Meeting Jesus
Imagine this: You believe there’s some sort of God—a God who intelligently designed you and the world you live in. But other than what you see in nature, you know nothing more. Well, you have some ideas of what God could be like. You live in a country that is approximately 87% Muslim, and about 10% Christian, and those populations certainly seem to think they know. You watched a movie about Jesus once, so you have a vague idea that he was a martyr who sacrificed his life for the good of all people (and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything to you). But that’s it. So it was with my new friend from Indonesia, Eka (a common Indonesian name meaning “firstborn”). He was done using the Wi-Fi at the Seward Seaman’s Mission and plunking out a mellow tune on the janky (but well-loved) upright piano. I slid in next to him and questioned him about his playing, his language, and his home. There was songbook in front of him with Indonesian Christian songs, so I asked if he knew any. He didn’t...