Central Asian Part 2
May 20, 2010
The early morning hour came much noticed for the open window, which I slept next to, revealed not sunlight, as to which is my custom, but the sounds of darkness and fear. A song being sung to summon lost and fearful sheep to p to a false g. The sheep are the Turkish people and their false god – the masquerade of Satan. The peoples of Central Asia are, by most accounts, extremely lost to a holy and righteous G and enslaved to the evil one and to the fear he projects. “Allah,” the false g, is one that is remote, distant and unaffectionate toward human beings. Yet the people continue to pray five times a day to a g that holds his people in bondage to sin. The news which we are so blessed to carry and speak is one of good news and liberation from the power of sin that leads to repentance and salvation. Today we learned of the combined efforts for the work of Central Asia for the ”Company” and the ********* being created to foster creative access to unreached areas of Central Asia. What an encouragement in the past twenty years to see the L draw the lost to Himself.
Today also brought with it a helpful dialogue and continued relationship with M U’s Faculty of Theo. The vice-dean of the faculty hosted our team at the u with two American educated, English speaking lecturers and translators. Following introductions and pleasantries, we engaged the Islamic theologians with questions about the relationship between Islam and Ch. One gainful insight from the time spent with these gentlemen is that this u (which is state sponsored) painted a picture of Islam that was mild and lukewarm; a post-modern form of Islam, if you will, that sought to encourage missionary work toward atheists and secularists and not one another. Certainly, a surprising insight for this faculty to allude and frankly deceptive. Some questions about the role of J arose in the dialogue and the faculty had no sustainable response to inquiries regarding the Qu’ran’s recognition of the Gospels as divine revelation and the words of J as divine and not necessarily the Gospel writers themselves. No reconciliation was made to try and understand J’s statement that He and the F are one. The unity of “Allah” is a central tenent of Islam and for the faculty to skirt the issue reveals one opportunity for the Gospel to be better understood by the faculty.
Walking about the former C brought to mind the many historical sites and the incredibly large influence Christianity had on this region of the world. This was once the center of all C-dom and now it is one of the least reached areas in the “10-40” window, let alone the world. Watching the lost looks in the face of Central Asians, I see a foreshadow of C’s judgment seat, and the result is damning. Hence the urgency of the Gospel to reach every tribe and tongue upon the earth is very real. G is a G who is worthy of not only our American worship but the worship of every nation. Let His name go out exalted above all other names and let the earth be filled with the praises 0f our King.
