Defiled

This Kerinci man proudly wears his white peci which signifies that he has been on the Hajj. He consented to having his photo taken, but refused to shake hands with the foreigner. There is an idea in Islam that anyone outside of the faith are kafir or the infidel. Taken to an extreme this means that coming into physical contact with an infidel can make you unclean before God. For those who have been on the pilgrimage to Mecca, or the Hajj, the idea of being set apart as holy is often highly valued. Therefore, to come in contact with an infidel is especially repugnant.

While it is not universally believed, there is a significant portion of the Islamic community on Sumatra that believes that it is okay to lie to, steal from, and even kill an infidel. After all this is God’s provision for His chosen people. While very few go to the extreme of killing the infidel, it’s not uncommon to lie to and steal from them.

The truth is no person is more holy than another. In God’s sight we are all unclean and worthy of eternal judgment. No special trip or meritorious good work can make us worthy of salvation in the sight of Holy God. It took a blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God to wash away our sins. Only those washed in this sacred blood are able to stand blameless and pure at the Last Day.

Pray for this Kerinci man and others like him to accept the hand of fellowship offered with an understanding of the universal need of being cleansed by God.

Pray for believers on Sumatra to accept mistreatment and return love in order to extend God’s invitation of salvation to all the peoples of the island.

Pray for the Gospel to be shared broadly among the Kerinci.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of those who hear to gratefully receive the great sacrifice offered for them.