March's Book - Through Gates of Splendor

"Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot

This heartbreaking and now-classic story of missionary work in Ecuador during the 1950s has profoundly influenced, inspired, and mobilized a generation of Christian missionaries from all denominations.  It is a story of unwavering dedication to bring the gospel to even the most remote corners of the earth.  In it, five young men are murdered by the very tribe that they are attempting to evangelize.

While the book explores thoroughly the motivations of the five men and their families as well as an account of the events leading up to the murders, it spends somewhat less time in recounting the longterm impact and eventual result of the evangelization effort on this particular tribe: the Huaorani.  Subsequent to the murders, a continued positive contact was maintained with the tribe in order to let them know that there would be no avenging of the deaths.  Eventually, several female members of the tribe made contact with the widows of the men and two women, Rachel Saint, the sister of slain pilot Nate Saint, and Elisabeth Elliot went to live with the tribe, bringing about their eventual reconciliation and Christianization.

The "elephant in the room" in terms of all discussion of this book is clearly "WAS IT WORTH THE COST"?  Obviously, even the briefest consideration of Christian theology allows us no answer but "yes": the gospel of Christ is the Pearl of Great Worth and is worth even the price of our lives to obtain it.  For the more pragmatic and matter-of-fact folks, however, we commend to you the excellent movie narrated by Steve Saint, son of Nate and nephew of Rachel Saint: "Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2005)".  Along with original video footage and images of the events, the movie explains to us that by the 1950s, the Huarani tribe was on the brink of collapse due to the endless cycle of violence within the tribe that had robbed them of so many of their people, particularly the young men.  Had the missionaries not introduced the idea of forgiveness as opposed to violent retaliation and the concept that the killings were hurting them both physically and spiritually, it is likely that this portion of the tribe would have disappeared entirely;  it is certain is that lives were saved and a path of peace introduced.

There is an excellent movie discussion guide: Film Discussion Guide (PDF) available at www.everytribe.com.  We modified a number of the questions for our book study:

• What was your favorite part of this book?  And your least favorite?
• How did forgiveness impact the eventual outcome of the narrative?
• Did someone pay a price to impart the gospel to you?
• Have you ever paid a price to spread the gospel to others?
• From God's point of view, what do you think was going on in this situation?
• Do you think these deaths were necessary in order to bring about the Kingdom of God, or did God bring good out of senseless tragedy?
• Does this story change the way you think about the need to spread God's word and about all those who have paid the price of martyrdom in order to do that?
• Can you think of other situations where love and forgiveness have won out over violence?
• Do you think that this was worth the cost?

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Through Gates of Splendor is a 1957 best selling book written by Elisabeth Elliot. The book tells the story of Operation Auca, an attempt by five American missionaries - Jim Elliot (the author's husband), Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian - to reach the Huaorani tribe of eastern Ecuador. All five of the men were killed by the tribe. The book is Elliot's first book, and arguably her most well known work.

The title of the book is derived from the fourth stanza of the hymn "We Rest on Thee". This hymn was famously sung by the missionaries before the men left for Huaorani territory in September 1955. The lines read:

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender.
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

 

Elliot wrote the book while still a missionary in Ecuador. She wrote the book at the request and cooperation from the families of the five men. She was given copies of letters and other writings which were extensively quoted from in the book. The original edition of the book was first published in 1957, one year before the first peaceful contact with the Huaorani was made.

Review adapted from Wikipedia "Through Gates of Splendor"