We often delve into the culture here to pull out local elements to help illustrate spiritual points. If asked, “What do you think of the teaching you have heard in God’s Word? Do you agree with it?” You would get an emphatic “YES! It’s great!” from many of those who come or listen. They love it, they want to embrace it, they want to believe it… BUT they also want to hold on to a back-up plan. Many think that they can keep their current beliefs and religious system in their back pockets while trying to embrace this new teaching. They believe but not in an exclusive sense. It is not a belief with the whole heart. We used the following illustration to help them understand that God wants full surrender and full embrace!
In order for a divorce to be finalized one of the parties must pay what is called an “etalakha,” a symbolic payment of one of the smallest coins in circulation that signifies the marriage is finally over. Lots of people divorce but not finally. As long as the etalakha is not paid the possibility of reconciliation remains. A woman may be divorced but she is not free to remarry someone else until the etalakha has been paid. This is like the final divorce settlement. If a man proposes marriage to another woman when he has still not paid the etalakha to his ex-wife he will not be taken seriously. She knows full well that in his heart he is still holding out hope that he can go back to his first wife. He is trying to leave the “back door” open, so to speak, with his ex-wife!
We took this example from their culture to show people that God will not take us seriously until we turn to Him and trust what He did for us with a whole heart and no back-up plans. It is an all or nothing issue for Him. When they heard this illustration they all laughed and said “You really do know us, that is us.” The illustration helped to bring home a point that continues to be a struggle for many of those who have heard the message of the Gospel. Pray that they embrace the truth with their whole heart!