A couple of days ago we were given the
task of planting seeds in the ground. While I was hunched over in
the scorching sun digging through the dirt with my bare hands I had a
lot of time to think about all the farming parables Jesus used.
In one parable Jesus talked about how
the same seed scattered into different soils would yield different
results. In order for the seed to grow and produce fruit the soil
had to be loose, rock free, and weed free. It was far more work to
get the soil ready for seeds than it was to plant the seeds.
We had to get rid of the trees in the
area and drag the wood off, then we had to cut down the grass that
was growing in the field, either with a machete or with the tractor.
Then we had to loosen the soil up with a hoe or with the tiller. This
was days of work, but it had to be done or the seeds would not be
able to grow.
I think this is very inductive of what
ministry here in Southeast Asia has looked like. Evangelism is very
relational and this mostly Muslim nation, Christian Missionaries are
not received with open arms. Because of the hardened hearts of the
people here most of the people we meet don’t know the real reason we
are here.
While our ministry is in part to help
raise money for the churches in KL, we also get to work side by side
with Manik and Nosedrul, two Muslim farm workers from Bangladesh. We
get to show them God’s love for them, pray for them and pray for the
opportunity to share the gospel and plant a seed.
In the same way that seeds planted
before the soil is ready will not bear fruit, we are cautious not to
try to cram Christianity down their throats. It takes a great deal
of faith to just live out what we believe instead of standing up and
proclaiming the Gospel like we did in Africa, but this is the same
way that we will be sharing it back home It takes a great deal of
faith to work the soil and wait for God to plant the seed, but that
is what we have been asked to do this month.
If we can show that Christian Americans
love Muslims and that we accept them where they are at, then maybe we
can change their outlook on Jesus and start to soften their “soil”.
