Born to Fight?

"...we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies...but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world...mighty powers in this dark world...evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6.

Jamal from North Africa told us his story. You could tell he is a fighter. Just for fun his friends would wrestle on the beaches back home. He smiled with satisfaction as he described the fights he had won. No wonder Jamal is bored here! I have another friend like him from Palestine. He too is a survivor and drives taxi now. He defends his turf here in Canada. Several times when his fare didn't pay up, he took matters into his own hands. One time a brawl broke out with a drunken passenger. He pushed him into a snowbank, took the money from the guy's wallet, and called the police! These young men grew up in rough and tough situations. They're young and looking for excitement and an adrenalin rush.

In Pakistan we lived next to some of the fiercest fighters in the world--the Pashtun people. Guns are shot into the air when a son is born. They need the strength of men to survive. They've had to defend their turf numerous times. Alexander the Great, when confronted with Pashtun fighters observed that "My mother gave birth to only one Alexander but all the Pashtuns are Alexanders"!! They fought off super powers of the day including Britain and Russia. From Pakistan I remember buses passing through our village overloaded with 'Mujahedeen' fighters shouting slogans from on top of the bus "Down with the Kafirs(Russians), Allah Akhbar". Yet, beautifully woven into their culture is a deep sense of loyalty to their own but also a commitment to protect non-Pashtun friends like us in their midst. Great qualities.

My roots are the 'Mennonite' community. They prefer to be viewed as activists for 'peace' rather than simply 'pacifists'. They're often present where there is poverty or physical need. In a more quiet way, they encourage negotiation and seeking peaceful solutions. They would have been comfortable with Jesus in the garden after Peter pulled out his sword and slashed off a soldier's ear. Jesus said, "Put your sword away". See also "Should We Fight?"(Joy Loewen)

There are many causes worth fighting for. Our kids and grand-kids are living in a culture where Christian values and faith are assaulted. Joy and I are committed to fighting in prayer for them. Our grand-kids come face to face with issues we never dreamed of. The 'world' is trying to squeeze them into a mold and embrace values that ultimately are destructive for their spiritual well-being and for society.

We are also 'standing in the gap' for Muslims. They are the victims of a great deception and intense community pressure. Mohamed fought hard for monotheism and brought in a new world order by force. In the West the vast majority of the Muslims are peaceful but they need a Savior from sin. In their worldview God's judgement is based on scales. They hope that their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds. Sadly, most will die without peace from knowing that they are made right with God through Jesus. This is worth fighting for on their behalf.

Heavenly Father, thank-you for the privilege of partnering with you--battling for and spreading your Good News. Amen. 

Men with Men

"Men with men, women with women" is the standard announcement to form small groups at a prayer meeting we sometimes attend. Albeit archaic, it is a practical request. A mixed group of unrelated males and females may limit the openness of sharing prayer requests.

Most Muslims are brought up in a honor/shame based worldview. The women carry most of the responsibility in making sure that the family is not dishonored by inappropriate relationships between males and females. In conservative Muslim circles men and women don't even maintain eye contact. So, gender segregation is the norm in ministry to Muslims. This is what we wrote in 'Your Muslim Friend': "Due to cultural values it is wisest for Christian women to befriend Muslim women and Christian men to befriend Muslim men. Some of these cautions become less important as we become grandparents or our hair turns grey." See also: http://joyloewen.blogspot.ca/2015/09/segregation.html

Christian women have access to the 'inner house'. Men are normally limited to the living room or sitting room, especially overseas. The women are ushered into the 'women's area' almost right away but men will only be invited in if they are 'part of the family'. As my friendship deepens with a conservative Muslim man, he may say something like "You are welcome to come to my house anytime, even when I'm not home." It means he trusts me.

Muslim men have high regard for their moms and grandmothers. Recently I asked an English class who had influenced them most? Without hesitating, the men responded, "My mother." One of my acquaintances even wrote a poem about his mom. We asked "Did you ever write a poem about your wife?" He chuckled and said, "NO!" Frequently my wife returns home from a visit to a family and mentions her conversations with her friend's husband. She is considered at a 'safe age' to relate even to men. They confide in her much quicker than to me. My wife sometimes paves the way for me to have deeper and ongoing conversations with the man. Contrary to our western culture, as an older man I'm still viewed relevant by much younger Muslim men. Go figure...

Over the years, I've figured out many avenues of connecting with Muslim men. Besides English help, my friends enjoy going out for coffee so we can get to know each other. Others have enjoyed being invited to my home or family events like weddings. Some of my friends have appreciated help with assembling furniture or learning new skills like painting or auto-mechanics. Many of my younger friends love playing soccer or basketball. Recently I took a Muslim friend fishing. Occasionally I meet Muslim men who want to visit church out of curiosity or even to nurture a spiritual quest. As a starter, I've invited individual Muslim friends to a Christmas Eve service.

Several Muslim men God has directed me to lately show a spiritual capacity. One was deeply touched by the concept of God's love as he read from 1 John 3. The other has explored the background to the Bible and is attracted to the teachings of Jesus. The last time we met he said, "I love Jesus very much."

Lord Jesus, it is a privilege to connect with my Muslim friend. Help me to know how to share spiritually with him. Amen.

Stuck

"Onesimus hasn't been much use to you in the past, but now he is useful to both of us." Philemon 1:11

When we were living out in the country the first year after our return from Pakistan, I traveled daily back and forth to work in Winnipeg, an hour from our home. I had the back-roads figured out to save the maximum amount of time. One day I went to work, not realizing how much it had rained and I got royally stuck on a dirt road. I tried and tried but just dug myself deeper into the mud. Ugh. Now what to do? Middle of nowhere!! I walked to the nearest gravel road and hitchhiked into the city! By the evening the road had dried enough for me to drive home!

I'm thinking of my Muslim contacts. There are many success stories. The ones with education often advance rapidly with English acquisition and its not long before they're working full time or more. 

Then there are some who are stuck for one reason or another. Some endured a lot of trauma where they came from and are in shell shock and can't cope so well with normal life. Others who are mid-age have a hard time landing a steady and well paying job. Others have handicaps--injuries or illnesses. I'm thinking of my 20 something year old friend whose kidneys shut down and it messed up his eyesight where now he is visually challenged. 

Typical pattern of those who are stuck--fixated on statellite tv..."never leave their homeland", reverse their sleeping habits, and have a very narrow circle of friends. Mo is a young man who came here as a young teen. His home situation did not nurture him to study and he didn't want to. So he squeaked by in high school and graduated. Mo plays a lot of video games late into the night. He really doesn't display any motivation to work or study. He is stuck. An older gentleman who tried to learn English but got discouraged, gave up and got depressed. I dropped in recently and he was nervous about what I was there for.

A Somali man when I asked what he would do this summer replied--"I have to fast." Unable to function normally. There are quite a few who are soooo afraid of offending God if they don't do their religious duties that it can become all consuming. Many of my Muslim friends are stuck and when I bring up spiritual topics, quickly veer away from any discussion. 

We can't really do much for some of these people. There are many good government programs to help them. As for me, I continue to pray for these friends, visit periodically and share about what God has been teaching me.

Onesimus, the runaway slave came to faith in Christ while Paul was imprisoned. Onesimus' heart was transformed. Paul sends him back to his owner Philemon who also was a believer. Paul makes an appeal to receive Onesimus back for "now he is useful to both of us." I have faith that some of my friends will respond to the truth and become 'useful' for God. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help friends of mine who are stuck--some who are discouraged or depressed and others whose zeal to keep all the tenets of Islam have isolated them from becoming engaged in society and work. Amen.