It is our professed belief that the everlasting gospel shall be preached to every nation, tribe, and people before the coming of the Lord. We believe, therefore, that it will be preached to the Moslems, of whom there are many nations, tribes, and tongues. Since we are endeavoring to prepare men to preach the message to the Moslems, we should profit by the experience of others in this field. An article by Dr. J. Christy Wilson, a veteran worker for Moslems, appears in the July, 5944, issue of the Moslem World, in which he discusses the difficulties of the work, and the principles of attracting and holding converts among them.
"Christian converts from Islam are relatively few." The reason he gives for paucity of converts, apart from the fact that "capital punishment is the prescribed penalty for a Moslem who leaves his religion and adopts another faith," is:
"Islam is a very tightly knit system which determines just how every act of life shall be performed from morning until evening and during the night, and it exercises a control over all of life from the cradle to the grave. Moreover, there is a great group solidarity among Moslems and this is welded by a fanatical devotion to the religion which may be likened to faith and patriotism combined. It is not difficult for any one of us to realize how hard it could be should ;we become, in the eyes of our fellow nationals, traitors to our country."
There is also the social ostracism of the convert, and "the economic result of being placed outside the community of the faithful, and consequent loss of employment." It is not possible to become a Christian and remain a member of one's family, though this course has been advocated by able men as the only right course to pursue.
"It is interesting to note that many of those who accepted the Christian faith at first made an earnest effort to live with their own families and in their Moslem environment. In every case I have noted this was not possible. Either the person was forced to compromise his Christian conduct and profession, or he was forced to leave his family and the Mohammedan environment."
These difficulties are very real, and humanly speaking, insuperable, but it is good to know that, in spite of them, Moslems do accept Jesus as their Saviour, even though those who do are few in number. One should not focus all his attention on the difficulties of a task, but 'shouldcontemplate the power available to overcome the difficulties. As Doctor Wilson puts it, "The chains ikhich bind a Mohammedan to his group and his religion are as strong as steel, but the love of Christ can melt them, and when that love gets into their hearts, He wins them."
What is it that attracts Moslems to Christ? It is His character. When they see Him, as He-is presented in the Gospels, they admire His char-' acter and teachings, and in the light of that glory which is Jesus, the supposed glory of others dims into nothingness, and Jesus becomes the only hope that can satisfy the soul. "The direct presentation of Christ through every means should be our aim, for somewhere along the road each convert mentions a vision of Him that gave him the start toward a new spiritual life." How can we hold our Moslem converts? The excellent principles enunciated by Doctor Wilson are truly applicable to holding converts of every religious background:
"Experience shows that instruction of converts should not cease when they are baptized or become members of the church. It has been the tendency in some cases to feel that the work is over when new members are received, but the continuation of their study of the Bible and Christian principles is of great importance in the period of adjustment,
"We are strongly impressed by the present study that the convert needs vital Christian friendship and guidance during every stage of the psychological process of conversion. This process might be outlined as follows: 1. A time of discontent and spiritual longing. 2. A period of search. 3. First contacts with Christianity and consideration of Christ. 4. New understanding of Jesus and Christian principles. 5. The decision to take the great adventure of faith. 6. The period of readjustment and trial. 7. Strength and growth in the devoted Christian life."
Doctor Wilson expresses his hope of larger gains to Christ from Islam as follows:
"Though it is true that converts in Moslem lands are still caught one at a time with hook and line rather than by heaving the gospel net and taking a great haul, yet we do believe in and hope for the coming of that morning when the Master shall be with us in the boat and a great multitude of fishes shall be enclosed."
May we not have Jesus with us in the boat right along ? The Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of Moslems all over the world, and He is waiting for our co-operation that Christ may be lifted up before them, and He may draw them to Him.
