When walking in the city you can see these fallout shelter signs on most brick buildings. I have often stopped and pondered what that must feel like to live in fear of having to go into such a place. I have never had to worry about such a threat on my life. That’s not the case for most of the immigrants in Brooklyn, so many come from that war-stricken geography of the Arabian world. Many people from Yemen are just that, here because staying there was not an option.
Facing fears
Many Christians may not fear many things but most will jump into the fallout shelter if they have to talk with or engage a covered Muslim on the streets. Gos has called a group of people this year in the Equip Training to just do that, go after the lost. Sad thing is, in our culture in America when we start talking about out Muslim brothers and sisters our thoughts go straight back to that fallout shelter sign. We would rather run and hide then to show love. One of the many tools we are learning is how to Live Out Loud, in this we are to be the Light for Jesus at all times in all places. We want people to come and inquire about who we are. This type of mentality shows Muslims that live can be different and that we don’t have to earn anything from God.
Moving forward
As we move forward in our ever changing culture, I pray that we lose the fear of Muslims. We lose the fear of running to a fallout shelter, that instead of going under and hiding we fall on our knees and pray for our hearts to change to love them like Jesus does.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. – John 15:9-17
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