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| THE RACE - ISSUE 29 |
March 2001 |
Hospitality?
Through their local church, Alfred and Carol had met an international
student in their area. Mohammed, an Indonesian Muslim, was coming
that evening to dinner for the first time.
Suddenly there was a knock at their front door. "Oh, Alfred, it's
that international student we invited."
Alfred frowns. "It's about time. Doesn't he know his way around
here? The rolls are probably stone cold and the roast is overcooked."
Alfred reaches the front door and flings it open, saying, "Hey there,
where have you been?" Then he looks to the kitchen and shouts,
"Honey, it's that international student! Come on in. Let's see now,
your name is, uh . . . (he looks down at a card) . . . how do you say
it?"
"Mohammed," the student says with confidence and a smile.
"Huh?" Alfred looks puzzled. "Well, let's call you 'Moe.' Come on
inside, Moe, and have a seat. I hear you are from Indonesia. Isn't
that somewhere in Africa? Or is that Indochina- I'm still mad about
that war we had over there."
Mohammed sits down in the living room and with embarrassment looks at
the floor. "Well, it's really-"
Alfred interrupts, "I see. Well, listen, Moe, we have a great evening
lined up for you. Carol is fixing out all-time special meal- port
roast! Then after dinner, we can turn on the TV and watch the Giants
kill the Patriots. Monday night football is an American tradition
that you should know about."
Now Mohammed looks even more confused. "But, sir, I can't eat-"
Making no attempt to listen to what his guest is trying to say, Alfred
interrupts again, "Sure you can! I know you must be hungry . . .I'm
starved. We'll eat in a minute, but first I want you to know how
special it is to have you here in our home. You know, God has blessed
this country of ours, and I know you will come to see that Jesus
Christ is really the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Aren't you glad
that God is finally going to show you the True Path to Him, and wash
away your sins through His blood?"
Now it's Mohammed's turn to frown and he tries to begin again to
squeeze in a word of conversation. "We Muslims believe-"
Like a jumping bean in a jar, Alfred skips to the next question on his
mind: "That brings me to another question. I know it's awfully hot in
your country. Do people wear shoes? And do you live in grass huts or
what?"
Carol calls into the living room, "Dinner is on the table."
Alfred puts his arms around Mohammed and continues telling him how
great the pork roast will be.
Where was the "hospitality?"
This story shows that an enjoyable relationship can suffer irreparable
damage through cross-cultural insensitivity. Without humility and
respect for others, we as Christians will not be able to effective
build relationships with those around us, especially with Muslims.
Let us come before the Lord, seeking His wisdom-- so that He can help
us understand others & their points-of-views and compassionately meet
their needs. The lost- Indonesians, Algerians, our neighbors,
whoever- all need our kindness and love.
Not our lack of hospitality.
The Algerian Team
therace@therace.ws
NOTE: The above exert was from chapter 5 The World at Your Door by Dr.
Tom Phillips and Bob Norsworthy Bethany House Publishers. This book
is a great help for Christians who wish to reach out to international
students and foreign guests.
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