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).
Our main section on Indonesia is found here →
Video: DanStevers.com
The Apostles from DanStevers.com on Vimeo.
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I just found another video about our ministry. I mention it because the author was a missionary in Pakistan and understands the need for prayer.
Here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/5948911
IN REMEBRANCE OF ME…
Praise the Lord, Acts 2:42 are lived and how I wish that we would come back to this simple living out our faith, in our Western Culture. Our prayers do work and when I read such testimony, I know that our Intercessions were not vain. Thank you, Master, amen.
This wonderful and beautiful description of an Ekklesia gathering of community, worship, sharing (including a meal) is what an increasing number of us believe that God is calling His people worldwide back to the model (not the culture!) of the early church. (“Give me my Church back” and “The end of the Roman way”) God is calling His worldwide church away from ‘institutionalism’ and back to ‘organism’ which is how it began, and it is Biblical! It is also so especially appropriate for places where Christians are a persecuted minority, just as it was at the start. No hierarchy, no buildings, no salaried staff, but totally participatory and with all the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit operating. As an incidental ‘by-product’, just think of the vast monetary giving resource that was made available for God’s work and His people, as well as other expressions of love to unbelievers. Perhaps even no more appeals for money? Wow!
Thank you for the research, prayer and passion you have invested in preparing these daily prayer reminders. As a worker among Muslims, could I suggest that you avoid the phrase ‘former Muslims’ ? Our observation is that Islam is no longer only a religion but also a culture. When we learned the language of our people group, they said we spoke “Muslim”. When we ate their food or dressed like them we ate and dressed “Muslim”. When they become believers, they do not turn their back on that aspect of their perceived “Muslim” behaviour. Just as Jewish believers in the Messiah still consider themselves Jewish culturally and some still follow Jewish dietary customs etc, Muslim background believers may still consider themselves Muslim culturally. The term “former Muslims” seems to imply that they are no longer Muslim in faith or culture.
The most common alternate term used among workers is “Muslim background believers (MBB).” Some other possible descriptive terms are “Muslim believers in the Messiah” or “Muslims following the Messiah” or “Messianic Muslims”.
Phyllis, thank you for your note. I really like the term Messianic Muslim.