Learning To Communicate

I only had a few hours before my flight back to the states, so I decided to go one of my regular hangouts, a basti (village) called Nizamuddin.  Nizamuddin is a Muslim colony where the famous saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin is buried.  Muslims from all over the world come Nizamuddin as there is a madrassa or school there to instruct Muslims on how they can be better Muslims.

In spite of the 105 degree heat and incredibly crowded narrow streets, I went to my favorite barber.  I love going to this shop as the brothers there know their craft.  When I get a haircut in the states I tell the cutters how I want it and in the end they cut it as they want and charge me $12.  These guys handle scissors and combs with precision, knowing exactly how to cut my thinning grey hair.  There is no joking, no conversation.  They smile at me when I come in, sometimes bring me tea in-between cuts.  The end of the trimming is near when I get a good neck and head massage.  Though the standard price is just $0.50 I give $1.00 and we all part company happy.

I wanted to buy a cotton kurta (long shirt) while in the busti and found a guy who was willing to deal and spoke good English.  While I was talking with the proprietor, two other guys came up to his stall.  They greeted me, “Salam Alakum,” which I replied, “Aalkum Salam.”

“These guys are from Kyrsgystan,” the shop owner informed me.

“Really,” I said with interest.  “I have visited Bishket.  Nice place.  What brings you to India?”

“We have joined the madassa for thee weeks.  In our country, though we are Muslims, we need more studies in our faith.  Are you a Muslim,” he asked?

Before I could answer he said, “Maybe not yet.  Later, Isha Alla (if God wills).

“No, I am a follower if Isa.” 

They were nice guys and they even invited me for a cool mango drink outside, which I would have gladly done if I had time.

Later I was with my Christian friend who lives in Nizamuddin and told him of my exchange.  An expert in talking with Muslims he said, “When they asked if you were a Muslim you should have said, ‘Do you mean do I worship the One true living God?  Yes, I do worship that Only God.’”

Every encounter with other people of other faiths is a cross-cultural communication moment.  Next time I get my head clipped in Nizamuddin maybe my conversation will give me a chance to affirm my submission to the One and only God and I can explain why I believe Isa is more than a prophet.  

Contextualization In Monoculturalism

Last month I caught up with Shanti, who was one of my students two years ago in a class I taught in South Asia.  In many ways Shanti’s story is common in this part of the world, but unique in its nuance.

Shanti is from the state of Manipur in the northeast of India.  Born into a Hindu family, she became a follower of Christ just a year before I met her.  Predictably the opposition to her conversion became an issue in her household.  Shanti’s father wanted to arrange her to marry a Hindu boy, but she refused.  Shanti’s pastor visited with her father and suggested she attend a training school that specializes in small trade projects for church workers and missionaries.  After completing her training she returned to her home and now works in her church.

I learned that Shanti’s mother and sister are now followers of Christ and her father has softened his attitude towards her.  At this stage she does not want to think about marriage as where she lives finding a Christian boy to marry would be difficult and her father, due to pride, would probably resist such a marriage.  Shanti is content to wait on the Lord and serve Him anyway He sees fit.

Though my passion is teaching missionaries from all parts of the world to take the Gospel cross-culturally, the teaching of how to communicate the Good News is not just for those crossing geographical boundaries.  For Christians like Shanti, who live in the midst of unreached communities, the lessons of how to contextualize the Gospel in one’s own family is relevant.   People movements are seldom, if ever, brought about in big evangelistic meetings.   Families and communities coming to Christ are more often a result of one person who tells one other person about the Savior.  In societies where the Gospel is restrained because of ethnic and religious opposition, it often the faith of one family member that becomes the catalyst for household conversions. 

Though we in missions often pray for the unreached people groups, in that prayer may we also remember Christ followers like Shanti, who faithfully live out their faith and share it with those in their own communities and, indeed, among their own family.