Lessons to Missionaries to Resistent Peoples Part 5: Ignore the Rumors

This paragraph is taken from the Book “53 years in Syria”. You can read it by going to www.arabicbible.com.

When he reached Jaffa, March 29, 1825, the town was full of rumours as to the object of his labours. He and Dr. Jonas King were reported to pay ten piastres (forty cents) a head for converts, and that these ten piastres were self-perpetuating, and always remained the same however much the convert expended. Others said the -missionaries drew pictures of their converts, and if one went back to his old religion, they would shoot the picture, and the renegade would drop dead. A Moslem heard that they hired men to worship the devil, and said he would come and bring a hundred others with him. “What?” said his friend, “would you worship the devil?” “Yes,” said he, “if I were paid for it.”

Today in North Africa the Muslims believe that missionaries here pay for converts by giving them cash, a job, or  visa to Europe. One judge told a believer friend when on trial for his faith that if he had been a Christian and turned Muslim in Europe or America that he would be killed but he, the judge, would be merciful with him.

It is so comical to me how these lies haven’t changed for almost 200 years!

The common reaction is to worry about what the Muslim is thinking and react by not helping at all. The best thing, I have found, is to think on those who are open to the Gospel and what they are thinking. They are asking the questions and wanting answers. Their hearts are pure. If you react to lies you’ll always be running and dodging. Just move forward to preach the Gospel.

 

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