“Often
I do not know a person’s background or struggle and what specifically
prompts such a question, and yet every face is a reminder that behind
every question is a questioner—and one must always seek to respond to
the individual and not merely the question.”
– Ravi Zacharias, Just Thinking magazine
Dear Ravi,
This
is my third and last letter to you. I will do well to share on all
available platforms created by RZIM so that you may read them. My last
celebratory remarks is about the grace in which you handled people of
other faiths. It is worth emulating.
In my M. A. in theology
thesis, I wrote about a fascinating man called Samuel Ajayi Crowther
(1809-1891). He was a Yoruba linguist and the first African Anglican
bishop in Nigeria. Born in Nigeria, he and his family were captured by
Fulani slave raiders when he was about twelve years old. He returned to
his native land as a priest. Crowther’s policy on Christian-Muslim
engagement on the Niger Mission was courteous and friendly with Muslim
leaders. Like Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman (John 4), he
sought common grounds to start off engagements with Muslims. According
to John Azumah (The African Christian and Islam, 2013), Crowther
“developed a more apologetic and respectful approach, relying solely on
the Bible to answer Muslim objections.”
Azumah’s description of
Crowther is much like your approach to engaging with people of other
faiths. Whether they are present or not, you graciously deal with the
substantive issues rather than playing to the gallery. You don’t insult
or attack personalities. Simply, you reason through Scriptures to give
coherent defense of the Christian faith. You lived and practiced 1 Peter
3:15: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect".
Here are two things I will never forget about your dealings with other people:
- During
questions and answers, you always commend the one asking the question.
Indeed, I have realized your team does so too. You always say, 'that’s a
good question'.
- During
the RZIM Academy training, the first lesson I learnt was to be a good
listener. Like James said, we must be quick to hear and slow to speak
(James 1:19). Many people want to shoot answers without even
understanding what was asked.
These
are gracious ways to deal with people who object to the Christian
faith. You may not agree with them but you never write them off. Indeed,
you rightly said, “We have a right to believe whatever we want, but not
everything we believe is right.” You have always taught us that behind
every question is a person. Thank you for teaching us to be gracious to
people.
Footnote:
Ravi Zacharias is a Christian Apologist who is currently battling
cancer in the hospital. Remember him in your prayers that the will of
God will be done.
#ThankYouRavi
#CelebratingMyHero
#EricOtchere
Labels: #RZIM, #ThankYouRavi, Apologetics, Eric Otchere, Evangelism
