Got Compassion?

"But God said to Jonah, “You have been concerned about this vine...But Nineveh has more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left... Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:10&11.

Jonah received the message from God to warn Nineveh (across from modern day Mosul, Iraq) of impending judgement. They were Israel’s worst enemies and terrorists of the day. Jonah ran away and set sail in the opposite direction.  In the midst of  a vicious storm each sailor desperately started calling on his own god. Jonah said, “It’s my fault, throw me overboard.” Mercifully God sent a whale to swallow Jonah whole! Inside the belly, he made things right with God. After 3 days and 3 nights the whale puked him back on shore. Now Jonah was ready to deliver the message--“In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.” But the king did a 180, Nineveh repented and turned from their wicked ways. God had compassion on them and gave them a 2^nd chance. Jonah was furious at God. “I knew it. You would relent and not destroy them.” Zero compassion. He sulked. God lectured him “You are concerned about the vine…but not about these people?”

I often receive emails listing evil things Muslims have done. The ones that go around the world and are accepted as gospel truth. Its like, “Ed, don’t you get it?” Unfortunately they create fear and dislike of Muslims and result in reluctance to befriend them. These messages do nothing to encourage compassion and love.

Nasser and his mother and siblings had to flee to a nearby country where corruption was common. Eventually they landed in Canada when he was a teenager. He had no male role model showing him what was right or wrong. After high school, he got his learner’s license but failed the road test several times. In frigid winter weather his family depended on him to take them shopping and to appointments. I recently reconnected with Nasser. He nervously begged me to accompany him to court because he got caught for driving with only a learner's license and for speeding. He knew he was in deeeeep trouble. I picked him up and waited for his turn. The magistrate peered at him and explained these were very serious offences.  Nasser lamely explained that he hadn't gotten around to retaking the test but planned to do so asap. The magistrate was quiet for a moment and then graciously reduced his substantial fines to half and offered him to pay in monthly payments. Nasser was so relieved. The magistrate showed him mercy that he didn't deserve. I was able to come alongside this young man and help in a small way. Doesn't your heart go out to him? 

Many refugees who come here have been in survival mode for a long time. Many fled war or corrupt regimes and injustices of every kind. They come not used to rules. Some, like Nasser, need gentle reminders of what is right and wrong. I'm not a policeman or an investigator but a representative of Jesus. I want Nasser to know Jesus and experience his compassion.

Melt my heart, O God

Make it ever true

Melt my heart, O God

May I be like you.

Amen.

Beyond Felt Needs

"...they lowered the sick man on the mat down into the crowd., right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:19&20.

The paralytic man's friends had compassion on him. They heard Jesus was in the area so decided to take him to Jesus. They were totally convinced that he would heal their friend. Only problem how to get to Jesus because of the huge crowd blocking the entrance. What a creative way of getting through by tearing up the roof!! The paralytic man not only got healing for his body but also for his soul. "The man...jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God."

Meeting felt needs gives me a platform to explore the potential for a spiritual ministry. Frequently God connects us with Muslims who have a felt need but more than that have spiritual capacity. Such was the case with a Saudi student needing help with English. At the very first meeting during 'Meet and Greet' Asif offered that "I'm reading a book on 'Bill' or 'Billy' or something like that." "You mean Billy Graham?" "Yes!", my friend answered. I knew where to take that. And we shared with him about the life and message of Billy Graham. We also prayed for his felt need of healing for his bumpy marriage.

Some time ago we connected with a Muslim researcher from a limited access nation. Iman lived in a boarding house where the main menu seemed to be pasta. When we had him over for dinner, he ate the delicious salmon meal that my wife prepared and even asked to take the leftovers home! Iman wasn't here long but long enough for him to remember our friendship. Some time later a friend of his family also came as a student. She came with a spiritual capacity. We have hope that not only Karima but others in her family will receive Jesus.

Many Christians are involved with meeting felt needs of refugees. Depending on the age and ability, it takes about five years for refugees to get past being overwhelmed with the settlement process and are empowered to move forward to getting established.

So, what do we do when there are no evident felt needs? How do we even make contact with Muslims who are established and doing well? With those whom we helped earlier, its easier to maintain contact from time to time. But generally new immigrants trying to get established are super busy with working more than one job and often more than 40 hrs. a week.

To move beyond felt needs takes prayer and being sensitive to where the Holy Spirit sends us. It's paramount that we are intentional--to not only meet the physical needs but also explore the spiritual needs. I heard recently that a Muslim leader was influencing the direction of a program by demanding that there be no 'God talk'. Being convinced that I'm not in a cultural exchange program, I won't allow Muslims to have the last word. Like the friends of the paralytic man, I too want to take my new friends to Jesus.

Dear Jesus, you set the example of not only meeting felt needs but also dealing with spiritual needs. Please set our friends free from their bondage. Amen.

Politically Correct

"Speak the truth in love." Ephesians 4:15.

"I started imagining a world in which we replaced the phrase 'politically correct' wherever we could with 'treating other people with respect', and made me smile." Internet by Neil Gaiman.

I can live with that. This is downright 'biblical'. Many of us learned the verse "Do unto others as you would have them do to you" in early childhood.

Not everyone lives by this simple principle. In response to the shooting in a Montreal mosque by a white supremacist and other incidents interpreted as hate crimes our lawmakers in Canada recently passed this motion: “...a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia.” Unfortunately, the government did not define 'Islamophobia'. This has "morphed into a catch-all phrase to silence anyone critical of the religion." Toronto Sun.

People in public offices are working hard to eradicate discrimination and hate crimes. Muslims and those in public offices worry about the multicultural plan started in 1971 could unravel. As sad and unacceptable as discrimination in Western nations is, these stories need to be balanced out with stories from real people who have suffered discrimination and persecution and fled Muslim majority countries.

But passing motions and laws won't change peoples' hearts. Our Syrian Muslim lady friend had 2 experiences in which a passerby yelled/swore at her and shouted "go home". She was shaken but seemed to understand that these people didn't represent Canadian and certainly not Christian values. Thank God, she isn't nurturing a victim mentality.

Muslims carry the burden of the 'honor/shame' paradigm where they are offended if we all don't think highly of Islam as the 'religion of peace'. Radical Muslims continue to tarnish the image of Muslims in the West. So, it is politically correct for Western Muslims to hold rallies and information meetings in the mosques to emphasize that the radicals don't represent their religion. While they deny that these people are Muslims, Muslim scholars say that whoever says the 'Shahada' from the heart is a Muslim. Muslim reformists would like to see Islam go further to become a 'religious movement' rather than a 'political movement'. And they're out to reinterpret brutal passages like Surah 9 in the Qur'an.

We are concerned that Christians may retreat from befriending Muslims and sharing Jesus with them for fear they may offend someone. No Christian wants to be viewed as 'intolerant' or 'narrow minded'. But there are ways to sensitively engage with Muslims and share the Good News without criticizing Islam. As Joy reminded the people at an open house at the mosque, it is time for a conversation with each other(Muslims and Christians). Integration is key to moving forward--to truly becoming a multicultural nation.

Let's continue to 'speak the truth in love.' Someone mentioned that you wrap the Gospel with a meal for a hungry man. Many of us have discovered that we can wrap the Gospel with a good deed in genuine love and care for Muslims--with no strings attached.

Lord Jesus, we thank-you for opportunities to show our care of our Muslim friends and that they have a safe zone with us. Please keep the doors to their lives open. Amen.

It Takes a Village

 "...I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Matthew 25:35

Adbul and Salima and their children lived in a refugee camp on the border of Ethiopia and Sudan. Abdul was on a search for meaning in life and met Jesus. Missionaries working in the camp gave us a heads-up on their acceptance by Immigration Canada and that they were being sent to our city. Living in a refugee camp had taken its toll because of untreated trauma, danger, and boredom. They arrived and were overwhelmed. I recall huddled together in the middle of the floor in their newly assigned apartment. The truck with government-provided furniture was on its way. So I prayed for them--tears of relief flowing down their cheeks mingled with fear and anticipation. After the furniture arrived, we set out to buy bedding and winter clothing. With time a brother took them to a suitable church. Soon they started a new routine.

Western countries are generous in welcoming needy refugees. Among these are widows, the handicapped, and ones with PTSD. Details like meeting them at the airport, providing for immediate needs, helping with life skills, arranging for medical examinations, schools for the kids, ESL schools and permanent housing are cared for. The settlement agency where I volunteer runs an English Conversation group. Twelve settlement topics covered include banking, transportation, housing, etc. There are many success stories of refugees getting established and on their own feet again.  

Believer Amina, a widow from Somalia with six children arrived in our city. Her kids didn't have the chance to go to school in the country they fled to. Once settled here, her oldest teenaged son just couldn't fit into school. The reality of catching up to other kids in his class was too daunting. He dropped out and joined a gang where he had a sense of belonging again and could earn easy money selling drugs. But he got caught and ended up in prisons. A few Christians came to help Amina. Government agencies and schools came alongside this family. My colleague and I started All Nations Sports Club to give the younger boys an opportunity to get off the streets. They were at risk and needed male role models.

In Canada, Churches and groups of 5 individuals have an opportunity to sponsor new spiritual brothers and sisters stuck in hostile countries. If deported back to their Islamic countries, most likely they would face severe persecution and danger. It's a blessing to receive these dear ones into our midst where they find refuge.

Religious and political refugees often are well-educated and were well-to-do. One of our newest contacts likens their experience to a glass shattered. Life was going good until this crises. Nevertheless, they are often highly motivated and adjust quickly.

In each city there are many opportunities for Christians to volunteer at government supported settlement agencies or ESL schools.  Some churches run a 'wardrobe' ministry while others host a food bank in areas where new immigrants settle. Often newcomers are confused and think everyone who is helping them works for the government!! 

This is usually labor intensive but it's worth investing in newcomers. Our efforts may not be noticed till much later. 

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9.