Some questions seemingly have easy answers. But the issues is simply that the answer that is very simple in one culture, is not so easy to answer in another culture. For instance: Is it wrong to beat our wives? Is it not a duty that we have?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A group of men in Western South Asia asked this question to two female missionaries: ‘Should we not be beating our wives?’ Unlike some corners of the Muslim world, where wives and daughters are subjected to purdah (the practise of hiding women from public as a tribute to their great value), tribal Muslims from the remote interior of Western South Asia (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan) harbour no such illusions. They value women only as property. A Muslim background believer named Ahmed explains, \u201cIn our culture, women are like shoes. We wear them, and when they are old we throw them out. If a woman does something that does not please her husband, he will drag her through the streets to the cemetery and bury her alive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the believers in Western South Asia, this behaviour is changing. A turning point occurred when two female American missionaries arranged a workshop for a dozen women from tribal Muslim villages. At the last minute, the women\u2019s husbands came instead! ‘After today, we will treat our wives with respect.’ Donna, one of the teachers, recalls, \u201cThe first day was a fiasco. The tribal men were aghast at the thought of two women teaching them anything.\u201d During an awkward conversation with the American women, Ahmed casually asked, \u201cShould we not be beating our wives. What does the Bible say?\u201d An earnest discussion followed, with Donna pointing out many relevant scriptures about how men should treat their wives with sacrificial love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next morning Ahmed said, \u201cAll night we did not sleep. We talked about what Jesus says about women, and how we should treat our wives.\u201d One by one the men stood and said, \u201cI will no longer beat my wife. After today, we will treat our wives with respect.\u201d Could it be that simple? \u201cIt\u2019s not been easy,\u201d Ahmed admitted. \u201cThat was a big change for us.\u201d After the workshop, a women\u2019s movement was launched, which has started hundreds of women\u2019s jamaats (churches). The men requested more training for reaching women. \u201cLast year,\u201d Ahmed said, \u201cmore than 100 jamaat leaders said to me, \u2018I no longer beat my wife.\u2019\u201d Source: 30 Days of Prayer Network.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n