Who can't believe?

Back to Charles Marsh's thesis that none is Too Hard for God ... (see "Not by Bread Alone ...")

Gabriel and I went to see U and his wife again.  We discussed Romans 1-8 with U and what it means to be a real Christian and not just a church-goer.  He wanted ch.6 and being dead to sin explained.  He has indicated strongly that he is ready to follow the Lord Jesus, but he is concerned that it is very difficult for his wife and he sees that it would be a big mistake for her to follow his lead, rather than making a decision for herself.

So, is U a one-off?  Well, no ... we went to see some members of his family and found an old man listening to a Christian radio station that broadcasts primarily in Fulfulde - his excuse for listening is that they speak GOOD Fulfulde!  The same man's wife was amazed at "the white man who seems like an Arab" because I was dressed in local garb and greeted her in Fulfulde and, having inquired whether I was acquainted with Islamic practice, she expressed the opinion that "at the end of life God might forgive such a white man, even while he does not forgive many a Muslim"!

While we were dealing with U, Gabriel  arrived with another Muslim Pullo who not only had questions, but showed, by his questions that he had, in fact, read parts of the New Testament.  He wants to continue discussions with us.

The following week, Gabriel  was faced with 3 Muslims, not so young this time, who asked if he were a Christian.  He asked why they wanted to know first (a straight "Yes" is not advisable as it often shuts down the conversation and gives you no opportunity to correct their misunderstanding of what a real Christian is) and they said that they had noticed that he lived an orderly life like a Muslim (what does that say about Christian testimony in our town?).  He pointed out that he was a follower of the Lord Jesus and asked if they too believed in Jesus and in His return.  They said that all good Muslims must believe in the return of Jesus.  He then asked what they were doing to prepare for the return of Jesus!  Well, that led to all sorts of other discussion and 2 of them made an appointment to meet with him at a later date.

Last week, Gabriel  advised that he has another enquirer who would like to come and see me when we return from our trip to Yaoundé.  I asked him where he was finding all these guys (thinking he had recently decided to make a real effort to reach Muslims) but he said he didn't go looking for them - it just happened!

Of course, none of these has believed ... yet.  But there IS willingness to talk, to discuss and to consider who Jesus really is. So, is the problem that they can't believe or is the problem that we can't believe it's possible for them to believe?

I'm also beginning to wonder if it isn't easier for many Muslims to accept Jesus the Messiah (even the Son of God) than to accept the "Christians", "Christianity" and "churches" that claim to act in His Name.  It may be that they are "too hard" for us, but "Is anything Too Hard for God?"

Not by Bread Alone ...

For many of us (dare I say most?), evangelising Muslims is missionary work at its most difficult.

"Muslims are so hard and so resistant to the Gospel of Jesus Christ," we say.  "It's so difficult to even start talking to them of Christ, never mind convincing them of the truth of the Gospel and leading them to faith in Christ.  Since they are likely to be killed by their own family members for converting, how can we expect anything else?"

In his book, Too Hard for God?, Charles Marsh intimates that, in fact, the Gospel is as capable of winning a Muslim just as much as the next person.  Until recently, I had intellectually accepted his point, but I struggled to see it in the world around me and so I struggled to act upon it.

Enter Gabriel with a string of Muslim Ful'be enquirers!

I arrived home from a trip to the news that Gabriel had been round to say that he had made contact with a young Muslim Pullo who was very interested in the gospel and wanted to come and see me.

Well, U arrived with some questions but, rather than the huge debate that I had anticipated, he seemed very ready to listen.  He took a Bible home with him (wrapped up so nobody would know what it is) and presented us with his Qur'an.  His wife was flabbergasted to find out he had traded his Quran for a Bible, but when she heard that we have the Injil (the Gospel) and other materials written in Fulfulde Arabic Script, she said she would like to come and see.

A few days later, he came with his wife.  He had read Luke's Gospel and parts of Matthew and John and was looking for "more homework", so I gave him Romans 1-8 to read.  He asked more questions.  His wife can read Arabic well (but without understanding), so I gave her the Psalms in Fulfulde (her own language), but written in Arabic script and asked if she could read that.  At first she said it was too difficult and I thought that was her polite way of saying she wouldn't take it.  However, I encouraged her to take a look and, after examining it, she decided she might be able to read it after all and took it home with her.

To come and visit us, they travelled right across town.  However, what really amazed me was what happened when we dropped them home that evening.  Suspecting that they had nothing to eat, Gabriel gave them something for some bread.  It was then he discovered that U had only 50f  left in his pocket - not enough to buy even one loaf of bread.  I know he paid 300f to the motorbike taxi to come and talk about God's Word - that could have bought him 3 loaves of bread ...