.. ....... .. I. ... ., ... : .. , . j;. ..... .. .... The Copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of phwtmwpies or wtha reproductiwns of mpyrighted material. Under cetZBin conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorid to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific mditions is that the phohmpy or reproduction is not to be “Used fir my purpose other than private study, schdanhip, or research.” If B user make3 a quest far, or later uses, a photompy or repductim for puqmses in ecess of ‘‘fair we9’’that user may be liable for mpyright infringement, This institution reserves the right to rehe to accept a copying order if, in its judgmenk fulfitlrnent of the order would involve violation ofcoMght Jaw- By the using this materid, you are couwnting t~ abide by this copyright policy, Any duplication, reprodndinn, nr modification of this material without express waitken consent from Asbuv Theological Seminary andhr the original publisher is prohibited. Q Asbury TheoIogi@alSeminary 2009 Abst ract This dissertation is concerned with the meek approach in Christian witness in Thailand. This study develops an alternative approach of evangelism 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 modern 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. .I..Fisher Library Asbury Theological Semina0 YVilmore, Kentucky 40390 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 n A L/ Darrell t. Whiteman A.H. ‘Mathias Zabdiser November 1997 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 @ 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, Praporn Mejudhon, who helped me to type this dissertation. Mrs. Beth Gardner, Miss Lori Varney, 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 learn 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. For Ubolwan--easy to fall in love with, easy to keep in love with. Table of Contents Page List of Tables ...................................... viii List of Figures ...................................... ix 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 ImpacVRole 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 I Page 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 Sam Kingdom ...............97 Criteria for Measuring the Thai Concepts of Meekness.......... 98 ii Page Early Roman Catholic Missions in Siam (151 1-1688) .......... 102 Early Protestant Missions in Siam (1828-1 91 0) ............. 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 Mattoon ........... 115 The Christian Witness of the Rev. Dr . Dan Beach Bradley ... 118 The Christian Witness of Siamese Christians: Lueng Petch Songkram and Nang Buo Lai .................. 132 Modern Roman Catholic