"I'd like to get baptized" said Munzir before he knew what the Christian faith was all about. We studied scripture together and went over all the pertinent verses dealing with salvation. He said he really wanted to follow Christ and prayed in his own language. We took him to our pastor. After hearing Munzir's testimony, our pastor suggested he sit among us for a while. It didn't feel right for us and the pastor. For some reason Munzir wanted a new identity and real fast.
Options were running out for Asif about to be deported from a western country. He had come from North Africa where he saw no future for himself. A lawyer suggested that his children get baptized in a church and claim they couldn't return to the homeland--to become asylum seekers. Asif studied hard and did a lot of research in preparation for their immigration hearing. The plan was for them to present themselves as Christians--pretending. As he was preparing he realized the truth is in Jesus. His wife wasn't convinced and even threatened to leave him. But as he showed her what he discovered, she too came to Jesus.
It's common for those who are burnt with religion to give up and be nothing. Muslims for example get angry when they discover the sources of Islam aren't what they were told. At first they ignore it and some even become more religious. Perhaps if I try harder my soul will be stilled. But they tire of that. Then many dabble in different religions. Once that's done they become agnostics. They give up on religions. Can you imagine the struggle and mental anguish that a Muslim goes through when he tries to disengage from Islam? It's a recipe for psychological disaster.
During the 'Arab Spring' many Muslims began to realize what Islam has done to their country and turned to atheism. But they know that doesn't work. One atheist described that the hardest thing for him is that he doesn't have an identity. It becomes clear that ex-Muslims need a sense of belonging, a purpose in life, and a new identity.
During the 'Arab Spring' many Muslims began to realize what Islam has done to their country and turned to atheism. But they know that doesn't work. One atheist described that the hardest thing for him is that he doesn't have an identity. It becomes clear that ex-Muslims need a sense of belonging, a purpose in life, and a new identity.
"You will find rest for your souls"...isn't this an awesome verse? Talk about a delightful invitation. Following Christ isn't about religion. It is about a new identity in Jesus and learning from him. It will take a lifetime to unpack the richness of Christ's claims: I am the door, ...bread of life, ...resurrection, Messiah, ...I AM, ...light of the world, etc. In Islam a person learns to follow rules about everything. This puts structure, discipline and order in one's life but that can soon become burdensome. It's only a bandaide. Why do Muslims settle for this? FEAR. Fear about being isolated from former friends and family or even threatened physically. The fear of the unknown--who am I without the title 'Muslim'? They don't know the options. That's our job--to assure Muslims of God's love for them and Jesus invitation to come to him. Lord God, rescue Muslim men who are desperate for a new identity. Lead me to the ones who have lost their way. Amen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsDQEb-qlyM (click)
