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A New Approach to Christian Witness to the Thai People

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A New Approach to Christian Witness to the Thai People 7 $3Q MEEKNESS: A NEW APPROACH TO CHRISTIAN WITNESS TO THE THAI PEOPLE by Nantachai Mejudhon dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, Doctor of Missiology E Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism Asbury Theological Seminary November 1997 UMI Number: 9834428 Copyright 1997 by Mejudhon, Nantachai AH rights reserved. UMI Microform 9834428 Copyright 1998, by UMI Company. AH rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48103 This is an authorized facsimile, made from the microfilm master copy of the original dissertation or master thesis published by UMI. The bibliographic information for this thesis is contained in UMI's Dissertation Abstracts database, the only central source for accessing almost every doctoral dissertation accepted in North America since 1861. T TA yfT Dissertation UiVJUL Services A Bell & Howell Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1346 1 -800-521-0600 734-761 -4700 http://www.umi.com Printed in 1999 by digital xerographic process on acid-free paper DPBT OMF Bangkok Library INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell &. Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artrar MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHEET This dissertation, entitled MEEKNESS: A NEW APPROACH TO CHRISTIAN WITNESS TO THE THAI PEOPLE written by Nantachai Mejudhon and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Missiology has been read and approved by the undersigned members of the Faculty of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary November 1997 This dissertation is concerned with the meek approach in Christian witness in Thailand. This study develops an alternative approach pfjevangelisjTi_appropriate-for- use in Thailand by combining theoretical frameworks and models of intercultural communication. These theoretical frameworks intend to solve the problem of the Christian church in Thailand where Christian witness is viewed as having violated the cultural and religious values of reciprocity and harmony by its use of aggressive methods and is now deprived of the opportunity to initiate dialogue about the gospel. Criteria for locating meek or aggressive witnessing are derived from nine value clusters of the psychology of the Thai and eight cultural domains of Thais and Americans developed by Thai and American scholars. These criteria are used to evaluate Christian witness of missionaries and Thai Christians (Roman Catholics and Protestants) in early and modem missions, and the interview results of contemporary missionaries, Thai Christians, and Buddhists to determine whether they worked positively toward or negatively against the meek approach. The meek approach was derived from a combination of library, historical, and interview research. The meek approach requires: (1) positive attitudes toward Buddhism and Thai culture, (2) genuine and sincere relationships with Buddhists, (3) presentation of the gospel showing benefits and help, rather than confrontation and threat, (4) a longer time for diffusion of the gospel, and (5) indigenous strategies for communication of the gospel. Missiological applications help to clarify how the meek approach can be used in real life situations in Thailand. For Ubolwan-easy to tali in love with, easy to keep in love with. ©1997 Nantachai Mejudhon ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness to the following people in the completion of this dissertation: The late Dr. Everett Hunt, Jr., my first and former mentor who helped me to start the work, shaped my understanding of the way of meekness, and warned me how to help missionaries in Thailand by the meekness of Christ. Dr. Eunice Irwin, my second mentor who suggested to me the structure of the dissertation and guided the entire project with her kindness. Dr. Darrell Whiteman, my third mentor and Dr. Mathias Zahniser who served on my dissertation committee suggested to me the statement of the problem. They gave constructive advice and finally shaped the entire project. I am grateful to those who have taught me the way of meekness who are symbols of Christ on earth. They have shown Christ's love for me and my family for long years. They are: Rev. Powell Royster and Mrs. Helene Royster, who are like my parents in Christ. Mrs. George E. Luce, who has vision for my country, to win the Thai by meekness through our children for the next generation. Rev. Dr. John Hong and Mr. Ewart McMillan who have prayed and supported us for long years of my ministry in Thailand. Derek and Peggy Smyth and the Reverend and Mrs. Gordon Junck who have shown the meekness of Christ to us. The elders and the members of Elizabeth Street Chapel, Wellington, New Zealand which is the spiritual birth place of my wife. They have prayed for us and Thailand every day. Most of all, I am grateful for elders and the members of Muang Thai church who have supported us to study at Asbury Theological Seminary and the expense of writing the dissertation. Dr. Prasert and Dr. Chutima Triratworakul who have been gracious for our family for long years, the Lexington Chinese Christian Church who supplied financial sources for me and my wife to accomplish the academic work and Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Leung who supported the interview projects in Thailand. I am thankful for my wife who has worked with me in praying, discussing, thinking together for these long years to win the Thai to Christ. I thank my daughter, Prapom Mejudhon, who helped me to type this dissertation. Mrs. Beth Gardner, Miss Lori Vamey, and Mrs. Everett Hunt, Jr. who kindly served as editors of this dissertation. I am thankful for missionaries, Thai Christians and Buddhists in Thailand who have taught me the way of meeknes by allowing me to interview them and allowed me to leam from them. Most of all my professors in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism who have shaped my life and my understanding of people. I am grateful to God who provided me strength, and encouraged me by the power of the Holy Spirit day by day and moved my heart to love my people. He set the vision for me to serve Him in Thailand. He promised I will see the fruit of the meek approach very soon. Table of Contents List of Tables viii List of Figures 'x Chapter 1 God Help Missionaries 1 Introduction 1 Statement of the Problem 3 Sub-Problems 3 Theoretical Framework 4 Definition of Terms 10 Data and Methodology 16 Historical Background of Christian Witness in Thailand 19 Cultural Background 21 The impact/Role of Buddhism in Thailand 26 What Makes a Thai Thai"? 28 The Attitude of the Thai Toward the West 32 The Attitude of the Thai Toward Christianity 35 Summary 47 Chapter 2 Between Two Worlds 49 Understanding Thai Value Systems and Behavioral Patterns 51 Ego Orientation 53 Grateful Relationship Orientation 55 Smooth Interpersonal Relationship Orientation 56 Flexibility and Adjustment Orientation 59 Religio-Psychical Orientation 60 Education and Competence Orientation 62 Interdependence Orientation 63 Fun and Pleasure Orientation 64 Achievement-Task Orientation 67 Understanding the Differences Between the Cultural Values of the Thai and Americans 69 The Concept of Time 70 The Concept of Work and Play 71 The Concept of Youth Versus Age 74 The Concept of Equality Versus Hierarchy and Ranks 76 The Concept of Material Versus Spirituality 80 The Concept of Change Versus Tradition 81 The Concept of Independence Versus Dependence 84 The Concept of Confrontation Versus Indirection 86 Understanding the Differences Between the Religious Concepts of the Thai and Americans 88 The Differences in Theological Concepts 88 The Differences in Experiential Concepts 91 Summary 95 Chapter 3 Manifest Destiny in the Siam Kingdom 97 Criteria for Measuring the Thai Concepts of Meekness 98 Early Roman Catholic Missions in Siam (1511-1688). 102 Early Protestant Missions in Siam (1828-1910) 109 The Christian Witness of the Rev. Jesse Caswell 110 The Christian Witness of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel House, M.D. and the Rev. and Mrs. Stephen
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