Lausanne World Pulse – A Focus on South Pacific and Southeast Asia: 661 Least-reached People Groups Remain
She noted that the church where she was baptized had to keep the matter a secret to avoid retribution from the Muslims. At the time the article was printed, one of the women was in hiding and the other feared that Muslim neighbors might take the law into their own hands. Both women were trying to officially change their identity cards that state they are Muslims. This act would make their families feel that they are losing face, and make the Muslim majority fear that they are losing people to another religious system. Remember that Muslims view religious affiliation in political as well as religious terms. Joining another religion is the same as joining their rivals.
To be Malay is to be a Muslim. To become a follower of Christ, one would have to switch not only his or her allegiance, but also his or her culture. Wouldn’t it be possible for a Malay to put his or her faith in Christ while dressing like a Muslim, praying five times a day and following Islamic cultural rules that do not conflict with the Bible?
Right or wrong, the Malay people believe that they are in danger of having their culture and their identity overrun by outsiders. This is nothing new. In Melaka, Malaysia, there is the grave of the legendary Malay warrior, Hang Tuah, who protected the Malay people from an outside attack that could have destroyed them as a race. His grave is marked with the following words: “The Malay will never be lost from the Earth.”
When God created the nations, he had a purpose for each one of them, including the Malays. We know from Revelation 7:9 that there will someday be people from every tribe, tongue and nation worshipping the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Malay are not excluded from the roll call of the nations. Will they resist him to the end, or will they submit to Christ? One factor to consider is that they may be resisting another culture and the possibility of losing face more than they are resisting Jesus. Let us pray for this prominent affinity block as they face monumental spiritual decisions in the twenty-first century.
How Can We Pray?
- Pray that ambassadors for Christ will take the Lord to each Malay people group in such a way that they can embrace him without losing their culture or losing face.
- Pray for lasting fruit to come from the work of those who have worked among the Malays and those who are currently working among them.
- Pray for an indigenous, biblical fellowship movement among each Malay subgroup and each Malay community.
- Pray for Christ to be glorified among the Malay peoples.
- Pray for a defeat of the forces of darkness that deceive the Malay peoples into believing that they cannot put their faith in Christ.