Can Abdul Rahman Help You Share Your Faith?
Even if you don't easily recognize the name Abdul Rahman, no doubt you've heard the story. This courageous Afghani was recently arrested in his homeland for being a Christian and faced the death penalty. Rahman was charged with rejecting Islam and converting to Christianity—an act which is currently against the law in Afghanistan and carries the death penalty. Though he became a Christian many years ago, his family recently denounced him as a convert, following a dispute over the custody of his children, and the authorities arrested him for his conversion to Christianity.
The prosecutor in the case offered to drop the charges if Rahman converted back to Islam saying, "He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one. We are Muslims and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty." One of his cell mates told reporters, "He is standing by his words. He will not become a Muslim again. He has been a Christian for over 14 years. It is what he believes in."
Rahman's story breathes new meaning into Jesus' words in Matt. 16:24-26,
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Maybe taking a stand for Jesus in your workplace or with your friends doesn't cost you the chance to raise your children, your freedom, or potentially your life, but it can cost you things that are important to you—your image, your popularity, your friends.
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The apostle Paul, who suffered repeated beatings and imprisonment for sharing his faith, said it straight up in Phil. 3:8-9, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
Rahman’s story motivates us to stand for Jesus, no matter the costs. But along with inspiring and motivating us, his story can actually be a great tool for sharing the Good News. How can you use Rahman's story to talk to your friends about God? Try some of the following conversation starters:
• Have you heard about the guy in Afghanistan who went on trial for his life because he converted from being Muslim to being Christian? Fill them in on the details and ask them what they think of the story.
• Ask them if there's anything they currently believe in that they would be willing to sacrifice for. Would they accept the rejection of their family, being thrown in jail, or confront the possibility of the death penalty for any cause or belief? Are some things worth dying for? Share where you're coming from—can you imagine staking your life on being a follower of Jesus?
• Ask your friends if they think being a follower of Jesus carries any costs in our culture or in your world personally. Share what you've experienced. Have you found it to be worth the costs? Explain what Jesus meant when he said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever lose s his life for me will find it." (Matt. 16:24-26).
Under pressure from Western governments, Afghani authorities released Rahman and he was quickly swept out of the country and granted asylum in Italy. He is only one of thousands of Christians around the world who have stood up bravely and sacrificially for their faith in the midst of persecution—his story just happened to hit reporters’ radar screen and set the diplomatic wheels in motion that resulted in his release.
How about you, are you living a life of unashamed faith? Is God calling you to stand up and be counted for Him?
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Jane Dratz works for Dare 2 Share Ministries in Arvada, Colo., a ministry committed to energizing and equipping teens to know, live, share and own their faith in Jesus. For more information on Dare 2 Share Ministries, please visit www.dare2share.org. Find out how Dare 2 Share Ministries and Focus on the Family® are working together to capture the hearts of this generation of teenagers, visit www.capturetheirhearts.com. Send feedback to jane@dare2share.org.
