by Tom Krane

“This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about . . .”
-Rudyard Kipling
Letters from the East, 1898

History

Burma now called Union of Myanmar, which they shorten to just Myanmar when referring to the country, is a land of self-imposed isolation. The country has a long and colorful history with historical roots extending to the early kingdom of Suvannabhumi or “Golden Land.” Early archaeological evidence suggests the area has been inhabited since at least 2500 B.C. Most of these early settlers were Buddhists, and they have left a legacy of Buddhist shrines and Pagodas seen everywhere in the cities and in the countryside.

The first Burmese Empire was not established until the 9th century and lasted until the 13th century when Kublai Khan and his Mongols overthrew it. The Second Burmese Empire arose around 1551 and lasted for two hundred years when Mon usurpers overthrew it. The Mons only controlled the land for eight years when the Third Burmese Empire was established. Great prosperity marked the Third Burmese Empire and as a result the Burmese King Mrauk U began taking territory along the Indian border. This caused the British a great deal of concern and they reacted by annexing much of Burma. Subsequent wars in 1852 and 1886 completed the British takeover of the entire country of Burma. They exiled the Burmese royal family to India and Burma remained a British colony until the Japanese invaded during WWII. During WWII British and American troops fought many battles on Burmese soil. Names such as General Stillwell and Brigadier General Merrill (Merrill’s Marauders) are a part of the legacy of Myanmar.

Missionaries

One of the first missionaries to this country was Phelix Carey, son of William Carey. Phelix Carey never had any great success in the country and stayed because he was married to a Burmese woman more so than because of his fervor to convert the Burmese people. He was there when Adoniram Judson and his wife arrived in 1813. Phelix did not have any uplifting thing to say about Burma and strongly suggested that the Judsons return to the United States. Fortunately, the Judsons were determined in their cause and decided to stay. Most people know of the trials and tribulations that the Judsons went through, and to this day the results of his work remain. The largest denomination in Myanmar today is Buddhist, but the second largest group is Baptist. Adoniram Judson translated the King James Bible into the Burmese language and his translation is still being used today. Baptist churches established by his converts are still operating today in Chin and Kachin states.

Many other Baptist missionaries from the USA and other parts of the world followed the Judsons. Christian missionaries of all stripes and color have been active in Myanmar for more than 150 years, but it was the American Baptists who were first on the scene actively working among the peoples of Burma. The work among the Burmese, started by the Judsons, soon proved to be a very difficult task, and so the missionaries began working among the tribal people of the land. It is here that the Baptists have had their greatest success. The tribal people were animist and not Buddhists and were much more receptive to the Gospel. It seems that among the tribal animists that a legend was held in great esteem that one day a new book containing the truth would arrive. When the missionaries arrived and learned of the legend, they proclaimed the Book of Great Truth had arrived, that being the Bible. (I cannot attest to the truth of this fact, but a tribal pastor and a book to review the history of the Baptist missions in Burma did refer to the legend and the use of it by the early Baptist missionaries.)

Obstacles

The early Baptist work among the tribal people has achieved great success, but the spread of the Gospel among the ethnic Burmese is to this day a limited venture. There are several reasons for this of which two are the most prevalent.

First is Burmese nationalistic pride. Burmese nationalism is equated directly to Buddhism. To be Burmese is to be Buddhist. For Burmese Buddhists, the shin-pyu or Buddhist novitiate ceremony is the most important event in a young man’s life. It marks a social passage into puberty, while at the same time providing an intensive training session in Buddhist customs and values. Once ordained, each novitiate remains at the monastery for a period ranging from a few days to the rest of their lives. We see pictures of Buddhist countries and we may only see a few monks, but every Burmese man is for his entire life a Buddhist monk. He is charged with the maintenance of the “faith” in himself and in his family. The only formal education in reading and writing that many Burmese males receive is while they reside in the monastery, further linking them to Buddhism. While novitiate for Buddhist boys is nearly universal, a similar monastic opportunity, though not as universal, is available to young women who choose to become temporary Buddhist nuns.

From birth to death, a Myanmar Buddhist stays in touch with his religion. A Buddhist child wakes up each day to the sound of grandparents at prayer reciting the Buddhist scripture aloud for many minutes. Early in the morning mother cooks rice and other foods to offer to the monks on their alms rounds. At night, children must pay their respects to the Triple Gems: Discipline (rules and regulations for living), Discourses (Buddha’s sermons), and Ultimate Realities (Buddha’s Philosophy - similar to Proverbs). Every Buddhist home has a shrine. When one enters the shrine room, he must remove footwear as a sign of respect. The Bible tells us that the Word of God should ever be before our eyes, but how many homes go as far as the Buddhists do to keep the tenets of Buddhism ever present in their lives.

Second is the form of Buddhism that is prevalent in Myanmar. They call it Theravada Buddhism, and it is the world’s oldest and most traditional form of Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism traces its truths and their Pali Scripture directly to the great elders of the Lord Buddha. “In this tradition those great elders maintained the Dhamma, the teachings of the Lord Buddha, in its pristine purity without changing it, without adding new writing in it, and without removing anything from the original Dhamma. (Teaching of the Buddha)” (Taken from the Sitagu International Buddhist Academy yearly magazine B.E. 2541 C.E. 1998.) A discerning eye will see that this is a direct attack on the Word of God and its translation.

Buddhism

A new Buddha arrives on the scene every 5000 years. The current Lord Buddha is Siddhattha Gotama, who was born in Southern Nepal in 623 B.C. When he discovered the truth by penetrating the Dhamma perfectly, he attained full enlightenment, by his own way, by self striving; he became the Buddha, the peerless teacher of gods and men. He lived 45 years as a Buddha and at the age of 80 he passed into Pari-Nibbana (final extinction). Though he passed away, the Burmese Buddhists claim the lamp of the Dhamma has never been extinguished. In its 2500 years journey the Buddhists claim that the Dhamma (Teaching of Buddha) has never changed, nothing has been removed nor inserted; no new or modern words or ideas have been added to the Dhamma. Buddhists profess that the great elders, disciples of the Buddha, well maintained and guarded the Dhamma in its pristine purity (more of an attack on the Bible).

In Buddhism the individual believer is left with the Dhammacakka or Dhamma, which roughly translated, means wheel of wisdom. Like Buddhists elsewhere, the Buddhists in Myanmar believe that all living beings are subject to the sufferings of birth, disease, old age and death, the pain of separation from loved ones and the pain of being with those one does not love. No existence is ever free of these ills and pains. Because of attachment, greed, anger and the illusion of a distinct self, beings are reborn repeatedly in an endless cycle of existences known as Samsara. Buddhists in Myanmar believe that there are 31 planes of existence, made up of the lower planes of ghosts, animals and unhappy beings, the human plane of the celestial planes above it.

To free oneself from this endless cycle and reach a state of supreme peace known as Nibbana, after which there will be no more rebirth, one has to accumulate charity (Dana), morality (Sila) and insight or wisdom (Bhavana). Before one can reach Nibbana however, one must get as much good karma, or merits (Ku Tho), as possible through good deeds. Merits are the positive result that gather from thoughts, words and deeds based on good intentions. Most homes along the rural roads in Myanmar have a water cask set in front along the road. This is done because of the importance of water in the culture and because the residents hope to achieve some merits by providing water for a thirsty traveler or monk.

For many years the doors of Myanmar were shut to foreign visitors. Then in the 1970s the doors slowly reopened. First of all 24-hour stays were allowed, next came a seven-day visa, then a 14-day tourist visa was made available. In March 1994 the tourist visa was lengthened to 28 days, and tourists were allowed to travel independently - at least in the major cities of Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake and Taunggyi. These restrictions make it impossible for a foreigner to do missionary work in Myanmar except for short visits. Even on short visits it is difficult (but not impossible) to preach and teach the Word of God.

In the major cities activities are monitored, but not outwardly as much as beyond the cities. To travel outside the major cities one must obtain permission from the Myanmar government. They will require the traveler to hire an “official” travel guide, and upon arriving at the destination one must register with the local military authorities who will assign a military intelligence officer. This officer will stay with the traveler or keep in constant contact. They will not allow one to preach or teach outside the confines of a church building, and their notes must be approved before hand by the military intelligence officer. Sometimes they will forbid teaching or preaching even inside a local church. Street preaching, handing out tracks or door-to-door visitation would be very difficult for foreigners and locals alike but not impossible.

Baptists

Today seventy-nine percent of the population of forty-eight million are still Buddhist, six percent are Christian and the rest are Islam, Hindu and Animist. Out of the six percent Christian population only two percent are born again believers. The six percent of Christians comprise only three million Myan-marians. Of the three million Christians two million are Baptists but few are fundamental believers. This came about because of the missionaries being forced out of the country in 1964. The nationals left to run the churches led them in the direction of liberalism. This occurred among all denominations, including the Baptists.

What can be done?

The question is “What can be done?” Satan would have us to live in fear of the government and to stay out, to write off Myanmar as a lost cause. The Lord sees things quite differently. The greatest need is for laborers among the native Burmese. There are more than one hundred ethnic groups in the country; the most numerous is the Baman (Burman). This ethnic majority makes up between 65 percent to 70 percent of the population. Based on the 1983 census the population of Myanmar is approximately forty-eight million. The Burmese are an unreached people and must not be forgotten nor overlooked for the more profitable work among the tribals. Twenty-six percent of the population is made up of other indigenous races such a Chins, Kayaha, Shans, Kachins and Kayin. These groups, the tribals, as mentioned before, have been evangelized to a greater extent for many years. The question still stands “What can be done?” The approach that will work, I believe, is to follow the ways of Paul.

First, we must not lessen the work among the tribals in favor of the Burmese. This would be a mistake because the tribals would fall to the pressure of the Military government to become “Burmese” and thus Buddhists. Baptist churches in the northern part of Myanmar are reporting that officials will enter the church and remove any recent converts. Once outside the new convert is asked (under duress) to renounce Christ and return to Buddha. Thus far there is no report of anyone having been injured, but it is a mixed blessing because all have denounced their faith in Christ and returned to Buddhism.

Second, we can provide support for doctrinally sound, fundamental Baptist preachers. Paul would say beware of false teachers and only help those who are sound in their beliefs and doctrines. In my research and questioning of the Baptists, it seemed that for the most part the deacons run the church. They relegate pastors to the single role of “preaching,” while the deacons administer all other.phpects of the Baptist churches. Women preachers are becoming more prevalent in Baptist churches. There are several Baptist (really Baptistic) seminaries in the country, but the standards for theology and doctrine at these institutions are set by a very few highly educated professors. If one does not have a degree (and a Ph.D., at that) then the rank and file Baptist will not give any credibility to what one has to say. Most Baptist churches are part of an association, which is not all bad because it provides a form of protection against any single church being singled out for persecution.

The support of the work in Myanmar can take other forms also. There must be a real outpouring of prayer for the country of Myanmar, its leadership and its people. Ask God to do a great work in this country. Dedicated professional missionaries who will work with Myanmar nationals are needed. As with any church, money is needed to continue the work of the ministry. Paul collected money from the churches who were prospering to give to those churches that were less fortunate. The churches in the United States are truly blessed and are unselfish with their willingness to share with the countries of the world. There are no permanent, professional missionaries in Myanmar, and as a result the financial needs of the Baptist Churches in Myanmar are often not considered. Most libraries of Baptist preachers can be measured in inches. Books that are fundamentally sound, doctrinally correct and Baptistic in nature need to be translated into Burmese as well as some of the tribal languages. One is only limited by his willingness to surrender and seek God’s will for Myanmar.

The invitation, or Macedonian call goes out. There are many places to sow the seed of fundamental faith. Many people need to be turned to Christ. Myanmar - a place like no other - needs Christ who is like no other.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jonathon & Mandy Crews -  BRAZIL
Joel C & Brooke Daku -  KIRIBATI
Paul W & Martha Daku -  FIJI ISLANDS