Recently the Back to God Ministries International Arabic outreach team received a very angry and threatening text message from a Jordanian Muslim man in response to a radio discussion on Jesus' teaching about prayer.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words" (Matt. 6:7).
Although the program did not mention Islam or Muslim prayers, it apparently touched a nerve. Faithful Muslims are required to pray five times a day, repeating the same words again and again as they face Mecca.
The staff's first reaction was to ignore the angry message. But it troubled them and they began to pray for the young man. Then they sent him a text-message reply, referring to Jesus' teaching on forgiveness.
In three days, the young man responded. This time his message had a much different tone. He apologized for his previous message and promised to study the teachings of Issa (Jesus) in the New Testament.
A member of the BTGMI Arabic staff wrote: "The young man's religion does not have a doctrine of forgiveness. Those who become the children of God must pray for those who persecute them. By God's grace, we were able to touch the young man's life with the gospel of love and forgiveness."
About the Author
Nancy Vander Meer is a staff writer with Back to God Ministries International in Grand Rapids, Mich.
