Cuenca and Guayaquil

We traveled to Cuenca Saturday morning. It was about a five hour drive through the mountains. As usual, mountain roads are very slow and rough. Cuenca has some of the oldest and most beautiful architecture with large cathedrals and basillicas. It is the third largest city of Ecuador. We visited several large Catholic cathedrals Saturday night and Sunday morning. We were greeted by beggars sitting at the entrances. Street vendors were waiting to sell you a variety of food when we exited.

Most churches were very full during the services, especially Sunday morning. Worshipers were very expressive and public with their faith. Churches filled from the front to the back. Many were seen kneeling and praying. Hundreds went forward at the end of the service to be sprinkled with holy water. There is no embarrasment of public expression of their faith.
Why are North American Christians so private with their faith? Why are they embarrased to sit in the front, to kneel at the altar, to be seen praying. Most other cultures around the world are much more expressive of their faith. Even other religions in our own country are more expressive and public then most Christians. Why? Lord, help me to be less private and more public in my expression of faith when I return to the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, we traveled to Guayaquil through more breath-taking mountain views. We descended through the cloud forests and finally to the coastal plains where we were greeted by fields of banannas, coca trees, rice, and sugar cane. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and very modern. It has very much of an American feel. Sunday evening, we visited another cathedral. On Monday, we visited a museum which gave the history and culture of Guayquil and a museum of religious art.

Early missionaries attempted to communicate their faith through religious art. They focused on fire, earth, water and air. Fire represented the Trinity, the earth represented the religious church, water represented the saints and air represented angels. The purpose of the art was to transport the biblical text to the people through fire, earth, water and air. For example, incense, special garments, precious stones, gold and silver keys are all earthy items that convey religious truths.

I am challenged to ponder how we might use the arts and media to share Jesus in our culture.