Rickshaws to Unity in a Foreign Land
We hired two rickshaws to get to D and M’s house. (D was the ruling elder of a mission church in Central Asia.) They had invited us to their house for dinner the last night we were in the port city. . .all eleven of us—eight adults and three children. L was in the first rickshaw and A in the second. L’s rickshaw driver made one wrong turn after another, which took some time to correct. Finally, we wound our way into a narrow road with the doors of the buildings opening right onto the street. We stepped out of the rickshaws and directly into D’s home where he greeted all of us with his expansive smile and enthusiastic handshakes. M welcomed the women among us with warm hugs and kisses. We were ushered into a large entryway then into another room where we were given seats of honor, while everyone else sat on the floor.
After a time of conversation, the group sang Psalm 32 in their local language. “What blessedness belongs to him who has forgiven been. . . .” We all listened to short messages from D, V, A, and MW. D noted the unity of the body of believers because of our oneness in Christ. V encouraged us to remain steadfast in the faith. A reminded us of the importance of gathering together for worship and not forsaking public worship. MW challenged us to love one another and to let our love and care for one another be an important means by which others come to know about true Christianity. We thanked God for the food, then we ate the delicious food served up on beautiful platters. It was a potluck. Some of the women had been preparing food all day.
D’s message about unity related to the cultural practices of the majority religion where we gathered. Here we were, roughly twenty-five people—men, women and children—in one room, eating together in close proximity and enjoying each other’s presence, even though some of us couldn't understand each other without a translator. Most of these people were related to each other by marriage or blood, but the majority religion in this country strictly forbids the mixing of men and women, even of family members. For almost two weeks we had experienced that separation in the local markets and at one other home. Women are expected to send their men to shop for groceries. Sometimes they even send their men to shop for clothing, although we saw women in western-style malls. When men go to visit their friends, they stay in the men’s meeting room by the front door and see only that room and the curtain that separates them from the rest of the house. When women go out, they are expected to be accompanied by a male relative.
Two days before this meal we heard D’s testimony concerning his name. The name he now uses was a corruption of the name his parents gave him—but now he embraces it. His new name has come to be associated with his good character and integrity. By it his colleagues have reconsidered their former prejudices against Christianity and now hold a higher opinion of Christians than before they knew D.
One of the women told me about the job she has tutoring children in a family from the majority religion. She said the parents were prejudiced against her because of her Christian faith. When some items went missing from the household, she was immediately accused of stealing those items. She was no longer welcomed in their home and had to find another place to tutor the children. After a period of time, the lost items were found in a relative’s home. Now she is tutoring the children in the family’s home again. The parents have not only changed their minds about their children’s tutor, but also about Christianity.
She went on to tell me about the church’s newly elected deacon. He is a trained doctor but was falsely accused under the country’s blasphemy laws, laws that protect the majority religion from insults. This deacon felt it necessary to flee to another country and live in exile for several years. Even though much time has passed, some still remember him. It has been impossible for him to find a job. He would like to rent a space where he can open his own clinic.
I spoke to a teen-aged girl who privately sang some of the Christmas carols for me which she learned at her Catholic school. Then she listened with a smile on her face as I sang Psalm 23 for her. Finally, she asked for a scary story. So I told her the story of Abraham and the smoking pot that passed through the pieces of sacrificed animals. I connected that story with the death of Jesus on the cross. Her pastor is teaching her and other youth the Westminster Shorter Catechism each week.
It was late when the rickshaws arrived to take us back to the guest house. This time the rickshaws were led by the deacon riding on a motorcycle so that we made no more wrong turns. In the same way, we are looking to the Holy Spirit to lead the Christians we met in this port city in the way of truth and the love of Jesus Christ.