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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINTY
Case Study 2 Response
Submitted to Dr. Thomas Cook
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
GLST290 – D04
Cultural Anthropology
by
Patrice Vinson
December 16, 2020
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Introduction
Upon reading this case study, I was interested from the title because I always wondered
how something as such worked in another culture. But the case study involved a missionary
couple that was released from their studies early to attend a mission agency to serve in a culture
of Indians. They felt as if this was a sign from God letting them know that help was needed
within the Indian culture. Although they really did not know what to expect, they were prepared
to do God’s work. Once the missionary couple entered the Indian village, they learned that
meetings were being held but they were not aloud to attend because they were new to the scene.
As tension arises from the meetings, it was determined that there was an issue at hand that
needed to be addressed. Throughout this paper the issue at hand will be discussed, the point of
view from two different angles, and a possible solution of the issue at hand.
Issue at Hand
There was an annual field conference that caused all the missionaries from all parts of the
field to gather and fellowship. Upon the gathering, there is a meeting that discusses any issues at
hand that need to be resolved. It was brought to everyone’s attention that the board of directors
made a judgment call that all converted polygamist can be baptized. Polygamy is a man having
more than one wife. This decision did not go over well with the other missionaries. The textbook
says, “It is not enough for Christians to be well intentioned when working to build bridges
between culturally diverse believers.”1
1 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 264.
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One group of missionary’s rationales is biblical based because in their eyes and according
to the bible, “it states that if a man marries another woman while his wife lives, he has
committed adultery” (Rom. 7:2-3).2 In the western culture, we are taught or look at polygamy as
being a sin. As Christians we stand firm on what the Bible says and would not change our minds
on it. Even the non-Christian believers of the western culture tend to know that polygamy is not
acceptable. Christians are considered to have a repentant heart after they are baptized. However,
if a polygamist were to be baptized, then that is telling the world that it is okay for men to have
as many wives as they wish.
The other group of missionary’s rationales is more heart felt for the Indian culture
because they agree that the polygamist should not be deemed from being baptized and should be
able to keep his wives. Their standpoint is that the Indians are following Christ and they are
believers so baptism should proceed. It was not believed to be fair to the Indians that their wives
had to be removed from them and their lifestyle should not matter. They wondered what would
become of their wives and how would they live without them. Since the women were used to
sharing, they would more than likely turn to prostitution.
Solutions
The Bible says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife,
and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24, NIV).3 Whenever cross-cultural missions attempt to
mend things in other cultures like the eastern cultures of India, polygamy can be hard to explain
since that is a part of their cultural lifestyle. Trying to set a possible solution for this case study is
difficult because it really is not one. Neither side will be satisfied with any judgment that takes
2 “Case Study 2: Baptizing a Polygamist? Are You Kidding?,” (n.d,)
3 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version
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place. The missionaries can choose to preach the gospel and try to get their message across by
using contextualization. “Contextualization refers to expressing the gospel within the language,
idioms, customs, and traditions of a culture so that Christianity can be practiced and understood
as intrinsically part of the local context.”4 They can start by following scriptures that explain the
reasoning behind a polygamist and how God refers to it as a sin. But if you have other groups
that are not in agreeance to what is being said then there will never be a happy ending.
Bibliography
4 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019), 270.
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Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian
Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019).
“Case Study 2: Baptizing a Polygamist? Are You Kidding?,” (n.d,)
