What action would Christian ethics guide this missionary to do?
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Firstly, the situation is not entirely hypothetical - these circumstances have occurred in reality before with varying outcomes and a more generalized case involving similar issues is something that is actually on the radar of missionary trainers and supporters (cf. this on-line article).
The Biblical issues that I see at play in a situation like this are:
- Contextualisation - the Biblical models for this principal are the incarnation of Christ (cf. Philippians 2:1-11) and the missiological methodology of the Apostle Paul (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Close observation of this principle will encourage the missionary to adopt as much of the tribe's culture that can possibly be harmonized with the following two points.
- The Biblical framework of marriage (cf. Matthew 19:3-12, 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15) - In summary, it is good to be married (it is also good to be single, so each one should determine what is the best state for them), but marriage is for life and should be with only one 'equally yoked' partner.
- Personal Conviction (cf. Romans 14:5,23) - A Christian is not an ethical automaton: principles are not legal requirements, and a missionary should only attempt enacting those principles which he can willingly and in faith embrace without reservation.
The relative importance of these principles and how they would play out in a real-world scenario would not only vary from denomination to denomination, but almost certainly from individual to individual - to attempt anything more perscriptive would be a pharisaical extreme.
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Source: stackoverflow.com
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