Religion

Unreached People. The Lahu in Vietnam are an unreached people group, with no known Christians. Though there are tens of thousands of Lahu Christians in other parts of Asia, few of their cousins in Vietnam have ever heard the Gospel or the name of Jesus Christ.

Their bondage is to a mix of traditions, but the dominant belief system is animism. The Lahu understand that life is more than materialism. They are correct in this belief. Unfortunately, they know no other way to deal with spiritual things than to try to worship or appease false gods and spirit beings that, if they exist at all, are demonic.

Animism. The Lahu practice a religion termed animism. But the religious world-view of the Lahu, like most minority groups in Vietnam, is complicated. Their beliefs combine elements of ancestor worship and animism, as well as other superstitious ideas. Animism holds that both living and non-living things possess spirits. These beliefs create a life of fear that involves a dread of the spirit world. The main deities that they worship through rituals are the spirit of the corn harvest (corn or maize is the Lahu's main food) and the tiger spirit They also worship famous progenitors, such as the legendary first blacksmith. Blacksmiths hold an annual festival on the tenth month of the year to honor his memory.

Supreme god. There is a belief in a supreme god named G'ui Sha, and many Lahu villages have a temple dedicated to this god. William Young, American Baptist Missionary to northern Burma, reported in 1901 that the Lahu exclaimed to him, "We as a people have been waiting for you for centuries.... We even have meeting houses built in some of our villages in readiness of your coming." Many Lahu men wore ropes tied around their wrists. They told him, "We Lahu have worn ropes like this from time immemorial. They symbolize our bondage to evil spirits. You alone, as a messenger of G'ui Sha, may cut these manacles from our wrists -- but only after you have brought the lost book of G'ui Sha to our very hearths!" [ Quote from Don Richardson, Eternity in Their Hearts (Ventura, CA.: Regal Books, 1981), pp. 97-98]

Ancestor worship. Like the Tay, Nung and many other minority people, the Lahu worship their ancestors. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors can assist and bless them. They worship only their parents, however, and not more distant ancestors. An exception may be made in the case of serious illness. In that event, the previous three generations may be entreated for help and healing. The altar dedicated to worship of the parents is located in their homes at the head of their bed.

Other Beliefs. They also pray to the earth spirit, and hold a ceremony to worship this spirit on the "day of the tiger" in the fourth moon. They regularly offer sacrifices and other ceremonies are held regularly in the belief that the earth spirit can give protection and grant an abundant harvest.

An essential part of their belief system is a system of taboos or forbidden actions which are designed to avoid offending the spirits. They refuse to dig wells, since they fear that this will anger the spirit of the earth, and awaken an underground dragon. Many other deep-seated fears are inherent in their beliefs. They live lives dominated by fear of the evil spirits, who beset them on all sides. They also fear the ghosts of the dead . Fear of the spirit world is a pervasive part of daily life, deadly serious matters of life and death. These people are trapped in their belief system, living in darkness, waiting for the light.

Funerals. When there is a death, the immediate family will announce the sad news by firing gunshots. These are also believed to chase away ghosts and evil spirits. The coffin is made from a log, which is sawn in half lengthwise and then hollowed out to accommodate the body. The hour and date of the funeral is carefully chosen to insure a spiritually favorable time. The Lahu do not have permanent cemeteries, probably because of their nomadic history. But children are expected to mourn their parents for three years.

Christian Witness. Because of their isolation, the Lahu in Vietnam have never heard a clear presentation of the claims of Jesus Christ. This is despite the fact that the Lahu in other countries have been open to Christianity. Because of the many Lahu Christians in other countries, a considerable amount of Christian materials are available. A Lahu version of the Jesus film is available, as are gospel recordings. The Lahu Bible is available (completed in 1989) as well earlier translated portions (New Testament - 1932; other portions - 1924). Similarly, daily Lahu Radio broadcasts are made by the Far East Broadcasting Company (frequency = 12090, 25 meter band).

This means that the Christian literature needs of the Lahu have received attention from the Christian community. There is great potential for a breakthrough with the Lahu people, but they remain spiritually isolated from their Christian cousins.