There are a few things I find difficult to explain to
my Muslim friends.
Miracles: If
you check back on my post "Spared" you will recognize God did a mighty miracle
sparing my life. Others on the accident scene verbally declared it was a
miracle and I, too, knew without a doubt a miracle had taken place. You can’t
keep a miracle to yourself when it happens. Suddenly I found myself explaining
the miracle to Muslim friends. Previously miracles had been described from the
past but this one was fresh and they didn’t know how to respond. Most just
stared at me and were speechless. “Qismat,” many would conclude, simply
believing in predetermined course of events, fate or destiny. The way they said
qismat was devoid of emotion. Others
made comments like, “You were spared because you are so nice,” or “I’m so
sorry.” “For what?” I inquired. “God did a miracle. He’s very great!” Most only
shuddered at the danger and didn’t catch God’s greatness in it all. Some gave superstitious
responses like Haneen who said, “In my religion I would wipe my face 7 times,
put an egg on the road to avert further calamity and give money to the poor.”
It is not easy to explain a miracle. When a miracle happens and we are caught
up in awe we aren’t preoccupied with teaching doctrine. The story of our
miracle just spills out in a raw form of wonder and awe sounding like mumble
jumble.
Doctrine: I
find it difficult to explain our Triune God to my Muslim friends. How does one
adequately explain sin, the incarnation, grace, salvation, unconditional love,
atonement, His resurrection, and a host of other doctrinal issues? Most
everything is not heard or understood clearly or rebutted. There are many apologetic
type of books written which lay out explanations with logic and precision but
when we try to actually explain our great salvation we discover it is not easy.
Mysteries are hard to explain. Nevertheless I continue to rely on the Holy
Spirit to give utterance to me and understanding and faith to the hearer.
My Job: “What do you do?” is one of the first questions
I am asked. This is a difficult thing to explain to my Muslim friends. That’s because they can’t understand my
explanation very well. If I said I’m a nurse, day care worker, or an ESL
teacher it would be much easier for them to grasp. But when I say, “I work with
the Church and I teach the Bible to whoever is interested and pray for people”
they try to figure that one out. It leads to interesting conversations for
sure. Sometimes I am tempted to evade their question to make it easier for me
but after many years in this ministry I have found it is more beneficial to be
direct about my calling. They know where to turn when they have a need or a
spiritual question.
I wish everything would be easier to explain. But if
it was easy I would not be dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Dear heavenly Father, keep me dependent on Your
Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dear heavenly Father, keep me dependent on Your
Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 
