Burdened with baggage
March 2, 2020
When I was born again into the Kingdom of God at age 34, I first experienced the clear conviction of sin that revealed to me to a God I didn’t know – except that He was calling me into relationship. In an instant, I became a new creation (2 Co 5:17), and that launched me into a process of no longer conforming to the world’s pattern but being transformed by the renewing of my mind (Ro 12:2). I was a child of the rebellious ‘60s and had to repent (turn) from that mindset and learn instead about the nature of the King and the rights He had over my life, now that I’d received Him as Savior and Lord. I had to enact new vocabulary (e.g. submission, holiness, consecration), discover who I am in the Kingdom (e.g. an overcomer, a king and priest, an ambassador) and figure out how to fit and function with my specific gifts and assignments in this new community (Ro 12:3-21). Almost four decades later, I’m still “in process”!
Coming into the Kingdom is more than being saved from going to hell. It includes healing and deliverance to the point of shalom (wholeness). That doesn’t happen completely at once. Everyone has to go through the process of becoming Christlike under the patient guidance of the Holy Spirit. Muslims are no different. Because of the nature of Islam, Muslims can bring certain kinds of baggage along with them into the Kingdom of light that can hinder their walk with Christ, leave them open to spiritual attack and isolate them.
When I was in the kingdom of darkness, licence disguised as freedom ruled me. I had to learn to obey out of love for Jesus (Jn 14:15) and submit within the body of Christ out of reverence for Him (Eph 5:21). Muslims already understand submission. Women in Islam learn to submit to fathers, husbands and male religious leaders out of fear of hellfire in the afterlife and physical abuse, divorce and abandonment in the present. Some converts can’t fully believe Jesus loves them and isn’t going to punish them, so they default to works and do not grow in their faith. They’ve brought fear with them into the Kingdom (1 Jn 4:18). Some others love Jesus and operate powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit but are so done with being controlled by abusive men and abusive religion that they refuse effective oversight and flit from one church community to another. They’ve brought their anger and unforgiveness into the Kingdom. (Neither condition is exclusive to former Muslims.)
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…for I am gentle…” (Mt 11:28-29).
Lord Jesus, You see the hearts of women (Ge 16:13) coming out of Islam. Send the Spirit of counsel and comfort to help them in their journey to become like You. Give them courage to trust You, to forgive and to leave that baggage behind (Mt 6:14-15, 18:21-35).
Connect them with mature Christian women who are themselves free, who understand the process of sanctification and who demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in all interactions. May they be free indeed! (Jn 8:31-32, 36)
Father, You know men coming out of Islam who have the mindset that women are their property and are worth less to You than they are. Teach them to love their wives as Christ loves the Church, and their daughters as You do. Connect them with mature Christian men who will journey with them modeling Your “most excellent way” (1 Co 12:31-13:13).