No fixed abode?

When Saul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles… Acts 9:26-27

I was using the prayer diary of the Christian charity Barnabas Fund recently and I came across this. It caused me to stop and think…

Many Ugandan churches refuse to have anything to do with Christians from a Muslim background, presumably because they are fearful of Islamist threats. Often these converts have also been rejected by their relatives and have no one else…

Two thoughts struck me.

First, shock that Christians could act in such a way. Surely they should be thrilled to bits at anyone coming to faith in Jesus, Muslim or not! The thought that they might “refuse to have anything to do with them” took some digesting.

And then sadness for the Muslim converts. By what we hear from various parts of the world, Muslims who renounce their faith are quite likely to be rejected by their own family; in some cases they might even be killed. So what must it be like to break those powerful, lifelong ties in order to follow Jesus – only then to find that the local Christians don’t want to know you either? You are suddenly an outcast, living in a no-man’s land, an orphan, bereft of family love. Where do you go for worship and fellowship? for ordinary human interaction? How desperately lonely must that be?

Other thoughts quickly followed. In many countries Christians are under severe pressure from Islamist militants; regular killings, sometimes even massacres, are not uncommon. So can you really blame those Christians? How can they be sure that that new convert is indeed genuine, and not a potential infiltrator? The risk is probably tiny – most Muslims, after all, are peaceable, and good neighbours. But there is a risk. Is it worth taking?

What would you do if you were in their place? What would I do?

Things are rarely as simple as they at first sight appear, are they? They say you should never judge another person until you have walked ten miles in their shoes (and probably not even then), and that is something we always need to keep in mind. So – no judging of those Ugandan Christians…

Then it occurred to me that something very similar happened to Saul of Tarsus in the immediate aftermath of his dramatic conversion (Acts 9).

Saul was a firebrand, consumed with hatred for the new “Jesus movement”. He “breathed out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (verse 1). He was determined that the new movement should be snuffed out at birth, and his name must have struck terror into the hearts of the believers.

And then… he got converted (verses 3-9)!

He became as zealous for Jesus as previously he had been against him. In Damascus he threw himself into the task of making Christ known: “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (verse 20). Wonderful! But when he headed for Jerusalem it was a different story: “he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple” (verse 26). Exactly like those Christians in Uganda. As the Book of Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing new under the sun”.

Usually when I sit down to write a blog post I have a pretty good idea where it’s heading. But it’s rather different this time. I’m really not sure what exactly I’m challenging myself or my readers to do. The story of what was happening in Uganda struck me so forcibly that I simply thought it would be good to share it, so please respond as you feel is right for you. The only obvious response is prayer.

But I think there is a question worth asking. What happened to clear the way for Saul of Tarsus? The answer can be summed up in one word: Barnabas - “Barnabas took Saul and brought him to the apostles”, presumably so that he could be vetted and  officially approved (verse 27).

Thank God for dear Barnabas! He had the discernment to see that Saul was in fact truly converted – and the courage to act upon it and do something about it.

So… Pray for those lonely converts feeling unwelcome in the churches. Pray that as long as they are outcasts they will know the nearness and the comfort of God, and that their faith will hold fast.

Pray too for those nervous Christians, that God will take away their fear and give them peace. (And if, by any chance, it isn’t fear but sheer prejudice against Muslims that motivates them, pray that they will see how wrong this is.)

But then, also, pray that God will raise up some true Barnabases, people of spiritual stature and maturity, who will be able to bring reassurance to their fellow-believers, and so help to build and unite the church. Amen?

Oh, something else too… if you do not currently support an organisation such as Barnabas Fund, how about starting today? They need our money, our prayers and our interest.

Lord God, please breath your blessing upon those rejected converts, to comfort and encourage them. And please act powerfully in the local churches, that they will have the wisdom to see what is right, and the courage to act on it. Amen.