It is an amazing story.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born 1969 in Kenya to a Muslim family. In high school she became a radical Islamist and joined the Muslim Brotherhood - the parent organization of Hamas. Her family soon emigrated to the Netherlands where she would leave Islam, and later be elected to the Dutch Parliment. After the September 11 attacks on the the US, she became an outspoken atheist. In her mind, religion of all sorts was dangerous.
While working on a documentary decrying the treatment of women in Islam, her director Theo van Gogh was assassinated by a radical Islamist. She then moved to the United States and has built a career as a public intellectual ctiticizing Islam, advocating for free speech and the "New Atheism" - think Richard Dawkins.
Until Monday, October 13, 2023 when she posted "Why I Am Now A Christian" on the UnHerd.com site.
WHAT?!?!?!?
I am certain, her journey is not over. Ali clearly moves through life and ideas at a different clip than I do. There is a long sad history of people stepping forward with a confession of faith, and then being marketed by church culture as the "next new thing" only to then move on to their own next new thing. Still, this is an interesting story and she is the one who made it public. I'm glad to share it AND to ask you to pray with me for her. Here are some thoughts:
That she might be well discipled and not marketed
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is clear a swift and incisive thinker willing to consider thoughts and act decisively on her informed - and transforming convictions. That makes her just the sort of "trophy convert" that the "evangelical-industrial alliance" would want to pick up as a "celebrity" for "our side." I'm guessing that she may be too smart to put up with that for long.
But could we - the church - just stop doing that to new converts in the first place? Ali should be welcomed, loved and then discipled, just like another decisive thinker who converted to the faith from another religion. I'm referring to the Pharisee Saul who who met Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9) went for three years to the desert. (Galatians 1:17) Even after that, he only went to Jerusalem to meet with Peter and James, not to take a position in the spotlight. It would be years of serving in a local church before Paul and Barnabas would be called to cross-cultural ministry and Paul the Apostle would emerge. (Acts 13) Give people who come to faith time to dig deep roots in the Gospel, cultivate live-giving spiritual practices and integrate their thinking (Romans 12:2) with the whole counselof God.
That her faith commitment would be to more than just the "Ideas of Christianity"
I am fascinated and thankful for her original post. There is clearly something wonderful happening here. But I noticed that I don't see the name Jesus anywhere. I am praying that her conversion would be more than an affirmation of the "idea/s" of Christian Faith. I am with her 100% on those as I read, but I also know that transforming Christian faith is more than a collection of ideas. It is a response of faith to the grace offered by a Personal God. Jesus, The Word Made Flesh who was murdered but is now alive and reigning, is the source and center of all the ideas that flow from Him.
Join me in praying for this new sister-in-Christ. Let her bask in the warmth of God's love, rather than the spotlight of celebrity. We are happy to have her join in the journey of being found in, formed by and following Jesus Christ.
Here are some further resources
One Of The World’s Most Famous Atheists Becomes A Christian - This is a good summary on Mercator.com CLICK HERE
Why I Am Now a Christian - Her original post on UnHerd.com. CLICK HERE
Ayaan Hirsi Ali Answers Her Critics - a 23-minute video interview - CLICK HERE
What We Can Learn from Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Conversion - A helpful post from TheGospelCoalition.org - CLICK HERE
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