Some cultural practices of the past would horrify us today. The change agents that brought about their end should be held in high honor. For example, in the China of the nineteenth century, it was considered a beautiful thing to bind women’s feet. As a young girl grew, the bones in her feet broke, and grew into a small misshapen foot. One change agent, Gladys Aylward, traveled from village to village to unbind those feet, working with the government to end the cultural practice.
William Carey, translator, leader of educational reform, and missionary to India, was horrified by the practice of “suttee”- burning the widow on the funeral pyre of her deceased husband. He spoke about the practice to both leaders and the wider community. His efforts persuaded leaders eventually to end the practice.
Amy Carmichael was troubled by the temple worship in her adopted culture that amounted to little more than forced prostitution for young girls. She worked to rescue them, to provide housing and a measure of security for the women. Her advocacy on behalf of the young women brought change.
Mary Slessor moved to Nigeria to bring the gospel to its people. One cultural practice there was to kill twin babies when they were born as it was considered a demonic omen. Babies were often abandoned and left to die. She took them in and cared for them, while speaking publicly against the practice. Her example helped bring change in the wider community.
Cultures are usually blind to their own sins. It often takes people from outside the culture, or with a different set of values, to point to them and advocate for their end. The Christian is helpful here. While he is a faithful citizen in the country where he resides, he is also a Christ-follower. He has an objective set of values and ethics grounded in nature and in scripture. He also has the capacity to bring compassionate healing to bear on the situation as the culture wrestles with the transition.
Foot-binding, suttee, and twin-killing: We honor those who spoke out against these practices and put serious effort behind their eradication. Abortion is the horror of our own day. Future generations will wonder how our culture could be so blind. They will lionize those who stood faithfully against the practice until it was eradicated. It brings honor to Christ and to His followers when they are salt and light, bringing transforming power to the culture for its health and perseverance. The challenge for today is both advocating for a moral conscience in the culture and compassionate healing for its victims.
