This is day 24 of 32. Throughout April, we will be posting daily. We invite you to learn about Chinese Muslims and pray with us for God’s glory to be made known among them. If you would like to read other posts in this series, you can find them here or download the prayer guide here.
Abraham is a Muslim-background believer (MBB) from an average Muslim family in China. He allowed us to interview him recently and share his story. He desires for people to understand more about Chinese Muslims and to pray intentionally and passionately for them. His real name and location are removed to protect his identity. This is part 2 of 7.
Share with us how Chinese Muslims view repentance and punishment.
Most people know that they are not perfect and that they will face bad consequences and punishment. One day one of my friends who is Muslim told me, “We are not going to heaven.” I asked, “Why?” He said, “Because I have done so many bad things.” So I asked, “What is your hope. Why do you still believe?” He said, “We will go to hell, but after a certain period of suffering God will release us. Everyone who is Muslim in the final days will come out of the punishment and will be with God.” That is another hope for Muslims. Many people say, “I am not going to heaven because I did not do this or that.” They do not say I did not know God or love God very much. Their desire to go to heaven and meet God is based on good deeds and practice.
Repentant in Arabic is called “tawbah.” People often use this word when they know they are going to die. Then they invite the Imam to their house and many people ask the Imam to pray for this person and do religious practice for the dying person. The family prepares food and gives money to people. They give gifts. The whole event is focused on the meaning of repentance. Sick people do nothing but listen. The focus is on what is done through the religious practice. The repentance we know as Christians is so different.
One guy can do as much evil as he possibly can, but then when he is old if he goes on the hajj and he leaves his past behind when he returns, everything is washed away. Then the event of repentance is gone. The guy is considered as pure as an infant.
We still believe that what you have done in the past is recorded. We believe there are two angels, one on your right shoulder and one on your left. The one on your right shoulder is white and he is the good angel. The one on your left shoulder is black and is the bad angel. These two angels record everything you say and are thinking. The right angel writes your good deeds and the black angel writes your bad deeds. At the end there is a test. If your right shoulder is heavier, then you pass because you did more good deeds than bad, but if your left shoulder is heavier you fail because your bad deeds outweigh your good ones.
This whole practice is really based on fear. We are taught to be scared and fear punishment.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that God will reveal to Chinese Muslims the true meaning of repentance and the reality that we cannot truly repent without Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
- Please pray that Chinese Muslims will understand that one bad deed is enough to condemn us to hell. Pray that they will understand that it is not enough for their good deeds to outweigh their bad deeds. May God show them that their only hope is Jesus Christ.