Sunday morning we heard a report from missionary Alex Hanna who ministers to the Arabic speaking world and heard some incredible testimonies of God's tremendous power to change lives. I don't know if you understood all that he said, but in one of his testimonies he told us of a town in the Middle East where every man, woman, boy and girl in the town had a dream of Jesus on the same night. As a result, there was a huge conversion to Christ and all of mosques in that town were converted to churches! I know that in our minds that seems far-fetched, but that is the kind of God we serve. He has an infinite number of ways to accomplish His purpose. We should never weaken in our resolve to trust Him, whatever circumstance we may encounter.
I am thinking about inviting Alex to conduct a seminar on witnessing and ministering to Muslims during our missions emphasis week in September. It would not be held during a normal service time; rather it would be on a different evening so we could invite people from other churches to attend. Would you be interested? Let me know.
4 comments:
I think this would be an awesome idea! Never before has this been so relevant to all us, given the times we are living in and the state of our country and the world.
That is an amazing story, and I don't doubt for a moment that our God does those kinds of things. But I do have a question. Do stories like these bolster our faith or undermine it?
Whenever I hear stories like this one - or read about them in the Bible (e.g. "everyone who was sick was healed," or "everyone in that city was converted and baptized") - I'm disturbed.
First, while I don't question that God can, and no doubt does do incredible (I was going to write "unbelievable" and stopped myself, but "incredible" carries much the same meaning, I suppose) things, it seems most of the time these stories either turn out to be entirely false, at worst, or (wildly) exaggerated, at best.
Second, I wonder why those kinds of miracles don't happen here? And I don't buy the "We-don't-expect-them-so-they-don't-happen" argument.
Third, I don't mean to be cynical or morose, but it seems these stories often encourage the worst in us (Pentecostals). They tempt us to believe that we have the power to do whatever, whenever.
What conclusions about God, about ourselves, about the church's work in the world are we supposed to draw from this story? I'm not being rhetorical. I really want to know.
I'm reminded of a story an Indian friend of mine told me. His father was a church planter in northern India, which is a dangerous place for Christians. One day his father saw a couple of young parents throw a young child in the river. He ran to them and asked them why they had done that, and they explained that the gods were angry and had demanded of them a sacrifice. At that point, my friend's father shared with them his understanding of the gospel. When he was done, the mother asked him: "Why weren't you here ten minutes ago?"
My friend tells that story - or at least he told it to me and to our church - as a way to motivate evangelism. But as I told him, I think that story cuts both ways. Why wasn't his father there ten minutes before? If God sent him to the parents, then why didn't God send him to them in time?
The same applies, I think, to the story of this shared dream.
Hi Chris, thanks for your thoughts and observations. You have removed the lid of some deep questions that have nagged at me for many years and caused me to look at them closely.
Even though I have no cause to doubt it, I, too, would much prefer to have documentation of this story. I know that God demands faith, but He is not afraid of scrutiny and He keeps accurate records. (Lamb's Book of Life) I know that the Old Testament is replete with examples of God doing a miraculous work on multitudes, whether in feeding, watering or sending judgement. And acknowledging Isaiah 55, I realize that God's ways are not our ways, and a story such as this, whether it is a testimony or an illustration serves to expand our idea that God can move in incredible ways whenever and however He desires.
The issue of the miraculous not happening here is one that I do not struggle with as much. I think that it has much to do with the witness that is present on an ongoing basis in the area. For instance, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man wanted a spiritual manifestation for his brothers, but he was denied that request. He was told that they had Moses and the prophets. In other words, he was told that the truth was already being told and that the brothers were responsible for their response to the truth available to them. Here in the US we have enough gospel presented on a daily basis to win the world every week. We also have rampant secularization of the culture which denies the spiritual aspect. The most miraculous testimonies I hear consistently come from areas that are previously unreached but have people who are spiritually aware, even if their spirituality is rooted in demon worship or animisim. They recognize the power of the spirit world and when God speaks to them they respond.
Your third point speaks to the deepest of my spiritual questions. I have no response to it. I have struggled many times that when going to a venue to minister I look out of the car window and see many who need my message, but I'm driving by them to talk to others. I also struggle each Sunday morning to see so many who have heard the gospel hundreds of times when so many millions die without ever hearing it once. And I wonder, everytime I hear a testimony of healing, what is going on in the mind of someone who did not receive that same healing. Are they wondering if God loved the other person more? And finally, if God could win an entire village without a human witness, why doesn't He do that more often when so many die without hearing the gospel?
Sounds like some subjects for future posts.
Please do continue to post on these topics. I need the conversation, and I know I'm not the only one.
In response...
1. I don't doubt that people in so-called animistic cultures are more "open" to the "spirit-realm" (sorry for all the quotation marks!); I've been to Haiti multiple times, and have experienced something of this myself. But this is a double-edged and very sharp sword. If it means they are readier and abler to perceive and receive the spiritual, it also means they possess fewer defenses against manipulations of superstition and irrationality. I don't think by itself this openness is good. Of course, rationality isn't the end-all, be-all, either; as we're all figuring out, the "Enlightenment" left the West impoverished. Perhaps we live in a desert and they in a swamp. But both are virtually inhabitable!
2. This is why I think it's important we not operate with a "visible faith = salvation" mindset. I can't believe that only those who consciously confess Jesus Christ as kyrios and soter (sorry, again - but I didn't want to sound cliche!) are going to receive seats in the new creation. Yes, only by Jesus is anyone saved, but that is not the same thing at all. I think many, many people will be surprised to be included by a Father they didn't know they had! (I always think here of Emeth in C. S. Lewis' The Last Battle.)
In fact, I think it may be the way we respond to the surprises of the Judgment - whether we find ourselves disappointed or elated by the unexpected inclusion of those we considered unfit - that will prove to be our own judgment!
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