TonyI think Graham has brought to our attention the awful reality of life (or death) that confronts people who convert to Christianity in many Islamic states. Our Government should certainly consider their plight sympathetically.The Bible is available in many languages but of course the early Christians and indeed many illiterate Christians today did not need the Bible to become Christians.Next Sunday Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost:One of the readings appointed for that Feast is from Acts 2:1-11"When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech."Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. Surely they said all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome - Jews and proselytes alike - Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God. "I have heard this passage read in Arabic and French. It is certainly worth reflecting how the message of Christianity spread from Jesus and his small band of apostles in Jerusalem right around the world into every nation, including the nations which since have adopted Islam.
David Giles ● 6721d