People Worth Dying For

 

 

Three weeks ago, John Allen Chau was murdered after coming peacefully with gifts and the message of Jesus Christ to an isolated tribe on an island off India.

It was his second attempt to reach the tribe. The day before, he had shouted to them from a distance, "My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you," and offered fish. A tribesman about 10 years old shot an arrow at him, striking his Bible.

Before he went ashore the following day, he wrote his parents, "You guys might think I'm crazy in all this, but I think it's worth it to declare Jesus to these people."

Many people do think he's crazy.

He took extreme steps to avoid bringing outside diseases, including quarantining himself for many days, but online comments sections are filled with people, not knowing that or deeming it insufficient, condemning him for exposing the island to disease.

Many people – including some American Christians – don't understand why someone would risk death to share the gospel.

I get that.

Apart from faith, it doesn't make sense. By the standards of the world, it is crazy.

But I hope that no one, Christian or not, is under the impression that John Allen Chau died trying to get people to join his side or some sort of Christian culture or nation.

Christian missionaries are not like political opinion makers, evangelizing so they can make others like themselves. Christians gain no advantage from winning a majority in a debate. We want to tell what Jesus did because trusting him will save your life.

Christians believe something that we know isn't normal. It is radical and amazing and – we know – hard to believe. But isn't illogical or unreasonable.

We believe that Jesus is God, that he decided to become a human being, and that he came so he could live with us... and die for us.

We believe that Jesus risked death and was murdered not for a belief or an idea, but for people he loves. The night before he died, he told his friends, "No one has greater love than someone who gives their life for their friends." He said he was doing it for everyone who would believe in him, so that everyone would know that he loves them.

Jesus died to save us from the things we've done wrong, and to change us from our often-rotten impulses that tempt us even when we know better. Because God raised him from the dead, we know that believing in him means our lives being saved, now and forever.

Jesus died because he loves us. We can be mean, impatient, self-centered, or even obscene, but Jesus believes that we are people worth dying for.

I am amazed by John Allen Chau, by his bravery, by his faith, but more than that, by his love. He told these people, "I love you and Jesus loves you." And even though they murdered him, he believed that they are people worth dying for.

A version of this article was originally published Dec. 7, 2018 in the Capital Journal.