A Lot of Cups of Tea

A few weekends ago in Rabat we heard David Shenk speak. He has written several books (he says because people don't let him talk long enough!) - one of which is "Anabaptists meet Muslims." Dad wrote a chapter in that book and it was fun to meet David and talk about Dad. Another book David has written is called "A Muslim and A Christian in Dialogue." In the first half, his Muslim friend tells all about Islam and in the next half, he does the same with Christianity. Then they each respond to the other. The book has opened up all kinds of dialogue all over the world - and here is one of the several stories David told us (I feel I've probably messed it up as I'm going off of my notes - but I hope it's as accurate as possible):

Perhaps you remember several years ago there were many church burnings in Indonesia. These were being done by a Hezbollah leader and his men. In the same town as this leader lived an Indonesian pastor. One day the pastor knocked at the H. leader's door. The leader was shocked to see a pastor/the enemy at his door. "What do you want?" he demanded. "A cup of tea with you" came the reply. So of course, the H. leader had to give the pastor a cup of tea. A while later the pastor repeated this, and again the leader had to comply (hospitality is king in Muslim countries - you aren't allowed to kill your enemy as long as he is your guest). Over time, the pastor kept repeating this practice of inviting himself over for tea.

Then the tsunami hit. The pastor contacted the H. leader and asked him if he and his men could join the church to go and help in the devastated areas. The leader coughed out a "yes" and off they went. The pastor and the leader ended up being roommates the whole time they were helping!

Shortly after this, David was in a meeting with the Hezbollah men where the leader explained that his goals were to fight for Islam and to kill all his enemies - so that he would have no more enemies. David replied that Jesus' goal, and therefore his own goal, is to love, serve and lay down his life for his enemies - so that he will have no more enemies.

Then David handed this leader the dialogue book. The man looked at the list of contents and began to weep. He said, "You have shown me another way!" Promptly he ordered the book to be translated and ordered 50 copies for all his immediate men.

Since then all church burnings done by this leader and his men have stopped. Furthermore, if they hear any hints of others preparing to burn a church, he and his men stop it.

The pastor's church has grown from 50 to 250 in 5 years. Of course, now he needs a new church.

And guess who's advocating for the new church?

Yes, the Hezbollah leader himself.

When David asked the pastor how he could explain such a transformation, the pastor replied -

"It was the Holy Spirit - and a lot of cups of tea!"

I can't help thinking - what if the church spent proportionally as much time and money training up and praying for peacemakers like David Shenk and this amazing pastor as the government is spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Could not amazing things happen? What if we, the church, ended up helping our country to end these wars instead of endlessly debating if the wars are wrong or right? I don't mean to oversimplify, but sometimes I wonder if the church (including myself) is actually doing its part to actively bring about peace.

On a more personal level - what would happen if people reach out and love the Muslims in their midst? How would that affect the world? Ah, but that is another soap box of mine to save for a later day!