Brother Andrew's Vision for God's Kingdom in the Middle East
God intends for us to live and prove the reality of God's Kingdom in this world. If we cannot do that, then we are not worth much, are we?"
Straightforward statements like these could sound harsh coming from someone else, but when you hear the passion in the voice of this 76-year-old Dutchman, it's impossible not to listen. Brother Andrew is ardent, bold, and some might even say headstrong (he's returned home in an ambulance five times), but more than his radical obedience, it's his deep love for Christ that characterizes him.
This seemingly larger-than-life missionary is best known for bringing Bibles to the suffering church behind the Iron Curtain?his autobiography, God's Smuggler, has sold more than ten million copies and has been translated into 35 languages since 1967. Brother Andrew could easily have retired젨?by now to enjoy a quiet life with his젨?grandchildren. Instead, he has thrown젨? himself into serving some of the most젨?dangerous areas in the world, jetting back and forth between the Netherlands and젨?the Middle East. He and his ministry,젨?Open Doors, support struggling churches젨? there with encouragement and resources젨?so that they can be catalysts for transformation in their communities.
"I WANT TO SEE LIVING STONES"
In his new book, Light Force, Andrew recalls a life-changing moment at a Jerusalem church in the late 70s. After the service, a young woman pulled him aside and said, "I am glad you're talking about the suffering church in Eastern Europe. But there's also a suffering church right here! I'm a Palestinian and love the Lord Jesus Christ. There are thousands of us, and we're struggling for our survival."
She explained that 80% of Palestinian Christians had fled to the West since 1948 because life had become so difficult. Their shrinking churches were crumbling under the pressure of daily conflict.
Brother Andrew was surprised. While quite familiar with most of the Messianic congregations in Israel, he knew nothing of the Palestinian Christians, who far outnumbered Jewish believers. It seemed ironic that all he knew about places like Bethlehem or Nazareth were what he calls "dead stones"뾲heir famous buildings and tourist sites. But now he felt an urgency to "seriously look for my brothers and sisters뾲he living stones of the Holy Land."
The pieces of this hidden mosaic gradually came together as Brother Andrew met Palestinian Christians like Bethlehem Bible College's visionary president Bishara Awad, who would become an important mentor. As the Dutch pastor listened to their stories both of heartaches and of dreams, he began to see the present-day struggles of Palestinian believers that go beyond lost land, checkpoints, and curfews뾱truggles to forgive, to love, to be courageous, to be Christians. He also realized that if these believers didn't escape their world, they could profoundly impact it, if only they had encouragement and support.
Bishara's dream of church growth required that leaders be trained, but Bethlehem Bible College had encountered difficult times뾪any students struggled to keep up with classes as the military repeatedly attacked or even bombed their homes. The school was in desperate need of assistance, and Open Doors' involvement marked the beginning of Brother Andrew's long-term ministry in the Middle East.
AGGRESSIVE LOVE
Brother Andrew's idea of a "resistance movement" isn't like that of any government or organization. He believes that Christians should go out into the world aggressively뾟ut in love, sharing Christ. He's preached to hundreds of Hamas leaders, dialogued openly with students at a fundamentalist Islamic university, and engaged in deeply spiritual discussions one-on-one with influential men who rarely speak to foreign politicians.
A few years ago, a Palestinian pastor and an American writer accompanied Brother Andrew to meet with Abdul, an Islamic Jihad representative. Abdul told them he'd read the entire Bible and went on to ask earnest, insightful questions. Later, both of Brother Andrew's friends admitted shock at Abdul's openness. "He seems to be genuinely searching," blurted Al, the American writer.
Brother Andrew replied forthrightly, "You are surprised that he is a human being like you and me? Perhaps it is easier to think of him as a mindless terrorist. But that will do nothing to help solve the problems of the Middle East."
Few of us ever stop to think that, as Andrew explains, "these men, like people everywhere, have families, dreams, and fears." He believes terrorism will never end until we stop seeing people as enemies and understand that "everyone outside of Christ is in need of forgiveness and eternal life from Jesus." He says, "People do what they do, whether in political or religious form, because they are without this life that Christ offers. Why don't we first go out and listen to them before setting out to destroy them? As my friend Corrie Ten Boom once told me, 'Jesus came to "seek and to save"뾫ot to "search and destroy."'"
Some may call this perspective na?e or idealistic, but the fruit from Brother Andrew's ministry reveals otherwise뾥e's earned the respect, affection, and listening ear of countless fundamentalist Muslims who had never before heard the true, living Gospel of Isa al-Masih (Jesus Christ).
A FAITH WORTH DYING FOR
Brother Andrew notes that Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," not "the peacetalkers." (Matthew 5:45) And he definitely isn't just "talk." In 1990, he met with the leader of Hezbollah, a Lebanese fundamentalist group, and offered his life in exchange for a hostage. Asked why in the world he'd do this, he replied, "This is the spirit of Jesus뾊e died so we could live! I'm ready to give myself up so my friend can go free. This is what Christianity is all about." The ayatollah was shocked. "I've never heard of this kind of Christianity," he said.
According to Brother Andrew, Western Christian values are often highly inconsistent with our faith when it comes to self-preservation and suffering: "We talk about heaven as if we want to go there, yet we do everything to extend our existence on earth!" This lack of willingness to walk our talk gives radical Muslims little reason to see the truth or power of the One we follow.
"Not that we ought to throw our lives away; we ought to have the attitude visible in us that we are not afraid to die," says Andrew. "That's a lesson it is time for us to learn from Muslim fundamentalists. It doesn't mean we should have a death wish; on the contrary, we have a life wish!"
STRENGTHENING THAT WHICH REMAINS
Although one person can have an amazing influence, how can the impact be lasting if that voice remains solitary? Brother Andrew explains, "That's why we must be an army of light bearers, not just one or two individuals. The individuals may certainly break the ice, but then we must all move in and swim!"
Key leaders have been moved to action by Andrew's example. Compelled by the openness in Muslims with whom Brother Andrew had shared, a young man named Labib spearheaded a Bible bookshop ministry in Gaza. Motivated by Open Doors, Salim pioneered Musalaha, a powerful ministry of reconciliation among Israeli and Palestinian believers. A woman named Nawal leads a dynamic prayer ministry that has led many to Christ and begun desperately needed healing.
Amidst mounting pain and conflict, Andrew sees a glimmer of hope when he looks at people like these. His prayer is that they will be joined by many others, becoming a "light force" in the Middle East. He believes that a strong, healthy church reaching out to Muslim, Christian, and Jewish neighbors is the only hope for peace. They carry the light of Jesus뾲he true Prince of Peace.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
How can we, the body of Christ, make a difference? The first thing, Brother Andrew urges, is to "get information so you can pray intelligently. Pray every time you see news from the Middle East. Pray for families that suffer because of casualties on both sides. Pray for the Gospel to be spread among Jews and Palestinians." He's heard both Bishara and Labib say, "Don't stop loving Israel, but love us as well."
Brother Andrew also considers it imperative to dialogue with Middle Easterners of all faiths to gain deeper understanding of what seem like overwhelming situations. Rather than relying on our opinions and limited perspective, we should engage in prayer with open, humble hearts that ask God's viewpoint and acknowledge the greatness of His wisdom.
When asked if she had a message for the Western church, Nawal said, "You, outside, hear our crying because we are alone, feeling totally rejected and hurt. Why doesn't the rest of the body help or even say, 'We love you'? So many times I cry to Jesus hard from my heart. Women tell me they need medicine or food, and we cry out to Jesus together. But somebody has to bring food, so they will know that Jesus loves them. That's the work of the body of Christ. I believe with all my heart that Jesus loves the Palestinian people. Jesus hurts and cries for them and wants to help them뾲hrough the church뾵e are His hands, His legs, His eyes."
Brother Andrew energetically exhorts, "Wake up and be willing to get involved! Separate politics from the real needs in the world뾢specially within the kingdom of God뾞nd wrestle on your knees for a world that desperately needs Him."
How might the world be revolutionized, if the church were full of devotion and love; if she were willing to obey God's call to pour out her life in passionate service; if she were to become a light for all people, as we were meant to be?
- Chris and Nicole Lindley
To purchase Light Force by Brother Andrew, please visit our bookstore.
