Posted in HeidebeekIndonesia MinistriesMission Indonesia
Now that the rainy season has ended the dry season has begun, our garden furniture is once again outside and the parasol is open. As purebred Dutchies we get the itch to go and sit outside as much as possible as soon as we see the first rays of sun. We love this! The only thing is that this country, with the largest Muslim population in the world means we have to be more aware of what we say then back home in The Netherlands. It would for instance “stand out” if we were to talk about “Christians” and “Muslims” or use religious terms in our conversations, that would be very strange. This is why we (workers) make use of code words.
So here’s an introduction class to code language: Bible = the book. MBB’s = Muslim background believers. C’s = Christians. For Muslims we use the term cousins. I think this code word has been chosen very well. It helps me in how I look to Muslims, instead of creating a divide, “we” versus “them” or “the ones with the beards”, by using the word cousins we speak that we are all distant relatives. And actually we have more similarities with one another then we often think.
These are the things we always try to reinforce when we have conversations with Muslims. We take our similarities as a starting point, to create a bridge. One of the things we and they believe in is Abraham, and that one day he needed to sacrifice his son (which son we leave open) and that God intervened and provided a replacement sacrifice. Another similarity, and perhaps the most crucial, is that Christians, Muslims and many others try to answer the same life questions, namely: how can I be accepted by God?
The month Ramadan, clearly shows the direction the Muslims take to answer this question. They obey the five pillars of Islam: speak out their creed, pray five times per day, give alimony, the pilgrimage to Mecca and fasting during the month of Ramadan are all parts of this. Fanatically they begin the first week. Between Sunrise and Sunset they fast from food and drink. The mosque is visited more frequently on other day than Friday. The daily call to prayer is longer. I think you could say that the Muslims here in Indonesia live more intensely. More intensely focused on doing what is good and leaving the bad. And more intensely focused on Allah.
There are beautiful things you can witness during Ramadan: people give (more than usual) to the poor and less fortunate, people stand in solidarity with each other and there is much more togetherness, people eat with one another (after sunset), people believe this is month is the month of new beginnings, so neighbours and family members go past one another to ask forgiveness for things they have unwittingly done to each other in order to start again with a clean slate. You could compare this a bit to our Christmas holidays: being together, decorations, firework, good food, family visits, free from school. It brings a cosy atmosphere with it.
But yet, even during this month, the most important question remains unanswered, because are you accepted by God? During your life you will never be sure (Insha’ Allah). “only Allah knows that. Let’s hope upon his grace”. But that hope “seems to be at odds with that my hope, because I have the certainty that we are accepted by the sacrifice of Jesus are called by God and are called His children. Let us pray that the God of hope making Himself known to the nations.
