Why Are You a Christian?

by Linda Hagen

We met Martin at one of our prison ministry meetings.  There was something about him—a certain  humble, inner confidence.  The kind that comes from knowing.  Uncommon in prison.

We structured our meetings much like a home group, pretty casual, and not too "churchy."  Martin seemed genuinely pleased and eager to see us and added a real depth of spiritual insight to our discussions about the Kingdom of Christ. Over time, we learned that he was a college educated man.  Although born and raised in the USA, he read, spoke, and wrote two middle-Eastern languages. 

You see, for most of Martin's adult life, he was a Muslim, and a serious student of the Qr'an, which is why he studied and mastered the languages.  He told us that he had been active in the militant Black Muslim and Black Power movements, back in the day.  This begged the question, "Why are you a Christian, Martin?"  And he told the story.

When he was first transferred to this prison, he could not sleep. He tried everything, but his mind was so tormented he just could not rest.  The sleep deprivation was taking its toll on his health and mental state.  After days of this misery, a white inmate approached Martin in the prison yard, identified himself as a Christian, and said that the Lord told him to come and pray for Martin. (A very touchy situation for both.)

This was offensive to Martin. He didn't want any Christian to pray for him, especially a white man, and certainly not in public.  But the sleep deprived Muslim was desperate and worn down, and told the Christian of his problem, and agreed to be prayed for.

So in this God-ordained intersection, the Christian prayed in faithful obedience, without an agenda or trying to "prove" anything.  He prayed simply and quietly for peace in Martin's mind, and that he could sleep.  He knew Martin was a Muslim, but he prayed in the name of Jesus.

Martin says that when he went to bed that night, he fell asleep when his head hit the pillow, slept soundly and peacefully all night, and woke up feeling completely refreshed and good.  And with a big smile, Martin says, "That is why I'm a Christian."