Dear Editor,
Recently an article by Emily Pollok reminded us that Papua New Guinea is officially declared a Christian country (May issue of en).
I’ve served in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 28 years, and would like to put the other side of the story – lest you should think that most Papua New Guineans follow Jesus! A good number of Papua New Guineans do not agree with us being declared a Chrisitan country. They say we must look at the character of the people.
It is true that 90% of the people believe in God – but they also believe in sorcery, tribal fighting, payback, spirits and all kinds of other things. I was speaking to a drunkard recently asking him who gave him life and for what purpose. He told me all of PNG is going to heaven – despite very clearly being on a very different road.
So, although many believe in God and there are many churches, there is very little transformation of life. Look around – lives addicted to gambling, alcohol, marijuana, violence, tribal fighting, trapped by fear. Most do not know Jesus in their heart, or follow Him in their life. They are not Christians.
If we look at the statistics for the country, it is clearly not a country that is following Jesus. It is high in corruption (127th out of 180). Bribery is expected – if you want to be helped in the health clinic, if you are stopped on the road by the police, if you have papers needing approval, then you wait and wait and wait – until you pay a bribe. It’s endemic in the country, in leadership – as is misuse of money, even in the churches and organisations.
A headline from 2017 reads: “PNG tops the world in porn search”. Teenagers are among the highest in the world for accessing pornography – although it is illegal.
PNG ranks high in the violence against women index, with some reports placing it the most dangerous place in the region for women and girls. Every 30 seconds in PNG a woman is abused.
Uncontrolled anger and violence are rife. In the local market recently, the security man was stabbed to death when he refused to give K2 to a group of men from another tribe. That resulted in the whole market being burned down, and at least five deaths – with more to come as they pay back.
Tribal fighting is rife – especially in the Highlands. People are afraid to go back to their home villages in case they are killed for belonging to the enemy tribe. When someone gets sick or dies, they blame and look for who has done sorcery.
And so much more could be said. Does this sound like a Christian country? Micah 6:8 ‘Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God’ A Christian country follows God’s word – righteousness, justice, peace.
Please pray for Papua New Guinea – we are SO far from what God’s word says people who follow Jesus should be like. How we need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Yours sincerely,
Rosie Crowter By email
