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One Way: JESUS!
(Reaching the Religions
of the World)
Part II: Tribal Religions
Introduction to Tribal Religions (Animism)
What Do Tribal Religions Believe?
A True-Life Testimony: The Tribal Chief and the Answered Prayer
Keys to Sharing Christ with Tribal/Animists
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 Introduction to Tribal Religions:
Thousands of diverse people groups -- from isolated villages in Africa, to contemporary native American reservations -- follow tribal religious beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Some groups consist of a handful of people, while others total millions of followers. Although practices are varied, these primitive religions have several common characteristics.
What Do Tribal Religions Believe?
Most tribal religions acknowledge there there is one supreme god (or "God") who created the world. They usually believe that this god is not concerned with their personal lives. As a result, primitive religions are subject to vatious "local gods" or evil spirits which require religious acts or ceremonies. Often the people are aware of their sin and offer blood sacrifice to the spirits to keep them from becoming angry. This sacrifice could be an animal sacrifice, or even the human sacrifice of a child.
Ancestral worship is a predominant part of primitive religions. Many tribes believe their relatives who have already died become spirits who can either help or harm them. Often, sacrifices are made or homage is give to them.
In most cases, there is usually a special man or woman within the tribe designated with "special power" and access to the spirit world. This person is referred to as a witchdoctor or sorcerer, and usually he or she has tremendous political and spiritual power over the other tribe memenbers. Even is other religions are present -- such as Islam or sometimes Catholicism -- these beliefs are often mixed together and dominated by witcraft and tribal traditions. Members of the tribe often go to the witch doctor for healing from sickness, to curse an enemy, or to keep from getting a curse from someone else. Charms, fetishes, bones or skulls, ancient chants, and tribal dances are sometimes used as a remedy.
Many trival/animists believe everything has a spirit, from the animals to the earth itself. The following people groups are tribal/animimists: Native Americans, Alaskan Eskimos, Australian Aborigines, remote tribes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
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A True-Life
Testimony (a story to read aloud to children)
The Tribal Chief and the Answered Prayer
 The African chief dreaded what had to be done. The tribal laws stated that only his son must become his successor; yet his beloved wife had given him only daughters. By the rules of the tribe, he would have to "chase" his wife away and get a new one. His ancestors and the spirits demanded that this be done, and no matter how much the chief regretted it, he felt there was no other choice.
As his wife heard the news, she cried out in desperation and prayed -- not to the local spirit gods -- but to the Almighty God of Creation to grant her a baby boy.
Within a short period of time, the chief's wife became pregnant and gave birth to her first son: Naboth.
This little boy grew strong and tall, and soon excelled in school. In time, he became an educator, and then a school principal. Later, he heard about Jesus and became a Christian. Because of his love for the Lord, and his ability to speak English, Naboth was chosen to be an interpreter for a large gospel outreach with Harvest Ministry.
At the time, Naboth and his wife, Alice, were so poor, they had only mangos to feed their children; yet it was during this time that God called him to become a missionary to his own people.
As he stepped out in faith, God amazingly began to provide. Naboth became a national evangelist and pastor -- and founded a church that now impacts villages throughout Uganda. Today, as he evangelizes villages, he also pioneers churches and has raised up many national ministers. He founded the first Christian health clinic in his area, along with a school and orphanage.
As he travels to remote villages, his tribal position has given him favor with others, and he has seen many hundreds of thousands come to Christ. At times, Naboth has faced opposition from local witchdoctors, but God has always provided protection. Once, a witch doctor threw a poisonous snake on him and he felt the Lord instruct him to pick it up and throw it on the ground. The villagers were certain that he would die, but Naboth killed the snake, and as a result, the entire village came to Christ.
Another time, Naboth found a crippled beggar in a witchdoctor's hut. This man could not walk, but had to push himself along the ground with his hands. The situation looked helpless, and it seemed as if this man was destined to be a beggar for the rest of his life. As Naboth prayed, the crippled man was able to stand up with the aid of sticks. Later, Naboth had his entire church pray and fervently fast for the man's complete healing. Soon afterwards, the man was able to walk without any crutch. He begame a strong Christian leader and now pastors a church, has a beautiful wife, and they named their firstborn son "Salvation."
 Naboth has since gone back to his home village, and was able to lead his father, the chief, and his mother to Jesus Christ, along with nearly his entire village.
The One True God had answered the chief's prayers . . . with a son, and now this very son had introduced them to God Himself, and His Son, Jesus.
Read an exciting newsletter: "Delivered from the Devil"
about a tribal witchdoctor that came to Christ!
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 Keys to Sharing Christ With
Those of Tribal Religions:
1. Often tribes believe in blood sacrifice -- which can be related to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. There may also be a tribal tradition that can directly relate to the Gospel message.
2. Acknowledge the One All-powerful Creator, and share how He is concerned for them and loves them. If these people believe in an "Almighty God" and have a name for Him, pray about using this name in your preaching of the Gospel.
3. Teach that the power of Jesus Christ is far greater than the power of spirits. The "spirits" they worship and fear are not gods, but demons -- subject to the power of Christ.
4. When sharing the plan of salvation, begin at creation, emphasizing mankind's sin and separation from God, man's inability to follow God's law (even His law written in our hearts and conscience), and the exciting news of Jesus' redemption for us through the cross. Keep your sharing very simple, and be sensitive to cultural behaviors.
5. Your purpose is to share Christianity, not Western Americanism. When traditions are not scripturally prohibited, be lenient and understanding. If cultural traditions are unsanitary or unhealthy, pray for creative and sensitive ways to introduce them to necessary changes.
(See related article: Changing Culture.)
This section on Reaching Tribal Religions is by Ann Dunagan
(From her book, "Teaching With God's Heart for the
World")
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P.O.
Box 727
Hood River, Oregon 97031
For more information, please
contact:
Jon & Ann Dunagan
Phone & Fax:
541.478.2777
© Copyright 2008: Harvest Ministry - Jon & Ann
Dunagan (NOTE: This information may be copied and distributed
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The purpose of Harvest
Ministry is to help fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to "Go
into all the world to preach the Gospel." Harvest Ministry is passionate
about winning souls, and is committed to going wherever the harvest is
most ripe, and wherever the Lord directs... Primarily, this is
accomplished through International Gospel Outreaches (especially in East
Africa and other third-world countries), National Evangelism Team
Support (N.E.T.S.), and encouraging Christians in world evangelism.
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