Addressing Slaves

From a famous and radical sermon: "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." Martin Luther King Jr., I have a Dream.

Slavery in the USA was finished with Abraham Lincoln's emancipation bill but segregation between whites and blacks had not been realized fully even in a 100 years. Praise God much progress has been made since this speech.

Sermons at the mosque are usually predicable. First there are readings from the Qur'an in Arabic. Then what often follows are admonitions to be better Muslims.

The format is something like this: The preacher stands by the niche in the front of the mosque which also indicates the correct direction for Islamic prayer. He gives his 'Salam' followed by the prayer call. The preacher then gives readings or recitations from the Qur'an in Arabic followed by the first part of his sermon and ends it with a prayer from the Qur'an. The sermon is divided into two parts. The second half of the sermon starts with praise to God and 'Salam' to Mohamed. It ends with a prayer from the Qur'an.

I recently took a group of Bible college students for a visit to Friday prayers. This time there was a visiting scholar who addressed the faithful as 'slaves of Allah'. His message was that God is love but with conditions. The speaker claimed that God shows love to the believers if they 1) obey Mohamed 2) follow the rules of Islam and 3) show love to fellow Muslims. Then he went on to say that suffering or testing is a sign of God's love. It's an opportunity to work off sins. He emphasized that we all sin. Even catching a cold is an opportunity to pay for sins. He said the backslidden are not tested as much by Allah. If a Muslim passes the test of suffering he has a better chance at entering heaven.

A Muslim 'slave' is obligated to follow all the rules of Islam. He has no rights and can't question God, his master. What is decreed for him will come to pass. He is a slave of God until he dies.

The radical message of the New Testament is that we have the right to become sons and daughters of God. We are given assurance of sins forgiven and a place in heaven if we accept his offer of salvation and covenant(permanent) relationship.

The words "bondservant or slave and servant" used as metaphors in the New Testament indicate absolute devotion to Jesus. Paul, Timothy, James, Peter and Jude all describe themselves as "bondservants of Christ". This was their response to Jesus.

Jesus said "my burden is light"(Matthew 11:30). We receive immense benefits when we go Jesus way. We receive freedom in Christ. I too want to respond --"here's my life, take and use it."

My Muslim friend welcomed input from non-Muslims when he arrived. Sadly, as he becomes more settled into the Muslim community, he has become rigid in his thinking. Halal and haram are now very important words to him.

Dear God, I pray for my Muslim friends who are holding on to the only identity they know. I pray that they would seek freedom. Amen.

Fishers of Men

Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19.

In this metaphor Jesus promises to teach Peter and Andrew the ‘Secrets of Effective Evangelism.’ So, what are some tested and effective principles?

1.  Friendliness

Fish are drawn into the net or to a lure that looks like lunch.

In evangelism, ability to relate to a Muslim is key—to draw them in. Showing a genuine interest in his life is a good first step. And the only way connections happen with Muslims apart from programs is by us taking the initiative.

Friendliness gets me in the door.

2.  Availability

If a person wants to catch fish, he has to be available on their schedule. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus after dark when he wouldn’t be noticed by others.

With Muslim men who are ultra-busy I have to work around their family responsibilities, work, and community events. 

Paul said, “This one thing I do.” Fishing does require focus. Muslim evangelism flows smoother if this is a priority.  

Availability puts me on their schedules or calendar.

3. Wisdom

Each kind of fish has their preferred habitat.

It takes time to understand a Muslim man, his needs and where there is a point of entry into his life.

With men the conversation often drifts over to politics and religion. We are more interested in the kingdom of heaven. At other times, men try to convert me. It’s their obligation. A personal testimony helps shift the focus to 'how God has changed me.'

It’s important for our friends to actually read scripture before they talk about faith a lot. Great conversations can start from asking about their faith. And then turn around with having the last word using the Bible.

There are times when we hear the Spirit saying, "you’ve done your part". We showed a particular International student love and care numerous times. In the final end, he rejected the message.

Wisdom helps me to understand the way to a Muslim’s heart.

4. Flexibility

I was fishing with a friend. Nothing seemed to work so I changed bait and hooks. Finally the fish started biting.

Ironically, this friend I was fishing with is on a search for purpose and meaning in life and I’ve been trying various ways to keep the spiritual conversation going. We brace ourselves for the tough questions Muslims will ask us. And then we find out that few of them raise any objections. In fact, I’m meeting ‘Muslim’ atheists and agnostics.

I’ve found that the approach varies with each person—one method doesn’t fit all. So, flexibility is important. The Holy Spirit helps me discern if there is spiritual hunger. 

Flexibility helps me to be relevant.  

God has called us into action. The goal in our 'fishing' is in others being reconciled with God and with each other. Like fishing for fish, fishing for men—sometimes it seems there is so much wasted time. We don’t easily give up. We so badly want to deliver the message Jesus has for them.

Our Iranian friend drew up a landscape plan for our simple house. He strategically placed trees, bushes and decorative shrubs to put the focus on the entrance—the door. God sends us to strategic spots to direct Muslims to the Door—to Jesus. You and I are God’s messengers.

Remember?

"Muslim kids 3 or 4 years old in Toronto are being taught about *beheading* on Youtube", stated a friend. We googled the subject and found it. In today's climate, the video clip is ripe for misunderstanding. It took place at a Muslim school where kids re-enacted part of Shia Muslims' history(Ashura) similar to how Christians re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. Ashura falls on Aug. 8th this year.

We had only been in Pakistan for a week. My wife and I with our 2 year old daughter went for a stroll in the bazaar of the town we made our first home. All was going well until we approached a mosque. The doors flung open, people poured out and men were wailing and beating themselves with chains and ropes until their chests and backs bled. Our instinct was to get out of what appeared to be a dangerous situation. What we didn't know was that on this very day, the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram(Ashura) Shia Muslims commemorate the brutal martyrdom of Hussain, their first leader.

In the West, during Muharram Shias gather at their mosques for potlucks and remember the death of Hussain. We asked one of our friends what they do. "We cry". It all happens within the four walls of the mosque. In the West, people on the outside don't know about this event.

A few years ago I heard a Sunni Muslim give a sermon during Friday prayers at the mosque. According to tradition Muhammed came to Medina and saw Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram(Ashura). They were doing so in memory of the Children of Israel rescued from Pharoah. So Muhammed fasted that day and told Muslims to fast.

The Sunni-Shia split happened after Muhammed died and there was a dispute over who should be the new leader. Sunnis appointed the new leader(Caliph) but Shias insisted on Hussain, the grandson of Muhammed to be the new leader. There were several battles fought over this issue which ended with Hussain being killed. To this day these two Muslim groups remain distant from each other and sometimes clash. Shias who represent 15% of Muslims focus on their saints. They erect shrines where they go for pilgrimages, believing that the dead saints will intercede to God on their behalf.

Is there something redemptive we can use for witness to Muslims during Muharram? Don McCurry, in the following quote from 'Healing the Broken Family of Abraham: New Life for Muslims' points to a connection between Christians, Jews, and Shia Muslims:

"Shias believe Hussain(martyred at Karbala in A.D. 680) died for his people. In other words, there is in Shia Islam an idea of vicarious atonement. The Shias celebrate this martyrdom during the first ten days of the first month of the Muslim calendar(Muharram) with passion plays re-enacting the suffering and martyrdom of Hussain, which reach a climax on the tenth day of Muharram. As pointed out earlier, the tenth of Muharram corresponds to Ashura, the Jewish Day of Atonement(Yum Kippur)."

Shia Muslims are responsive to the suffering Messiah. Isaiah 53 is a good starting point for discussions.

Lord Jesus, we pray that we would be instruments of comfort and hope especially for the Shias around the world who remember their first leader but also suffer from persecution from within their religion. Amen.