Often when we are struggling with a trial we feel the need to suppress our emotions or to “tough it out.” Granted, there is something to be said about putting things in perspective. Certain things really are not worth crying about if you can help it. However, on the other hand, the world really is broken. There is sin and suffering in the world that ought not to be. Even though the sadness a child feels after dropping an ice cream cone is not as devastating as she might think at the time, the fact remains that it is still a little bit sad, and it’s OK to say that.
It is common for people to feel overwhelmed. We can feel overwhelmed with huge life issues such as the death of a loved one or we can be overwhelmed with smaller issues like that quiz that you forgot that you had tomorrow morning.
Doing work among Muslims can be overwhelming sometimes. The Hui. 15 million people. Most of them have never heard the Gospel. Their huge micromanaging government, their several-thousand-year-old culture, their friends and their family all discourage them from believing in Christ.
Christmas is a week away! Around the world Christmas trees are lit up full of shiny ornaments. Preparations are underway. Christmas parties are happening nightly. People are taking vacation days to prepare for Christmas or traveling home to celebrate with family. We like to think that everyone knows Christmas is coming! However, among the Hui there is little evidence that Christmas is about to arrive.
How do you spend your Christmas? When do you start preparing and celebrating? Stores begin stocking their shelves with Christmas decorations the day after Halloween. Billions of dollars are spent on Christmas gifts the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas parties, tree lightning ceremonies and many other festive occasions fill up the schedules of many in the west.
“And that’s why I know my sins are forgiven.” I ended the gospel presentation. The Hui girl looked up at me. She had been very attentive as I explained the gospel. She then went on to explain her own opinion. I’ll summarize it for you:
“I don’t care.”
It wasn’t a mean-hearted apathy. It was just a content, blinded apathy. She was spiritually sick and dying and did not have any desire to seek healing.
The Hui are 15 million people who have no present hope. They have not heard the gospel. One Hui person dies every 5 minutes. By the time you read this article one more Hui soul will have left the world and plunged into eternal damnation with no second chances. This is heart breaking. We should feel broken for the Hui. We should have a real urgency which reflects our care for every last Hui soul. We should live sacrificially for the Hui, we should weep in prayer for the Hui and we should mourn for the Hui.
