Daaaaa Bear!

"But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand." ~Romans 1:19-25 (The Message)

This afternoon I bought something for myself that I have been wanting since I started my Engage Russia tour -- a hand-carved bear made out of wood. I thought about these verses a lot as I purchased it because the bear is a prominent symbol in Khanti folklore.

According to Khanti legend, God (known as Numi Torum) can only be addressed through his seven sons and daughters. However it was Torum's youngest son who holds the highest position in Khanti religious life because he was sent to earth in the form of a bear. While the Khanti don't actively hunt bears, they will kill them when they are encountered. And, after a bear is killed, a multi-day ceremony is held which narrates the story of the bear in song and dance.

Hummm....does some of this sound familiar? A relationship with God can only be reached through his son... who was sent to earth?

And, while these are fascinating stories and legends. How much more fascinating would it be to hear stories of the Khanti people learning about God's true son who was sent to earth just so we can have a relationship with the God of the universe?

As we continue to explore ways to make contact with the nomadic Khanti tribes, please pray that very soon we will have partnerships between churches in America and Khanti tribsemen who will work to spread the good news of Jesus Christ among this people of Russia.

Blessings,
Marc (for Team Engage Russia)