Aug 08 2008
“The Muslim Attitude”
Two months ago I asked our Chief Editor, a Muslim
background Christian of Arab ethnicity, to write a
narrative detailing the “field level” progression of our
ministry. This is the first of several updates that will
include some of his thoughts on ministering to
Muslims as well as fresh testimonies of Muslims that
are putting their faith in Christ.
As a backdrop, it is important to understand the
challenges we face in sharing the Gospel. This will
help you understand why we embrace a bridge
building approach and how it has helped us
overcome some of the same challenges Jesus faced
when reaching out to Samaritans or Romans.
Again, thank you for your support and prayers. I hope
that the forthcoming updates will educate and inspire
you.
Thoughts from our Chief Editor
Our Chief Editor is an Arab follower of Jesus living in a
Muslim country. As a young Muslim, he had a genuine
desire to know God. He met a very kind Syrian man in
a book store and they began to discuss literature. He
did not realize that this man was a Christian from a
Muslim background. Their relationship grew and
eventually his new friend gave him an Arabic Bible. As
he read the book of Isaiah and the
Gospels, God showed him who Jesus was. He has
followed Christ as Lord ever since. Needless to say,
we listen when he speaks.
In his own words, these are the challenges in
reaching Muslims for Christ:
- From a very early age, Muslims are
instructed
and warned against evangelism. - Evangelism is combated in a systematic way in
most Muslim countries. The penalty of conversion is
death in some countries like Saudi Arabia. In other
countries like Morocco there are systematic
campaigns against evangelism. - The Bible is outlawed in most Muslim countries.
Carrying or reading the Bible in public for a Muslim is
enough to raise suspicion or contempt. - The link between evangelism and colonial
occupation of Arab territories has always been a
boiling issue among Muslims. The majority of
Muslims believe the events in Afghanistan, Palestine,
and Iraq are part of a large-scale policy to Christianize
the ‘Land of Islam,’ and thus converts are viewed as
traitors or Western recruits to facilitate this ‘colonial
Christianizing undertaking.’ - Conversion to Christianity is viewed as an act that
brings lifelong shame on the convert, and separates
one from the community for the rest of his or her
life.
With so many fundamental challenges, how could a
Western Christian hope to successfully share the
Gospel with an Arab Muslim? History has proven that
the challenge is indeed daunting. That is why we
listen to and serve Muslim background Christians that
have been fruitful and effective in reaching Muslims.
They embody Arab culture and carry Christ’s spirit.
They are able to build a relational bridge that we have
found difficult to build.
In the coming months you will read stories about their
success.
Closing Thoughts
In Luke 4: 18, 19 Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Read the rest of the chapter and note how often Jesus
went outside of the Jewish culture to “preach the
gospel to the poor”. This is why we go with Him to the
Muslim world. His gospel is for every man and
woman. He has promised that out of every tribe and
nation there will be Kingdom citizens. Do you see
Muslims as future family or as enemies?
