Is It Right for Christians to Illegally Share the Gospel with Uncontacted Peoples?

Recently The Guardian, a newspaper out of the UK, published an “exposé” piece titled “Missionaries using secret audio devices to evangelise Brazil’s isolated peoples” with the subtitle, “Solar-powered units reciting biblical passages have appeared in the Javari valley, despite strict laws protecting Indigenous groups.”

Christians must obey God rather than man, and God instructs Christians to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone.

These solar-powered radio devices have long been used as a creative means of reaching the most unreached with the gospel. Christian ministries will load Bible passages, sermons, or gospel presentations in local or trade languages onto the devices and drop them for the Indigenous people to find. When missionaries are unable to physically reach a people, it’s a wonderful way to expose those people to the gospel. But, of course, those with a secular (really, anti-God) worldview don’t like it.

The Guardian article states,

The gadgets have raised concerns about illegal missionary activities, despite strict government measures designed to safeguard isolated Indigenous groups. . .

The Brazilian government does not permit proselytising in the Korubo’s territory. Its policy, dating from 1987, stipulates that isolated groups must initiate any contact, a stance that made Brazil a pioneer in respecting Indigenous self-determination.

The article quoted one Brazilian official as saying, “It’s a stealthy, concealed, under the radar conversion. . . The method has become sophisticated and difficult, almost impossible to combat.”

Now, anyone who knows Christian history knows that Christians have been sharing the gospel with others, regardless of government mandates, as long as there have been Christians—quite literally! Christians must obey God rather than man, and God instructs Christians to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. See this example from Acts chapter 4:

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. (vv. 1–3)
When they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another. . . “But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (vv. 15, 17–20)
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. . . And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (vv. 23, 31)

Yes, we are called to submit to the government and obey—but not if that government is forcing Christians to disobey God. It is Christ, not any human institution, that has all authority, and Christ has commanded his people to make disciples of all nations, including those “known for their deadly expertise with war clubs” living in remote parts of the Brazilian jungle and isolated from nearly all human contact.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18–20)

The secular world believes that all culture is good and that we have no right to “impose” our culture on anyone else. Therefore, in their worldview, those living in obscurity, cut off from the rest of humanity, should be allowed to stay that way with no interference whatsoever.

We believe that those people are eternal souls, separated from their Creator and therefore in desperate need of the gospel message. Again, as with every issue, it comes down to your starting point—man’s word or God’s Word. That starting point builds your worldview, which has massive consequences (eternal consequences).

As with every issue, it comes down to your starting point—man’s word or God’s Word.

Whether it’s illegal or not, Christians around the world will continue to share the gospel with those around them and those in remote places because Jesus has given us authority and he is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

And someday we will see the fruit of all our evangelism efforts.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10)

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.