Towards Reconciliation

Eid Al Adha

On September 8, 2018

Eid Al Adha is one of the two main holidays in the Muslim world (the other being the celebration of the end of the fasting month of Ramadan). Adha means “sacrifice” in Arabic, and this holiday celebrates the Islamic version of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22). I asked several Muslim friends to explain to me the significance of this holiday for them. They believe that God called Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael (thought to be the father of the Arabs), and that at the last minute he provided a sheep in his place. If he hadn’t provided the sheep, then good Muslims would be required to sacrifice their own firstborn. But since God provided the sheep, they celebrate by slaughtering sheep. And the sheep must be at least a few years old, in good health, no injuries or blemishes, etc. Sound familiar?

Why must the sheep be “spotless”? I don’t know, and my Muslim friends don’t seem to know either. You see, Mohammed appropriated bits of the Old Testament story without a clear understanding of the meaning. The Qur’an includes bits from many of the biblical prophets, but without the redemptive thread. It’s just a bunch of stories and instructions with one overarching point – obey God and believe in Mohammed his prophet or go to Hell. You can’t know God, you can’t really love God, but you CAN and MUST fear and obey him. And on the Day of Judgement, if God wills he will send you to Heaven and if not he will send you to Hell. There is the idea of a set of scales, with good deeds on one side and bad deeds on the other. The hope is that the good deeds outweigh the bad, but know one knows.

I had a discussion with an Arab Muslim friend about assurance of salvation. I told him I know I am going to heaven, I have no doubt. The Bible offers that kind of assurance (read 1 John, especially 5:13!). But he said it’s impossible to know, and it’s arrogant to presume to know. “If God wills” could be the ultimate summary statement of Islam. And the god of Islam is an arbitrary god.

All that being said, this holiday is a time people look forward to. People buy new clothes, and over the 3 days of the holiday they visit family, friends and neighbors. Food is often shared around, and there are lots of sweets. Kids go around in groups from house to house to get candy and sweets (like some kind of Chadian Halloween without the costumes). The first day of celebration begins with mandatory prayers, and then the sheep (or sheeps, if you are wealthy enough) are slaughtered after proclaiming “Allah hu akbar” (“God is the greatest”) three times. Every bit of meat (including intestines, liver, stomach, etc.) is eaten – some grilled, some cooked over a fire in a sauce. And of course, afterwards there’s tea.

I visited my friend Abdou’s family this year, bringing Judah and Calla Grace. Kimberly stayed home with Isaac, who was sick. The picture above is in a room of his parents house where we sat and talked while the kids tried to finish off all of the candy, cookies and dates. The wood carving of Africa is a gift I had given Abdou a long time ago because he likes maps.

We stayed a couple of hours at Abdou’s parents’ house, talking, eating and walking around outside seeing how green the world has become during the rainy season. The kids especially enjoyed that part.

A Note on the “Christian” West

By josh

On July 23, 2018

In Culture, Islam, Ministry

Nasraani (pl. nasaara) is what they call us here. Not just us, but anyone white from Europe or North America. It is a reference to Nazareth, as in Jesus of Nazareth. Essentially it means “Christian.” Let that sink in for a moment. The UN workers who come to Chad for humanitarian reasons, and who also drink alcohol and live generally worldly lives – “Christians.” The French military, in Chad for over a century now, who drink alcohol, eat pork, and visit not-so-reputable women – “Christians.” The people in movies produced by Hollywood – all “Christians.”

Something important to understand about Islam is that it’s not simply a religion, concerning itself with matters of faith. Islam is a culture, a political system, a religion – it’s a way of life. You are born into Islam (when your Father whispers the Muslim “shahada”, or testimony in your ear as a baby), you don’t choose it. And you don’t leave. There is no separation between church and state. Because of this, people who’ve grown up as Muslims assume that Christianity is the same way. And they look at the “Christian” West and see rampant immorality tolerated, even celebrated, and this is what they think being a Christian means. Of course many Muslims misunderstand the concept of the Trinity, assuming we are polytheists who’ve associated other creatures (Jesus, Mary) with the one God. But along with that they see the filth churned out by Hollywood, the immorality celebrated in western culture, the general cultural ignorance (not to mention immodesty) of Americans who travel abroad, and this is what Christianity is in their minds.

So what’s my point? Should we avoid the word “Christian” at all costs, as many in missions today suggest? I don’t think so. It’s a biblical word. It has 2000 years of history (although admittedly that also brings baggage). But we must work to distinguish the true from the false, and recover the original definition of the word from when it was first used at Antioch (Acts 11:26) – those who follow Jesus with all their hearts and consider it a great privilege to be associated with him and called by his name.

The Critical Role of the Sending Church

By josh

On July 12, 2018

In church, Ministry

Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.

Andrew Fuller, on describing William Carey’s charge to the elders of his sending church on the eve of his departure for India

Having a church behind us that had walked with us through the process (of preparation for cross-cultural missions), asked us the hard questions, prayed for us, and ultimately affirmed us was crucial. When we started the process, we didn’t have this. We were involved in a church plant with an old friend. We eventually left after realizing it was not a healthy situation and began our search for a solid, bible-preaching and obeying church. We eventually joined GCC and submitted our desire to the elders for consideration. Kimberly and I agreed that whatever the elders decided, we would submit to. We knew they would prayerfully and biblically consider our desire to serve and would guide us accordingly. If we were going to be cross-cultural missionaries, it would be a joint decision with the elders of GCC and with the backing of the entire GCC body. We would not be self-sent, no matter what kind of calling we sensed from God. The work of missions is the work of the local church, and it must be done under the accountability of the local church. When our elders asked us, twice, to push back our launch date for continued discussion and evaluation, we agreed. God blessed our submission and, in the end, spared us the difficulty of arriving in our new country of service just in time to be kicked out along with all the other Christian workers. We eventually were sent (to a different country) and have been supported wonderfully in every way. Now, when I am discouraged to the point of doubting my calling and thinking we’re crazy to have moved our family here, I am upheld by God’s grace in knowing that we were affirmed and sent by the leadership of our church and that the whole church is holding the rope for us as we descend into this darkness with the light of God’s Word.

A Prayer

By josh

On July 10, 2018

In Ministry, Prayer

Found this email today from Kimberly back in 2011… kimberly email 2011

I was, at that time, on a bus heading from Khartoum, Sudan south to another town where we hoped to open a language center. We didn’t know at the time, but I (along with 2 guys with me) would be arrested, interrogated from around 4PM to 2AM, have passports, phone, etc. taken, and then finally sent back the following day to Khartoum. That was in the first few days of my first vision trip to Sudan, back when we thought we would be working there.

EU Factsheet on Chad

By josh

On July 10, 2018

In Chad

Chad faces numerous challenges: food and nutrition insecurity, forced population displacement, climate change (especially drought), epidemics (hepatitis E, cholera) and chronic poverty. As a result, about 4.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Four million people are affected by food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in the Sahel belt, a situation that each year worsens during the lean season from June to September. About one million people are in need of emergency food assistance, with over 230 000 cases of severe acute malnutrition. In 12 out of 23 regions, global acute malnutrition exceeds the critical threshold of 15% set by the World Health Organization. For severe malnutrition, 15 regions are over the emergency threshold of 2%.

Violence and conflicts in Chad’s neighbouring countries (Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan) have led to an influx of over 440 000 refugees and asylum-seekers; however, as one of the poorest countries in the world, Chad’s capacity to care for them is extremely limited.

Read full factsheet here…

Meditation on Jeremiah 19:4

By josh

On July 9, 2018

In Bible, Islam, Ministry

Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known…

In contrast to their idols, the God of Israel is known. He is a person. He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. He called Abraham and sent him to an unknown land, later promising to give the land to his descendants. He heard the cries of Abraham’s descendants in Egypt. He dwelt with Israel in the desert, through the cloud and fire. He battled the inhabitants of the Promised Land on behalf of Israel. And Judah (as well as Israel) turned away from this God to serve the Baals. What foolishness! Yet how foolish are we, even more so than the people of Judah, when we forsake Jesus, the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15), the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells bodily (Col2:9) to serve empty idols! We have the New Covenant fulfilled in Jesus, righteousness in exchange for our wickedness, salvation in exchange for condemnation, life in exchange for death. That God can be known, in Jesus, seems to many an unthinkable proposition. Muslims are not allowed to even entertain this possibility. God is the greatest? For sure. They say this 5 times per day every day. God is powerful? Of course, he wouldn’t be God if he wasn’t. God is sovereign? “God willed it” they agree in fatalistic acquiescence to sorrow and pain. But God is knowable? How can this be? God as loving Father? Impossible to believe. But some have. And many more are hearing.

Would you pray that God would grant belief and repentance to those who are hearing about his great love for them in Christ Jesus our Lord?

josh

The Blessing of MAF

By josh

On May 15, 2018

In Chad, Family

Last Tuesday afternoon, as we were packing and preparing for the long car trip from Abeche to N’Djamena that were were anticipating making on Friday or Saturday, I happened to glance at my email and noticed an email from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), who operate a couple of small planes in Chad to assist missionaries and other non-profit workers with transportation. The email said they had a flight coming to Abeche on Wednesday, and then returning to N’Djamena on Thursday, and that they had seats available. Very interesting. The last time we made this car trip across the country it involved 14 hours of driving, several of those in the dark. And driving in the dark in Chad is not fun at all. Donkeys have died. Anyway, we were dreading the trip but there aren’t a lot of options. Normally to get a MAF flight, if there’s not one already scheduled, you have to charter it. That means paying for the entire plane, which usually means a couple thousand dollars. It didn’t even cross our minds to fly because we don’t have the money. But when someone else charters the plane, and shares the costs, it starts getting tempting. So we found ourselves on Tuesday afternoon scrambling to tie up loose ends so that we could fly to the capital on Thursday, and from there we’ll fly to Europe for a few weeks of meetings/vacation before returning to Abeche mid-June. And a very generous supporter paid for our flight, which was inexpensive for adults, half-price for the kids, and Norah was free.

Picnic with friends

By josh

On May 6, 2018

In Chad, Family

We had a great time in the hills just outside of town this afternoon with some friends who will soon be leaving for furlough for a year. It’s pretty much paradise for our boys, with so many places to run and climb and hide.

When we head for the hills, we never know who we’ll run across. We seem to attract a little attention. This guy rode up on his horse and was very friendly.

The setting sun finally gave us a break from the extreme heat, which has had the added pleasure of humidity lately.

Neighborhood Friends

By kimberly

On May 2, 2018

In Chad, Family, Kid's Corner, Ministry

We have been back in Chad a little over three months, and it seems like the months have flown by! The kids have adjusted really well and picked right back up with their neighbor friends. They participate in an Arabic lesson 3 times a week and include their friends in the lesson. It has been encouraging to not only see their Arabic improve, but their confidence and desire to learn more and more. Equally encouraging, Isaac specifically asks often about his friend’s beliefs. His closest friends here go to Quranic school three times each day! We are saddened by the reality that these children we love – and who have been a blessing to our family – are growing up right next to us without knowing the Truth of the gospel. Isaac has asked me to think of ways to talk to them about Jesus. He is concerned that they don’t know the one, true God. So, after we return from our travels next month, I hope to start sharing audio Bible stories in Arabic and provide a time for discussion with these young boys.

Thank God for our children’s adjustment and growth in Arabic.

Thank Him for providing them with friends who are respectful and trustworthy.

Thank God for Isaac’s heart to share the gospel with his friends whom he loves.

Pray that the story times will be well- received, and that the Truth will begin to sink into the hearts of these young boys.

Piper on “Risking Your Kids for the Kingdom”

By josh

On October 23, 2017

In Bible, Family, Ministry, Suffering

Oh how strange this sounds to our American ears…

Or when you think about “providing for your household,” what about providing practice in self-denial and risk? After all, doesn’t Proverbs say, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)? Perhaps we lose too many of our children because they weren’t trained as soldiers. Maybe we trained them in comfort and security, and now they won’t leave it.

Or what about providing for the young ones the way Deuteronomy 11:19 says? Teach them the wartime manual of life when you are walking among the hostile hearers, and when you lie down under the mosquito nets, and when you rise in the 95-degree heat. Come, my precious children, learn from mommy and daddy what it means to live with joy in the service of the King.
No matter how many Western, comfort-assuming, security-demanding, risk-avoiding Christians think otherwise, the truth is that there are worse risks for our children than death. This is simple Bible-reality. Not easy. Just simple. It is not complex or hard to grasp. There are things vastly worse than death. Wasting your life is worse than losing it.

Read the full blog post here…

Desiring God – Risking Your Kids for the Kingdom?