Beyond the Gates of Splendor

A few months ago I watched the movie, The End of the Spear, a dramatization of the true story of Christian missionaries murdered in Ecuador by members of the Waodani tribe. The wives of the slain missionaries decided to remain in Ecuador and civilize the tribe, who were well on the way to annihilating each other by spear or being killed by the goverment in order to protect oil production. 6 out of every 10 tribal members were being murdered by spear.

There were no recognizable laws or rules which governed individual behavior by the tribe's members. It was kill or be killed and every man for himself. They had begun to slaughter oil workers and oil workers were returning the favors. The missionaries realized that if they did not intervene the indians would all be moved out of the jungle or killed.

The lead is played by an openly gay actor, who shines and gives a moving and nuanced performance. There is a scene where the missionary is ready to make contact with the indians, knowing that he is certain to be killed and his son asks him if he will take a gun to protect himself. The missionary tells his son that he can not do this, as he, being saved, is ready to go to heaven, but the indians are not.

There is also a documentary, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, about the missionaries which is in every way superior to the dramatic film. Meeting the real missionaries' wives and seeing the actual footage of the murdered young men is very moving. They were all college educated. Some of them had been in the military. Without exception they were, and their wives are, the most educated and amazing examples of human beings I have ever seen. They are more intelligent and educated than anyone I meet on a daily basis in the big city. Any stereotype people have about Christians will be blown out of the water after watching this documentary. I challenge any liberal to match his knowledge, experience and educational credentials against one of the missionaries. They were all learning Greek at the time they decided to run off to the jungle.

While living with the indians one of the female missionaries noticed a path in the jungle that the indians never took. When she asked why they never took it, they replied that the indians at the end of that path were very, very bad killers. When she said, "But you are killers too!" They laughed and said, "Yes, we are killers, but they are really, really bad killers!"

The difference between liberals and the Christians is that the Christians insisted that the indians behave in a civilized manner. There was no honor or nobility in the lifestyle the indians were engaging in. It was not romantic, it was monstrous. The Christians believed the indians were capable of better and they were proven right. There is a lesson about Iraq here. The Iraqis are capable of better. Their way lies madness. They must be made to see that their behavior is wrong on every level.

Eventually the children and grandchildren of the slaughtered missionaries go to live in the jungle with the Indians who killed their relatives. The grandson of one of the missionaries becomes the adopted grandson of the indian who speared his grandfather. This is an amazing story of peace and forgiveness and hope. I am an atheist, but I was incredibly affected by the faith and goodness shown by the missionaries.