Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life.
I write this just as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has finished and the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations are happening. Muslim friends exchange gifts and their families feast together for several days. I enjoyed some delightful Sudanese hospitality from various neighbours when I lived in Khartoum Bahri 1999-2003.
One big difference between Islam and Christianity can be understood when thinking about Ramadan and its genuine human self-sacrifice.
Muslims appear to be trying to earn their acceptance by God. Muslim people sincerely do their best, completing everything in the “Din” – the duties of Islam – E’shahada (the testimony or declaration of faith), Salat (regular prayer), Zakat (almsgiving or paying religious tax), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
These are the basic activities controlling every Muslim’s way of life.
Christians are trusting in someone else – someone who is able – to save them. They know they cannot do enough to save themselves. Christian people have understood that they will never be good enough to stand before the Holy God. We trust the Lamb of God (Jesus), who has taken away the sin of the world, to be our Saviour, John 1:29.
Can you see the difference?
Are you trusting in yourself? Or are you trusting in God to save you?
“If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, 1 John 2:1-2.
November 2007.