False Pretenses

When I google-searched "Jordan" (the country), the only news source I found that spoke of the arrest and eviction of 8 Americans caught evangelizing was the Jerusalem Post.

I could talk about the irony that only a Jewish newspaper (none American that I know of as yet) would report about the treatment of American Christians in Islamic lands. I could also discuss the non-stop repression of faith outside nations founded upon Christian principles (Israel's only a fair shade better than liberal Islamic lands). But I'm not going in either of those directions.

The thing that caught my eye in the Jerusalem Post article was this quote:

(The Jordanian foreign minister) said the preachers came to Jordan under the "pretext of charitable and voluntary activities, but they have violated the law by undertaking preaching activities and were expelled."

Here's the rub: When did Christians stop ministering to the needy for the needy's sake? Jesus said that when we do it to the least of these we do it unto Him. Is there any better witness? Will not they know we are Christians by our love? Will that not open the door to spiritual ministry as well as physical ministry? BUT...can we let the physical ministry be an end in itself or do I only do it as a means to the end of presenting the Gospel?

It's interesting but the gospels tell of Jesus healing with no other message. Sometimes He did. Sometimes He didn't. It seemed on occasion that the physical healing was enough at that moment.

I cannot say what happened in Jordan. This may be an example of Islamic repression. Or it could have played out as the Jordanian foreign minister stated it did. He believes and conveyed it to the press that these Christians lied to gain entrance into his country.

We are called to let our yes be yes and our no be no. When we pull the "bait and switch" to evangelize, we become no better than deceitful used-car salesmen (or pre-owned vehicles). If you are called to minister, then minister, and be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you. If you are called to preach, then preach, and be prepared to give a cup of cold water to any who are thirsty.

If we're to be arrested, let it be for the good news and our good works, but not because we are crooks (1 Peter 4:14-16).