Christmas Among the Macushis
Christmas! What wonderful memories this word brings to many of us. Gifts, Carols, decorations, trees, tinsel, parties, and we could go on and on. But what about all the people in areas that do not have these memories? My parents made a special effort to go to Mexico to visit my brothers and their families (who were there as missionaries) at Christmas time to take them big turkeys and many treats they missed.
Among the Macushi Indians in Brazil where God had called me, Christmas was a different story. In almost all the villages, they planned a big drinking party. As animists, they had no reason to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
As we saw small groups come to know the Lord, they knew they could not participate any longer in these wild parties. We understood their need to replace their old ways with new ones, so we encouraged them to meet in one village to celebrate Christ’s birth in a way that honored Him. It became a time of fellowship with other believers, since there were so few in each village. And the Macushi Christmas conference came into being.
The first one I attended was before I had learned the national language, Portuguese, but I had picked up a bit of the Macushi language. We met each morning, noon, and evening for Bible studies for almost a week. Unfortunately, the main speakers, missionary men, spoke only Portuguese. Some of it was interpreted and some was not. I sat with the women, listening - like they did - to Portuguese I did not understand. I would ask them in Macushi what was being said. “Inna pa ye, epu’tiuya pra wai.” (I don’t know.) I came away from that conference convinced more than ever that I had to learn Macushi and that they needed to hear God’s Word in their heart language.
After that, each Christmas conference, a marked highlight of the year, believers gathered to enjoy fellowship with those of other villages. Several cows were slaughtered to feed everyone. Afternoon games were enjoyed by all. The favorite by far was climbing the greased pole to obtain the prize on top.
Each year we saw believers growing in the Lord. It became a special time where individuals would declare their newfound faith of the previous year, and many would inquire about baptism, communion, and weddings. Our missionaries held baptisms and weddings until their own churches had leaders trained. All conferences closed with a large communion service.
In later years, I was impressed with young people who had grown up in this “new” tradition. One who worked extremely hard was able to go to a Bible School down south in São Paulo. At Christmas time, she was not able to come home as it was too far and too expensive, so she went to a new friend’s house to enjoy Christmas with her Christian family. She was so surprised to see that family emphasizing food and gifts so much. She missed the Bible teaching, singing, and fellowship she was so used to.
How it must pain God’s heart when He sees us celebrating by gifting each other, instead of celebrating the greatest gift of all. His own Son left heaven’s glory and came to earth to fulfill His Father’s purpose - taking our place and bearing the judgment of our sin to heal the broken relationship between us and God.
Shepherds left their flocks to come and worship the newborn King. Wise men traveled far and brought gifts - not for each other, but for Jesus.
Recently a friend told me that his family decided not to give gifts to each other. But his children and grandchildren wanted to go overseas to another culture and assist the national church in their efforts to help the poor of their city.
And I am left to wonder…
Where are our values?
How can we really celebrate and bring glory to God at Christmas?
