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
- Acts 14:8-17
With a little imagination, I pictured Paul's miracle taking place way up in the distant Cordillera mountain village of my ancestors. Instead of being surrounded by Greek Gentiles, they are amidst a tribe of dark brown skinned Igorots dressed only in loincloths and skirts. Immediately after Paul heals the crippled man, I imagine the following taking place:
They called Barnabas “Kabunian” and Paul “Lumawig” (the supreme deities of my ancestors). . . And the “man-ated” or "manbonong” (priest) . . . brought pigs and chickens (typical animals slaughtered in ceremonies) . . . for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. . . Paul and Barnabas then proceeds to protest as he did with the Gentiles by tearing their garments and proceeds to proclaim the good news to them so that they turn from their gods and anitos (spirits).
As with many other indigenous cultures who encounter and accept Christianity, mine is no different in that God’s name often finds itself being used interchangebly with indigenous names. I’ve often heard from other Igorots that Kabunyan is the same as the Christian God. Well, herein reveals the cultural difficulties with which the church had to cope with since the beginning.
Later in chapter 17, Paul is in Athens delivering a speech at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31). His approach to the pagans there relates well with the subject at hand. In the words of Luke:
They called Barnabas “Kabunian” and Paul “Lumawig” (the supreme deities of my ancestors). . . And the “man-ated” or "manbonong” (priest) . . . brought pigs and chickens (typical animals slaughtered in ceremonies) . . . for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice. . . Paul and Barnabas then proceeds to protest as he did with the Gentiles by tearing their garments and proceeds to proclaim the good news to them so that they turn from their gods and anitos (spirits).
As with many other indigenous cultures who encounter and accept Christianity, mine is no different in that God’s name often finds itself being used interchangebly with indigenous names. I’ve often heard from other Igorots that Kabunyan is the same as the Christian God. Well, herein reveals the cultural difficulties with which the church had to cope with since the beginning.
Later in chapter 17, Paul is in Athens delivering a speech at the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31). His approach to the pagans there relates well with the subject at hand. In the words of Luke:
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: “You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’ as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.”
- Acts 17:22-31
Rather than condemn the pagan Gentiles, Paul evangelizes with love and charity. He compliments them for their religious nature, but in the end he tells them with great clarity to repent for their ignorance. Again, this scene can play out the same way if he were talking to my ancestors.
Igorots possess admirable spiritual attributes. Compared to the rapid decline in belief of an absolute God in American society, my Igorot ancestors were very spiritual people, like the Athenians Paul is speaking to. A great deal of their values were rooted in the natural law. Because of sin though, there were many things wrong with their beliefs and practices, most notably their violent headhunting practices. This is why Christ came into existence: to show them the fullness of truth through His death and resurrection.
Igorots possess admirable spiritual attributes. Compared to the rapid decline in belief of an absolute God in American society, my Igorot ancestors were very spiritual people, like the Athenians Paul is speaking to. A great deal of their values were rooted in the natural law. Because of sin though, there were many things wrong with their beliefs and practices, most notably their violent headhunting practices. This is why Christ came into existence: to show them the fullness of truth through His death and resurrection.
Listen to Acts 14:8-17 (Paul & Barnabas at Lystra):
Listen to Acts 17:22-31 (Paul's speech at the Areopagus):
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