“I could be stoned to death!”
Some time ago, on a Wednesday night in the prison, a Muslim prisoner named Ahkalili — we just called him AK — came to our bible study. We started out with Proverbs 18:21 “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit — you choose.” (Msg) I asked, “Have you ever given bad directions or bad advice? On social issues like abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, etc.? On religion? On relationships? On parenting? They all said yes.
I explained that we are all responsible, and accountable, for the words we speak, and that our words are powerful. Our words are like seeds. We impregnate, impress, impact, and influence people with our words. I asked, “What words have been coming out of your mouth? What seeds have you been planting? What ‘pregnancies’ are you responsible for? Are your words Word-based, or opinion-based?” Many admitted that much of their advice was based primarily on personal opinions and experience.
We then read Colossians 2:8 “Watch our for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ.” (Msg) Here, Believers are warned about how ideas and philosophies — not based on Christ — ultimately lead to endless, pointless arguments. The bible is the fixed point of reference from which all are to navigate thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.
AK had been listening intently and genuinely participated with comments and insights. As we finished, I emphasized the gospel and AK said, “Now, I have 100 questions about Jesus.” His face plainly showed the internal war going on inside him. (The Holy Spirit was ministering to him.) I prayed with the group and took some time to speak privately with AK. Somewhat angry, yet broken and sobbing, AK said things like, “This sounds to simple,” and, “This doesn’t make sense!” He began to cry openly and was embarrassed that the guard saw him, yet his tears kept coming. He cried, “Why would Jesus pay for my sins?!! How could He love me after all I’ve done?!!” He said he couldn’t grasp God’s love and decided he wasn’t ready to give his life to Christ. I told him that I would get him a bible from the Brig library so he could read the book of John. The library was locked, so I told AK that I’d bring him a bible on Friday.
That Friday, Sandy and I went into the prison for our Sexual Integrity & Restoration class. AK was bursting at the seams. He said that later that Wednesday night a guard had mysteriously and unexpectedly brought him a bible. AK said he immediately began to read the book of Jeremiah, not John. (He didn’t remember which book I told him to read.) AK said as he read Jeremiah, he saw the people repeatedly betraying God and worshiping false gods. AK also said he began to understand that God still loved those people and that God still loved him. AK said ‘Taps’ sounded at 10 pm and as the lights went out, thoughts of converting to Christianity began to occur to him. AK said that great fear came upon him quickly. He explained, “In Islam, I could be stoned to death for converting to another religion, especially Christianity.”
AK went on to say that he grabbed his bible, randomly opened it, and read something like, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid! I am with you.” He was so excited! He said that he absolutely knew that God was speaking to him, right then and there. AK said he slept like a baby that night, and that since Wednesday’s bible study, he knew that God was reaching out to him. AK said, “God is speaking to me! I know it! I’m ready! I want Jesus!” Sandy and I prayed with him on the spot, and he surrendered his life to Christ! AK was so happy and full of tears and that he wanted to get baptized as soon as possible. The following Wednesday AK was baptized in our rubber, inflatable kiddie pool! Hallelujah! God is so good!