In 1819, Adoniram Judson was taking the gospel to Birma. In a conversation with a local, Judson saw that a man almost believed but struggled with accepting the truth of Scripture over his own reason. The following exchange is both an encouraging story and a reminder that we who share the gospel must not compromise the message for the sake of a quick profession of faith:
They were well into their preparations when old Maung Shway- gnong paid the mission another visit. He no longer would go near the zayat, but he did not seem to be able to stay away from Adoniram. This time he spent hours raising hair-splitting objections, all of which Adoniram answered fully. Suddenly Maung Shway-gnong admitted that he did not believe a word of what he had been saying. He had merely been trying to test Adoniram and his religion.
"Do you think I would pay you the least attention if I found you could not answer all my questions and solve all my difficulties?" he said. He really did believe in God, in His son Jesus, and in the atonement. In short, he was a Christian at heart.
Adoniram was skeptical. "Do you believe all that is contained in the book of St. Matthew that I have given you? In particular, do you believe that the Son of God died on a cross?"
"Ah, you have caught me now," the old teacher admitted with some chagrin. "I believe that He suffered death. But I cannot admit He suffered the shameful death of the cross."
Adoniram, knowing Maung Shway-gnong, had expected the answer. It was difficult for a Burman, particularly a high-born scholar, to imagine a God who would permit His Son to undergo any kind of indignity. The whole idea was abhorrent. Adoniram pressed home its meaning: "Therefore you are not a disciple of Christ. A true disciple inquires not whether a fact is agreeable to his own reason, but whether it is in the book. His pride has yielded to the Divine testimony. Teacher, your pride is still unbroken. Break down your pride, and yield to the word of God."
Maung Shway-gnong stopped to think. Then he said: "As you utter those words I see my error. I have been trusting in my own reason, not in the word of God." Someone entered and he fell silent. When the intruder left after a little while, he said thoughtfully, "This day is different from all the days on which I have visited you. I see my error in trusting in my own reason; and I now believe the crucifixion of Christ, because it is contained in the Scripture." They talked for a while at random and the conversation led to the uncertainty of life. Maung Shway-gnong had a new thought. "I think I shall not be lost even though I should die suddenly."
"Why?"
"Because I love Jesus Christ."
"Do you really love Him?"
"No one that really knows Him can help loving Him," said the old man with feeling; and so departed.
Anderson, Courtney. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson (pp. 223-224). Judson Pr. Kindle Edition.
Pastor Travis Peterson 