30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World | www.30-days.net » Social Issues http://www.30-days.net What Christians should know about Islamic background, history and culture. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:11:00 +0000 en hourly 1 I married a Muslim – do I throw my Christianity away? http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/i-married-a-muslim/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/i-married-a-muslim/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:28:09 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/?p=380 Everyday I wake up next to the man that I married.  He is a Muslim and I am a follower of Jesus.  When we decided to get married, neither of us was practicing our faiths, so it was an easy decision.  In fact, our faiths looked quite similar in many ways and he had convinced me that they were indeed very similar.

married-30-days-net

Married 1 Peter 3:1-2

Even though I knew I had married a Muslim, his decision to start practicing (just one year after getting married) came as a huge surprise to me.  It totally upset the balance that we had as two people, each living out our faiths in a very nominal way.  Along with anger at him for changing (as we all do!!), I also felt a growing resentment towards this religion that was stealing my loving, caring husband and replacing him with someone who was so focused on rules, regulations and merciless rituals.  Our romantic relationship took a serious turn for the worse.

The fact that he keeps the rules affects my life a lot.  For example, if we have to be somewhere at a certain time (especially it is something for me, it seems), he’ll want to wait just a little longer before leaving so that he can get the next prayer in.  During Ramadan it is especially challenging because he will basically not touch me all day – and definitely will not kiss me.  This is hard for me, not because I want to kiss him all day (or maybe I do!  :) ), but because I see marriage as an open, living, breathing expression of love and commitment to each other.  Sometimes, physical expression is needed to say what words cannot.  I do think that he errs on the side of caution, especially during Ramadan, in hopes that he will make up for all the other days of the year that he is not following everything to the letter.  I have to rely on God’s grace and wisdom to know how to respond to some of these things that my husband throws at me.

Lately, I’ve been grappling with how I will respond when he wants our daughter to start praying.  This probably won’t happen for a while, but I fear the day that it does.  I try to put things into perspective by weighing what is actually right and wrong.  There is nothing wrong with washing, definitely nothing wrong with praying, or even praying at a certain time (this tradition, I believe, actually came from the Christian church a long, long time ago).  The problem I will have is with our daughter having to state that Mohammed is a prophet and denying the divinity of Jesus.  I keep praying that my husband will come to know Christ before this becomes an issue.

At the same time, there are many things that I can take from Islam and transfer to my own faith.  Their view of God, His omnipotence, His omnipresence, and His sovereignty, is very core to how they see God.  (If we could just throw in the knowledge of God’s love for us all, that would be great!!).  I’ve learned to treat our Scriptures with more reverence.  The goal I strive for is to find a balance between knowing God as a holy, pure and powerful God as well as knowing Him personally, as my Saviour, my friend and the One who loves me more than I could ever imagine!

Ironically, it was this sudden fervour of his that drove me back to my roots – my relationship with Jesus.  Surprisingly, I am actually from a Christian family, grew up attending Sunday School , DVBS, Bible Camp, and even Bible College.  I was a leader in my church and looked up to by many people, as a role model in the faith.   What was the problem?  In one short word … Pride.   I never thought it could happen to me… I was firmly against marrying a non-believer but put in the right circumstances we are capable of anything.

Within a couple months of his awakened faith, I was invited to my friend’s church at Christmas.   I went only because I thought it was the least I could do, being a nominal Christian and all.  God had plans for me though.  I don’t remember what the message was that day, but it made me want to return.  So I did.  The next Sunday, the message was about God’s all-encompassing love and His forgiveness, no matter how deep the sin.  I sat in the front row with my dear friend.  I wept.  God had taken my heart of stone and softened it – miraculously; instantly.  Words really cannot explain what happened in this short moment.

Here I am today, a follower of Jesus.  There are many verses that encourage me, one that I think of almost every day is this one: “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” (1 Peter 3:1-2, NIV).  I am challenged to look at my marriage, not as a mistake, but as a sign of God’s forgiveness, grace and love.

Prayer Requests for (Christian) women married to Muslim men:

  • -    That our love for Jesus would grow daily, through time in  the Word and on our knees.
  • -    That we would be led by Spirit in how we live and share Christ – choosing words carefully.
  • -    That we would be well connected to a church body – and sought to be understood and supported.
  • -    Unity, wisdom and discernment in child-rearing.
  • -    A deep steadfastness in the knowledge of God’s love, knowing that God loves our husbands even more than we do.
  • -    The courage to stand in prayer for our beloved husbands.  God has allowed us to become married (whether by disobedience or subsequent conversion) and will give us what we need to live as an example of Jesus in our homes, so that our beloveds would meet Jesus.
  • -    Pray against fear – the future is unknown and that can be very scary for a woman married to a Muslim – pray for increased faith and trust that He who holds our lives has good plans for them.

Editors Note: we have the offer of a Christian women wanting to help other women married to Muslim men. Feel free to leave comments and questions below in the comment section for now. We can always start a Marriage forum if we get enough replies.

Recommended Viewing:

Magdalena - the movie

DVD: MAGDALENA: Released From Shame (Dec 2008)
One woman caught in adultery; another, rejected and ignored because of her promiscuous lifestyle … (by the ‘Jesus Film’ producers) DVD Length: 80 minutes.

Description: Watching with amazement, Mary learned from Jesus a new way to look at people. He also radically transformed her life by healing her from demon possession–releasing her from shame. Mary Magdalene acts as both narrator and participant in “Magdalena: Released From Shame,” as she traces through the story of lives that have come into contact with this man, Jesus, and have been powerfully released from shame. Order today. A must for all women!

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/i-married-a-muslim/feed/ 220 Cross cultural (culture of) Marriage http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/marry/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/marry/#comments Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:01:20 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/marry/ Christians Married to Muslims

Being a Christian married to a Muslim is not always easy. We have compiled some links which we pray will be helpful to you. Should you need further help or have other links for this page, please use the Comment box at the bottom. Thank you.

Internet Sites (all links open a new window or tab in your browser)

(Several of these sites make reference to LaM which stands for “Love a Muslim”.)

Support Group for Christian Women Dating or Married to Muslims – and see the complete listings as well. |


Answering-islam.org – Marriage – Marriage between Muslims and Christians (there are more articles throughout the site, this is only a starting point …) |

I Married a Muslim: Katrina’s Incredible Story – Reported by Julie Blim and Scott Ross, The 700 Club – one of the negative stories on the subject. |

U.S. Department of State: Marriage to Saudis – Offering straight-talking advice to American women contemplating tying the knot with Saudi men. |

Unequally Yoked Resources including links to books, courses and other web sites. |

Married to Muhammad ‘addresses an area of urgent need in the Christian community of the United States!’ |

Won Without A Word – marriage links |

Aglow International ‘has a mandate to reach Muslim women and women married to Muslims’. (I couldn’t see any obvious links on the subject, perhaps use their contact form… Women’s Aglow is well known however.) |

Crescent Project is a wonderful ministry helping Christians learn more about Islam and minister to M people. They also have local Oasis fellowships, sponsored through Crescent Project. It’s a great way to meet with others to pray, encourage and be encouraged in her witness to her husband and his family. (Again, I couldn’t see any obvious links on the subject, perhaps use their contact form…) |

The Vatican’s Erga migrantes caritas Christi (“The Love of Christ Toward Migrants”), an 80-page booklet issued by the Pontifical Council for the Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. “Despite its affectionate title, the document includes a warning against Catholic women marrying Muslim men.” |

Courses

There are courses for download . One of them, Al Kitab, was developed by Bible Media. It is a Bible study guide for Muslims in English and Arabic, to explain the true message of the Christian Bible. |

Bible Study Resources for the “‘Unequally Yoked Woman’” |

Caleb Project . They have a new course called “Encountering the World of Islam”. They may know of some resources for Christians married to Muslims. (Over the years Caleb has developed many courses, please feel free to ask them about marriage courses.) |

Groups

“Are you the wife of an unsaved husband , or do you have a husband that is not living his faith?” This list is for Bible Believing Christian ladies who would like to give and receive Godly support, friendship, Bible Study, prayers and encouragement….” A Yahoo list. |

Books

Waging Peace on Islam by Christine A Mallouhi
Christine is an Australian Christian married to an Arab Christian whose family are Muslims. She and her husband also lived in Arab countries for many years and have many Muslim friends. The book shows great respect and affection for Muslims. |

All that the Prophets have Spoken is a fresh look at the Word of God, from the perspective of a Muslim reader. (free downloads) |

Miniskirts, Mothers & Muslims (Paperback) by Christine Mallouhi
A startling look at the Muslim world, through the eyes of a western Christian in a Muslim family. For Christians who work with, live with, or minister to Muslims, this book helps explain the world of Muslim women. Topics include: role models, segregation, restrictions, opportunities, family life, and unwritten rules. |

Kitab bookshop in Oldham, UK . You will need to contact them for a book on this topic. “They are Christian & specialise in outreach to Muslims among others”. (I could not find a book list or even a search form, thus try to contact them for suggestions – but they come recommended to me by several people…) |

Others

Here are many resources and courses and even hymns in Arabic … plus information for Muslims, for Christians, free literature etc. |

Need prayer because of your marriage? “God has given our ministry a love for the Muslim people, and we are praying for them. “. |

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/marry/feed/ 10 Dating Muslim Men http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/dating-muslim-men/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/dating-muslim-men/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:00:48 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/reveal/?p=247 He’s handsome.  He’s charming.  He’s got good moral beliefs.  He treats you like no other man has treated you.  Why wouldn’t you want to date him or maybe even marry him?  Think again.

These are all questions I asked myself a few short years ago when I met the man of my dreams.  He was all I could have asked for and so much more.  We connected like I never had with another human being!  It was amazing!   At the time we met, neither of us was actually practicing our faiths but both came from strong backgrounds, he Muslim, and I Christian.

Things I know now that I wish I’d known then…

  • People change.   The man I married was not serious about his faith, but about a year into marriage, he was suddenly praying 5 times a day and needed to abide by the (MANY) rules of Islam (including no kissing during Ramadan – as long as the sun was up!!).
  • In some ways, there is no such thing as “the individual” in Islam.  Everyone is part of a family, a people group, and/or a community.  Decisions are made as groups, not individuals and pressure is put on by families.  Families have an extremely strong influence on their children – even from across the ocean!!
  • Once married, the man is in charge and expects to always have his way, in everything.
  • In Islam, it is okay for a man to marry a Christian woman because it is expected that he will convert her (and be blessed with many virgins in paradise as a result!! – I can’t find the reference for this… but I’m sure there is a reference in the Qu’ran – if you can’t find it, feel free to delete it) – she may not be allowed to practice her own faith.
  • That in order to be married “legally” in Islam, you have to be married in the Mosque – my husband , after 1 year of thinking we were married, went as far as refusing to sleep with me until we got married in a mosque.  I cried every night.
  • Things get extremely complicated and hard when children are in the picture.  Circumcision or not?  Baby dedication or not?  Go to church or mosque?  Explaining to a young, confused child why daddy doesn’t believe in Jesus the same way that we do.
  • Breaking up a dating relationship is very painful and hard to do… but marrying a Muslim will lead to a lifetime of heartache.  Marriage is not to be taken lightly – it is covenant between you and God.  It is not meant to be trial and error, as our western society often suggests.

What can a person say to a woman who is dating or thinking of dating a Muslim man?

  • Be lovingly supportive – being judgemental will not help at all.
  • Pray, pray, and then pray some more that the Holy Spirit will take hold of her heart and re-claim it for Jesus.
  • Be honest about your apprehensions, try to introduce her to another Christian woman who is already in a marriage relationship with a Muslim (contact 30-days to find one if you don’t already know one).
  • If she’s asking you about it, she’s questioning.  Questioning is good.  The answers need to come from God, not from you – wait on God with her.
  • Despite all the best advice and all the right answers, she might go ahead and marry him – keep loving her and do not give up on her.
  • Dating a non-believer of any sort is a symptom of a deeper problem – rebellion of the heart.
    Know that God is light in our darkness, healing in our pain, comfort in our suffering.   He is stronger and bigger and more powerful than any temptation we have here on earth.  By His strength, we can choose to obey that still, small voice in our hearts.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.  Let heaven fill your thoughts.  Do not think only about things down here on earth.  For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”  (Colossian 3:1-3, NLT)

A great website for understanding what the Qu’ran says is:

http://www.answering-islam.org/ Authors/ Fisher/ Topical/index.htm

Editors Note: we have the offer of a Christian women wanting to help other women married to Muslim men. Feel free to leave comments and questions below in the comment section for now. We can always start a Marriage forum if we get enough replies.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/dating-muslim-men/feed/ 181 Islam’s new TV representatives http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/islams-new-tv-representatives/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/islams-new-tv-representatives/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:16:51 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1088 Islam is sometimes represented by fierce Islamic militant or religiously intolerant people

Amr Khaled

Muslims come from many social and cultural backgrounds and have varied opinions about many subjects. As we have indicated elsewhere in our prayer material, the vast majority of Muslims are basically decent people seeking to make a living and give hope for tomorrow to their children. While Islamic radicals often steal the headlines around the world, there are many voices for moderation, reasonable approaches to life, modernity and openness in the Arab Muslim World.

Outside the Middle East most people may not have heard of Amr Khaled, Mustafa Hosni, Moez Masoud, or Ahmad al-Shugairi. However these men have a significant following in the Arab world through Middle Eastern Television and the web. Amr Khaled’s influence for moderate and practical Islam has been compared to the North American evangelical preacher Rick Warren. He was 13th in the list of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year in 2006. Amr Khaled has said, “Bin Laden is saying he is talking on behalf of Muslims, who asked him to talk on behalf of us? Nobody.” Khaled even extended an olive branch to the Danes during the 2006 Islamic cartoons crisis. He has said, “During Ramadan, I love family gatherings over food, over laughter … Believe me, a family gathering over laughter is very important. Just like in the summer we admire the beauty of nature, in Ramadan we admire the beauty of the night … One of the beautiful things in Ramadan is that my wife and I pray the nightly prayers together.”

Moez Masoud has often spoken out for sincerity and really trying to understand people from other faiths. He has written: “I’m pretty much dedicating my life to a deeper and more profound understanding between human beings, the children of Adam. I actually named my son Adam just so that I could never be distracted from the goal.”

God knows the hearts of all men. The values exhibited in their programming sometimes reflect the values of the kingdom. It is possible that Jesus would say to several of the people mentioned above: “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). To others he might say “One thing you lack …” (Luke 18:22) It is also possible that these men are extremely far from the kingdom indeed, God knows.

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray that God will continue to use everything which is good and positive from these men to change Middle Eastern society for the better. May they and their listeners discover the Lord in a profound way, He is the giver life (John 10:10).
  • Believers in the Messiah in the Middle East have often been oppressed under Islam. Pray for an explosion of new spiritual life among believers across the entire Middle East which will enable them to be a channel of life for Muslims desiring sincerity, depth and real life with God.

See the sites of the people mentioned above:

Amr Khaled : www.amrkhaled.net
Mustafa Hosni : www.mustafahosny.com
Moez Masoud : www.moezmasoud.com

Video: Real Change

A Year of Living Dangerously Promo from DanStevers.com on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/islams-new-tv-representatives/feed/ 4 “In remembrance of Me” http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/in-remembrance-of-me/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/in-remembrance-of-me/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:11:45 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1033 How Christ is honoured by His followers in other cultures

Friday night. Jasmine has just arrived from her workplace in the city. Gracious, sincere village neighbours greet Jasmine warmly at the home of her daughter and son-in-law. They take their places in a circle on the tikar, a floor mat of woven reeds. Someone reaches to the top shelf of a closet and takes down a stack of photocopied, large-font Scripture portions. Jasmine readies her reading glasses and settles herself in a cross-legged position on the tikar…

This regular gathering is an example of communities of faith in Jesus the Messiah that are springing up throughout Indonesia. These gatherings may look different from what we see in our own cultural settings, but Jesus is being made known; He is being honoured!

… Someone prays an opening prayer for protection from demonic interference. Sharing proceeds around the circle as each person tells about the past week. The conversation is friendly and open. Then one of the leaders in the group begins a spontaneous prayer of praise, while someone else recites prayers from the Psalms. The selected Scripture reading for the night is distributed to those who can read. The first person to read opens with the main text of Exodus 34:6, followed by a traditional recited confessional statement in Arabic: “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.” People take turns reading out loud, verse by verse, around the circle. The text is read a second and sometimes even a third time, so that it will be taken to heart. Some simple questions are asked for review and discussion.

Afterwards everyone in the circle prays for the others and for their nation. These prayers are different from ritual prayers in Arabic — Jasmine says emphatically — for they are offered in the name of THE MESSIAH, THEIR SAVIOUR. After the prayers for one another, a time of relaxed fellowship begins with drinking tea and eating food from local crops.

Someone pours a common traditional drink, saying, “This is the blood of the Messiah,” then says, “We do this to remember Him and be refreshed. Christ gives us life!” Bread (not a traditional staple but now available in the area) is also broken in remembrance of Christ. After enjoying the fellowship until late night, someone closes in prayer, and the families go home. They meet together daily as extended households until the larger community gathers again… in remembrance of Him.

Prayer Starters:

  • Around the world Muslims who have encountered the Messiah have to find culturally appropriate ways to worship. Some have adopted worship styles and attitudes from other cultures while adapting it to their needs. Others have developed unique cultural expressions of their faith. The use of the Qur’an stand (above) for the Bible is a simple example of cultural adaptation.
  • Pray for former Muslims in your city, region, and country, that the beauty of local cultural expressions may be manifest in worship (songs, preaching and teaching styles and new ways of living which bring worship into the heart of daily life).

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/in-remembrance-of-me/feed/ 6 Secret Believers … http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/secret-believers/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/secret-believers/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:46:37 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1007 The real cost of following Jesus

For a former Muslim, becoming a believer in the Messiah is more than simply changing religion. In leaving Islam, the person has left his identity. The consequences of this choice are terrible: new believers are often rejected by other Muslims, and their family, and sometimes they are forced to divorce and they lose their children. They can lose their inheritance, their employment, their lodging, sometimes they receive death threats and some are actually killed. In many cases they are obliged to live their new faith in secret because of the fear of persecution. They become real “secret believers.” Many are isolated, and it is very difficult for them to persevere in their faith. The new believer needs a new identity.

In Islamic countries new believers in the Messiah from a Muslim background can experience very dramatic situations. According to Islamic law, the sharia, it is forbidden for a Muslim to change religion. In Saudi Arabia, Iran, the Maldive Islands, Afghanistan and Yemen people can be subject to the death penalty if it is discovered that they have changed religion. However, death threats do not always come from governments. In Afghanistan and generally in the countries of the former Soviet Union, the family of a new believer will sometimes try to save their honour by shedding blood (it is considered shameful for the family for someone to leave Islam and become a member of another faith). In Somalia Islamic fundamentalists will hunt down new believers to put them to death. For more information see the web site: Secret Believers (opens in a new window).

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray for the secret believers who are even now facing the possibility of death. May God protect them.
  • Pray for their families that they also may be attracted to the light of Christ. Pray that there would be a change of mentality so that Muslims can accept believers in the Messiah as honourable members of society.
  • Pray that the situation of the secret believers would be better known and that believers all over the world could give them help.
  • Explain to your children about the freedom you have and ask them to pray for a secret person.

Testimony of a secret believer:

Even after coming to faith in Jesus in our passport it is always written that we are Muslims because it is legally forbidden to modify it. One is supposed to present it everywhere. I am very happy that my husband did not lose his job when his employer learned that he had become a follower of Jesus.

Video: Secret Believers

The Persecuted Church from Nudge Media on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/secret-believers/feed/ 10 Muslim attitudes http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/muslim-attitudes/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/muslim-attitudes/#comments Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:44:39 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=1001 Concerning the West and Christians in General
Jumeirah Mosque

Jumeirah Mosque

Many Muslims would have preferred to maintain a traditional lifestyle and to have limited their contact with non-Muslims to a minimum. However, for decades the world has continued to move toward greater interaction. Globalisation, the Internet, television, improved travel and communications bring Muslims and non-Muslims into constant contact. Some Muslims are delighted; others cringe.

For many Muslims Western society is Christian. Many of them do not make any differentiate between Western culture and Christianity. For Muslims, alcohol consumption, pornography, popular films, music, a liberal lifestyle and a lack of public religious practise are sure signs of the failure of Western countries. For them, the word “Christian” signifies materialism, a lack of spirituality and moral failure. Because of this numerous Muslims reject trends and attitudes that come from Western society, which they consider perverted. Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists have termed Western societies as Satanic. Muslims often believe that Christians are deceived and that they have an obligation to lead them to the truth of Islam.

On the other hand, many Muslims do not practise their own religion regularly. They find themselves torn between Islam and Western values and culture. The relationships between Muslims and Westerners are sometimes tense. Each have attitudes of suspicion, rejection and feelings of injustice toward the other. This can lead to hatred. In addition, simple non-moral differences between cultures can be a major source of prejudice, problems and misunderstandings.

Unfortunately, believers are not always good examples of God’s character. In the words of one person who knows Muslims well, “Many Muslims have never met a believer who is actually living a real Christian life. This is certainly one of the greatest hindrances to effectively making the Messiah known among Muslims.”

Prayer Starters:

  • Pray that Muslims will be able to meet sincere practising believers and discern how they are different from cultural Christians.
  • With your children, share how a Christian should live in order to show a Muslim what it means to believe in Jesus.
  • Scriptures to meditate on and proclaim in prayer: Leviticus 19:2, Mt 5:48, Rom 12:2

Muslims Believe In…

  • One God, the Creator of all things
  • Angels and evil spirits
  • Prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, Jesus, Mohammed)
  • Mohammed, the last and greatest prophet
  • Holy books (the Torah, Zabur (Psalms), Injil (Gospel) and the Qur’an)
  • The Day of Judgment for all people
  • The Bible has been corrupted and modified by Jews and Christians.

Jesus says,
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Are my ideas and attitudes toward Muslims shaped by this commandment?

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/muslim-attitudes/feed/ 10 Our Attitudes: Unbelief, Belief and Love in any circumstance? http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/our-attitudes/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/our-attitudes/#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:45:33 +0000 TDI http://www.30-days.net/?p=997 Unbelief, Belief and Love

Scriptures to meditate and proclaim in prayer: Mt. 19:26, Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 12:1-2

It is often said that Muslims are hard to reach with the Gospel. For religious, cultural and spiritual reasons this is often true. However it is not impossible. The Bible tells us that nothing is impossible for God (Mt. 19:26). Do I agree with God that nothing is too hard for Him?

Is our attitude one of love?

Faith is important but do I also love Muslims? What is my most profound reaction when I meet them, when I see them on television? How would I react if a man in Muslim clothing came to my church? How would I react if a new believer from a Muslim background wanted to marry into my family? Would I be willing to give a thousand dollars so someone could proclaim the Gospel among Muslims? Would I be willing to sit and eat with a Muslim in a crowded restaurant? Have I been involved in criticizing them without knowing them? Am I fearful of Muslims? Is my main attitude toward them one of mistrust? Am I able to do as Jesus says, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”? Is this my desire, is this my goal?

Prayer Starters:

Be honest with God. Pray as He directs you. (Use the scriptures cited above.) If it seems appropriate, pray for yourself and / or other believers around the world who may also be struggling with their attitudes, ideas and actions toward Muslims.  Scriptures: Mt. 19:26, Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 12:1-2

A believer’s testimony

and some significant questions about Islam and Muslims

The author of the following paragraph loves Muslims very much.

“I want you to know that I have personally survived two attempts by Muslim extremist crowds to lynch me. Once in 1986 because I was a Westerner and once because of my witness concerning Jesus Christ in 1989. I have received more death threats from Muslim extremists than I can count. I have been arrested, I have had my home searched and my Bibles have been confiscated. The police have interrogated me about my faith and witness. I have close friends who have been tortured. I think I can honestly say that I have earned the right to say that I am not naïve about Muslim extremism. But I want to ask: What does our Christian faith say about the attitude we should have as believers toward Islam and Muslims in the world today?”

“I have received more

death threats from Muslim

extremists than I can count.”

Images we have

Joseph, the author of the previous paragraph, asks other questions: What image springs to the mind of most Christians when they think about Muslims? The Twin towers? Osama bin Laden? Are we called to defend “Christian civilisation” or are we willing to lay down our lives in love for Muslims and share with them the Good News of Jesus? Are we interested in self preservation or self-giving for the Gospel? Joseph believes that the Christian faith is primarily costly discipleship to Jesus Christ the Crucified. What do we believe? (See 1 Peter 3:15, Mark 8:34-35, Mt. 5:39 and 44.)*

In the words of Floyd McClung, there is a life-giving way to think and act concerning Islam and Muslims:

Radical Prayer – Pray with love and faith for Muslims to experience the mercy and grace of God.
Persevering Faith – Believe God to raise up committed, trained believers to take God’s message to Muslims and establish new groups of believers.
Extreme Sacrifice – The militancy of Muslims is best responded to by sacrificial love and a willingness to suffer and even die to make Jesus known.

Rather than responding in fear or disdain toward Muslims, McClung believes we should respond in the opposite spirit, in an attitude of Christ-like love. The “30 Days” movement shares this belief.

* Taken from the book “From Seed to Fruit,” pages 318-323. Published by William Carey Library, Pasadena, CA 2008.

Video: DanStevers.com

Consumer Worship from DanStevers.com on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/our-attitudes/feed/ 13 The Plight of Refugees and Refugee Women http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/refugee-women/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/refugee-women/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:01:26 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/refugee-women/ “A refugee is someone who because he/she fears persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or social opinion, leaves his/her country of origin and is unable to avail him/herself of the protection of that country.” United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Our ministry

Ministry to refugees is an important role for the church. We are commissioned to aid those in need. Many are sick, most lack shelter, food, clothing and other essentials of life, and often victimized. From a strategic viewpoint, it is often far easier to minister to refugees in more open nations than their original homelands, that are fraught with restrictions and conflict. Ministry to refugees ranges from providing donations of food, clothing and shelter, medical care, vocational skills training, evangelism and pastoral care, to name a few.

A good starting place is to contact your Government Department for Ethnic Affairs, the office of the UNHCR, plus the embassies of the nations already mentioned that are situated in your country. Inquire about the needs of refugees within their borders and how you can help. You can also contact large relief organizations such as Youth With A Mission, World Vision, Compassion International and many others, plus your own denomination’s relief arm. They can provide excellent leads and opportunities of where and how you can get involved.

The plight of women refugees

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified that of the 27 million refugees in the world, 80% are women and their dependent children. The needs of all refugees is heartbreaking but refugee women face particular hardship with poor living conditions, poverty and the lack of access to relief projects. In addition, refugee women face physical and emotional hardships such as isolation, discrimination, sexual violence and exploitation. Women are often left powerless and unable to rebuild their lives afresh.

Often a lack of understanding by relief workers (most of which are male) to the cultural and religious issues highlight the problems faced by many refugee women. One example of this was in a refugee camp and subsequent building of latrines. Latrines for both men and women were placed in the one area of the camp. It was not until some time later that it was noticed that the women were refusing to use the facilities provided. Upon asking the reason it was discovered that it was not possible for a Muslim woman to use a latrine where she would risk meeting men not from her immediate family.

In another camp it was observed that women were not able to approach the areas where food and supplies were being distributed because the women risked being exposed to non-family members.

Only those women who had a husband or older son were provided for. Many women lose their husbands and fathers as a result of war and conflicts. This disintegration of the family unit leaves the woman as the sole member responsible for generating income, providing shelter, finding food, firewood and water. These tasks are often complicated by the fact that women are excluded from the decision making process and leadership structures of their environment.

In the past few years relief agencies have begun to recognise the specific needs of refugee women and are dedicating relief and development resources to them such as gender awareness programs and special protection arrangements.

Reaching Muslim refugee women with the Gospel is not an easy task. There is a huge need for Christian women to work among the world’s refugee women.

Pray for refugees around the Muslim world

* Pray that those Muslims in need would find comfort and provision through Jesus Christ.

* Pray for the refugees that are you are aware of, ask God to meet their daily needs, and pray for the church to reach out in love and real concern. (Ps.86:1-8)

* Pray for the workers who are ministering God’s love among refugees and to know His leading as to how to share the Good News of Jesus.

* Pray that our own hearts will be moved with compassion to seek out our own involvement in meeting the needs of refugees. (Prov.17:5)

* Pray for mothers who have the added responsibilities of caring for their children in harsh and tragic circumstances (Psalm 9:9-10).

* Pray for women who are separated from their husbands, and for widows, that they would know God’s grace and comfort (Isaiah 54:5-7).

* Pray for those women who have suffered violation and shame, that they would experience restoration, healing and honor from God (Psalm 69:19 – 20).

* Pray for Refugee Women and refugee issues around the Muslim world.

Video: Media Voices

Education Emergencies from Media Voices on Vimeo.

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]]> http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/refugee-women/feed/ 1 AIDS and HIV victims among Muslims http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/aids-and-hiv-victims-among-muslims/ http://www.30-days.net/islam/issues/aids-and-hiv-victims-among-muslims/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:06:27 +0000 TDI http://30-days.net/reveal/aids-and-hiv-victims-among-muslims/ Secrecy, shame, fear, ostracism, death . . . those living with HIV and AIDS deal with these words on a daily basis. Today, among the world’s six billion people, 40 million are infected with HIV. Without prejudice to colour, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or religion, this disease touches people from all walks of life. Many are told in judgement that this is punishment for their sins. Among those guilty of such attitudes are some followers of both Christianity and Islam. Both faiths generally encourage acceptance and love of others in one way or another.

Political leaders and religious figures of some Muslim countries deny the presence of HIV / AIDS in their nations, claiming their immunity to the virus. This attitude stems from Qu’ranic teachings prohibiting sex before and outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and intravenous drug use. The unrelenting refusal to acknowledge the HIV crisis adversely affects the people contracting, living, and dying of HIV and AIDS in Muslim communities.

Consider these HIV / AIDS instances:

Abdul tests positive for HIV. He is beaten unconscious by his brothers and then disowned because of the shame he brought on his family. Abdul’s story is not uncommon among the Muslim community. The possibility of persecution keeps many from getting tested for HIV. Without this knowledge, they continue to unknowingly spread the disease to others.

The nature of Islamic belief adds to the complexity of the problem. Because women are perceived as a temptation, men and women have minimal interaction and communication. There is a culture of silence surrounding sexual practices and education. Such attempts at maintaining morality ironically often encourage additional sexual corruption in the Muslim community.

Reshma and HIV / AIDS

Reshma lives on the street. Her daughter’s weak cry fills the air. She was married and lived in an affluent neighbourhood. One year ago Reshma’s husband died. Six months later when her daughter was born, Reshma found out she was HIV positive. Blamed for her husband’s death, Reshma was forced to leave home. She is now suffering from AIDS, unable to care for herself or her daughter. This burden of blame often falls upon the woman despite the fact that the husband’s infidelity led to his being exposed to HIV.

HIV / AIDS Statistics

* 25 million children will be orphans by 2010 because of AIDS (called AIDS orphans). Africa has 12 million AIDS Orphans.

* 2.9 million people died from AIDS last year; nearly half a million were children under the age of 15

* 4.8 million people were newly infected with HIV last year; that’s 14,000 a day!

* 38 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS

* 70 million deaths from AIDS are estimated in the next 20 years

(Sources: UNAIDS/WHO 2006 Report on the global AIDS epidemic – opens a new window.)

Pray for AIDS and HIV victims

* Victims like Abdul and Reshma – that they would fully experience compassion and as a result, the message of Christ would penetrate their hearts. Believers to provide scripture-based counselling and support before, during, and after HIV testing.

* Key leaders in Muslim countries/communities who have a great deal of power and influence to acknowledge HIV and provide education, treatment and support for victims.

* Children orphaned by AIDS deaths and children with HIV to know God as their heavenly father and to be “cared for in their distress” (James 1:27; Ps. 68:5).

* The development and implementation of character-based programs in Muslim communities promoting abstinence and trust in God’s design for sexual fulfilment.

 

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