Please Pray Again

Ramadan 2017

Friday, May 26 - Saturday, June 24

      It's that time of year again. Ramadan. It is the Muslim month of fasting during daylight hours trying to afflict themselves in a way that might earn Allah's favor. Notice that word, "might".

Ramadan is here again.

     For two years now I've tried to organize an email-based prayer chain especially during Ramadan. Of course, the purpose has been to try and stir the hearts of the followers of Jesus to pray earnestly for the salvation of Muslims. To be honest, if I may, both years have been disappointing as only a small handful have stated that they would like to be a part of the endeavor. This year, I decided not to repeat the effort.

     Today marks almost exactly the "middle" of this year's Ramadan. The airports have been brimming full with Muslims. Here in India, all major airports have entirely separate terminals functioning on a temporary basis to accommodate all the millions of Muslims traveling during this time. I watch them as they stroll through the terminals just like you and me. Men are hurrying along because they have business to attend to, women struggle with overloaded carts of luggage, and children bounce along thrilled by their flying experience. When it's all said and done though, their trips to Mecca fail to satisfy the true longing in their hearts.

     The suffering with no food or water in this intense heat didn't do anything to get them any closer to their god. In fact, that's one of the things they "praise" Allah for -- he cannot be boxed in. Regardless of how good you live and all the good you may do, he is "tricky". At the very last moment he can pitch you into hell regardless of your goodness.  Not because of a hidden sin in your life, no.  Rather because it's his privilege to be capricious and unconcerned about humanity. Supposedly he shows his power by proving that he is beholden to no one. "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.... Oops! This one's got to go!" So, that's it. You're gone. Tough luck. You should have tried harder.... Well, no, not really. It wouldn't have mattered.  Remember, Allah likes to do those surprising things just because he can....  

     Perhaps my email "campaign" would have gotten more response if I had asked people to remember the victims of the recent terrorist attacks.  Perhaps some may have been more interested in marching against the incursion of Islamic sharia law into our U. S. legal system (thousands are marching this weekend for that very reason). Or, maybe more would have joined if I had focused upon ending hunger in the Third World...

     No, none of those things would have made a difference. Because the difference is, well, indifference! We're too busy, too unconcerned and too tired of it all to really consider the plight of the lost. I've been in a lot of missions services in my lifetime. I've heard powerful sermons on the Great Commission and Jesus' command to take the Gospel to the whole world. I've seen thousands of tears cried during these services. But in the end, someone has to turn out the lights in the church house, lock the doors, and everyone goes home. And that's the end of the great majority of concerns for the lost. That is a tragedy of the highest magnitude!

     What will you do about this tragedy? How will you respond to the need of 1.5 billion human souls without hope? They make up nearly 1/4 of the population of the world. Does that not matter?  It does to God.  And it will to those who truly love God.

Here's a starter for Christians in America to pray about:  This is one ranking of the most Muslim-dense cities in our nation.

1.  Detroit, Michigan
2.  Washington, D. C.
3.  Cedar Rapids, Iowa
4.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5.  New York, New York
6.  Atlanta, Georgia
7.  Peoria, Illinois
8.  San Francisco, California
9.  Houston, Texas
10.  Chicago, Illinois
11.  Cleveland, Ohio
12.  Columbus, Georgia
13.  Toledo, Ohio
14.  Boston, Massachusetts
15.  Lansing, Michigan
16.  Los Angeles, California
17.  Buffalo, New York
18.  New Orleans, Louisiana
19.  Albany, Georgia
20.  Columbia, Missouri
21.  Nashville, Tennessee
22.  Dallas, Texas
23.  South Bend, Indiana
24.  Grand Rapids, Michigan
25.  Hattiesburg, Mississippi
26.  St. Louis, Missouri
27.  Knoxville, Tennessee
28.  Shreveport, Louisiana
29.  Lincoln, Nebraska
30.  Anchorage, Alaska

     I've preached in churches in some of these cities. I have friends that live very near many of these cities. And I think a majority of readers of this blog aren't too far from one of these major Muslim-population centers.

     What will we do about it? When will we begin? What will be our excuse when we stand in the Judgment and answer to God for our lack of effort?

May God burden our hearts,

Beyond Frontiers