ramadan- do you hear the call?

It's Ramadan.


Most of us have heard this Arabic term, a reference to a special time for the Muslim world.  Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the Qur'an was revealed.  It is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, a time for fasting, prayer and devotion to God. 

Throughout the month (August 1-30 this year), Muslims will refrain from food and drink during the daylight hours, and will attend services in the evenings, along with eating together throughout the nights.  Their aim is to draw closer to God, finding favor with him through these disciplines, and using introspection and devotion to become more consecrated.  They recognize fasting as a means to develop greater self-control, as well as a way for greater recognition of the needs of the poor throughout the world.  Ramadan is a time for the Muslim community to draw closer to God and to each other.

As the Muslim world prays, what will Christians do in response?  My hope is that the community of Christ-followers worldwide will lift their Muslims neighbors before God's throne, asking Him to indeed reveal himself in power and in truth to those who are seeking his face.  Unfortunately, the sad reality is that too many Christians find little impetus to pray for Muslims.  We too often view them with suspicion, fear, or from a safe distance.  After all, it's easy to not really care about those you don't really know.  But a recent comment from a friend put it all in perspective.  He told me, "I have a friend who's a Muslim and he's a great guy. I sure don't want him to go to hell."  That's the key isn't it?  To change your heart, your attitude, your outlook, you must enlarge or change your circle of friends.  Because you gain a completely different perspective when someone you never knew, maybe never cared to know, becomes connected to your life.

Why not use the month of August to pray for followers of Islam, to pray that they may find the truth and hope for life in Jesus?  Pray that God may reveal himself in dreams and visions to Muslims who are looking for a closer spiritual connection. Pray that walls of separation that exist between Muslims and Christians may begin to crumble.  Pray for your own life and your opportunities to share the love of God with Muslims around you, that God will bring you into meaningful contact with someone from Islam, that you will learn to see these people as God does.  

Because it's Ramadan...and it's time to pray.

burn, baby, burn

One of the mantras I remember from the '60s (besides the title of this blog) was the encouragement to "do what comes naturally." That advice seemed to fit the counter-culture revolution of its day. But it also appears to follow us today.Take the situation in Florida, in which a church pastor planned to have a Qur'an-burning day on 9/11. By now we've all heard the story, the debate, the outrage and the ridicule surrounding the event. At this point, the bonfire has been called off. That's good...but I'm bothered by the attitudes connected with the whole thing, especially among those who claim to be Christ-followers.

To begin with, I sense an overblown confusion among many between nationalism and faith. Added to that is a "natural" feeling of fairness, justice and rightness. I hear many (including voices within me) proclaim that Muslims have no compunction over burning our holy book, mistreating our people, or disrespecting our beliefs. Therefore, it's right (natural) to return the same attitude and action to them. I read a story about Bibles belonging to servicemen meant for distribution in Iraq that were confiscated and burned by the US military last year. A representative from a Christian defense organization was quoted as saying that to be fair and just, we should count up the number of Bibles destroyed, collect that many Qur'ans and burn them. Then we'd be even.

Now, that's a normal response. That's doing what comes naturally. Problem is, those of us who claim to walk in the steps of Jesus are NOT called to walk naturally. If we burn Qur'ans for Bibles, we' re living eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Not only would we all end up blind and toothless, but Jesus told us that we're expected to respond differently (Matt. 5:39). Not naturally. And if we refuse to love Muslims because we see them as the enemy (here's where being American and being Christian becomes conflicted for some), then we're no different than anyone else acting naturally. Jesus told us that we must love those opposed to us, and pray for them (Matt. 5:44-49).

It's easy (it's natural) to stand against anyone we see as a threat. I understand that. To resist them, to resent them, to oppose them. I get that. But how many Muslims (or anyone else, for that matter) are we praying for? How many have we made the effort to share with, to get to know, to serve...to love? If that idea grates against you, that's OK- it's natural. To be able to embrace such a concept is something far beyond natural. It's supernatural. And it takes to power of One within us to make it happen.

I don't expect those not following Christ to walk such a path. It's far too unnatural for most. But those of us who say that our allegiance is beyond this world are bound to back it up by our example. Are we to be concerned for our people? Sure. Stand up for injustice? Absolutely. Protect freedom? In a heartbeat. Love those who don't love us?

Only if you want to do what comes supernaturally.

who's praying for whom?

I realize that it's been too long since I last wrote. Life has moved quickly lately and I've been holding on as much as actually being in control! I began teaching a class at Hope International University (my alma mater) called, Ministry in the Urban Setting. I'll talk more about that in another post.

I did receive an email this week asking me my thoughts on the upcoming Muslim day of prayer in Washington DC, on Capitol Hill, scheduled for this Friday. According to the report, Muslims want to show the world that they love America too, that they're concerned for its direction and welfare, and that they want people to see how they pray. They're expecting 50,000 to attend the event, which will run from 4:00 am to 7:00 pm., as they try to help change the face of Islam in America, letting us see that many Muslims do not consider the US "the Great Satan." I was asked if I saw this as a threat or an opportunity.

My response was (in part) as follows:
Thanks for the note. I love the way you phrased your question: you asked if this might be threat or opportunity. That’s a great perspective, for I believe it might be (or become) whatever we choose to make it! I remember Joseph telling his brothers, “You meant this for evil, but God meant it for good.” It obviously concerns me to see something of this nature before us, legitimizing its claim to souls here in America. But at the same time, so many Muslims do see themselves as Americans and are grateful for their freedoms here. And if their young people tour our capitol with its shrines to freedom, democracy, and Christian foundation, perhaps something will rub off that will tell them that this country is even greater than they’ve been led to believe. AND…should this entire event not convict us to be on our knees in prayer- prayer for our country, our leaders, our direction and our neighbors living beside us who so desperately need to know the Savior?

So let’s be praying this Friday (and beyond!), and let’s challenge our brothers and sisters to do likewise. Surely that's the greatest spiritual weapon at our disposal. Let’s not keep it sheathed at such a critical time in our nation’s history.

no christmas joy in india

What an unholy mess. As I sit in my coffee shop "office" listening to Christmas carols extolling peace on earth and goodwill toward men, I'm reading, pondering and trying to wrap my head around the horrific Mumbai massacre. The more I read, the more disheartened I feel about the possibility of this elusive peace on earth thing. I realize I just how much I still don't understand about how people think and what lengths they will go to in order to accomplish what is of greatest importance to them.

I do, however, understand and believe a few things in relation to these troubling Indian events. First, I know that people like those who carried out such merciless attacks will never be won over through dialogue and reason. They do not function on what we would consider "reasonable" levels. Their agenda calls for the absolute overthrow of their adversaries by whatever means necessary. Violence is (obviously) no deterrent for them. And world leaders would be fools to think that conferencing, negotiation or mutual co-existence are viable options. The thinking is the same, whether it be in India, Somalia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the US or anywhere else these radicals choose to exert themselves. No negotiations. None. Ever.

Second, I again recognize that the actions of a minority within a system often have the power to influence the direction of the majority. While I believe that the majority of Muslims do not favor the actions of such terrorists, I also know that many, far too many, will allow the actions, directives and demands of these kinds of people to, at some point, determine what they themselves will do. History has demonstrated that violent socio-cultural leaders with agendas have (and will) bend the will of the majority of their people to those agendas. That concerns me greatly.

Third, the very magnitude of this situation (and those like it) is a sober reminder that our world is still in desperate need of One who can truly bring peace on earth...and that those of us who claim to know and follow him have the responsibility to represent his promises to these who need to know. That's the reality of the Christmas message- that humanity has the possibility reconnection with God, and reconciliation with each other through the coming of a Savior. But reality is also that if we who embrace that Savior fail to communicate that message, people will continue to live- and die- in futile adversity. With God, and with each other.

The message of Christmas has now become that much more urgent to me this year. Joy to the world? The world? Somehow, I think you and I have a part to play in that expression being realized.