Christianity and Islam
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The war in the Middle East has again thrust us into the Arab-Israeli conflict. We are seeing both raging anti-Semitism and hatred of Muslims in our cities and on university campuses. Unfortunately, we are also witnessing the persecution, even murder, of Palestinians in this country. This is abhorrent. How should we, as Christians, respond to these situations? How can we interact with Muslims we may come in contact with?
For many years my wife and I lived and worked in a strict Muslim country. I would like to share some of what we learned as we attempted to share Jesus with Muslims.
The first thing we need to understand is that not all Muslims are terrorists. Yes, some are. Some so-called “Christians” are also terrorists. But not all Muslims are violent terrorists even if they don't condemn the atrocities of Hamas. True, very few Muslims would publicly speak out in opposition to a terrorist attack, especially those living in a Muslim country. But that’s not because they agree with the terrorists. It’s because they too are afraid of the terrorists. You have to understand how Islam works. Islam is a religion of performance—not belief, but submission, submission to the standard of expected performance and fear of being different. The word “Islam” means submission and a Muslim is one who submits. That is the foundation of Islam. To be a good Muslim you perform the daily prayers, you perform the fast, you give to the poor, you perform the hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). It’s all a matter of performance. Questioning Islam is dangerous and strongly discouraged. In a Muslim country, questioning the tenets of Islam can get you killed.
Many Muslims would privately be repulsed by the terrorism yet publicly support it to show that they are good Muslims. Silence does not give consent. Silence results from fear.
I am personally acquainted with terrorism. In 2002 our church was bombed by a fanatic Muslim terrorist, resulting in five deaths and many serious injuries. As I walked through the halls of the hospital caring for the injured, I was stopped by several Muslims who expressed how sorry they were for the attack and said they stood with us against violence. They were sincere, yet I believe if we had had that encounter in a crowded mosque, they would have been on the side of the terrorist.
We also need to understand the Muslim worldview and how it relates to sharing the gospel with a Muslim—and this would apply to Muslims we meet in this country as well. In the West we have this strange thing called “separation of church and state”. You all know what it is. But it is not a universal concept. It is totally foreign to Islam. In a Muslim country everything is related to Islam. I would often ride in a taxi in Pakistan, and sometimes I would comment on the bumpy road. Several times the taxi driver replied, “This is Islam!” I would think, what do potholes in the road have to do with Islam? Well, it has everything to do with Islam because Islam includes everything. Their families are Islamic, their schools are Islamic, their military is Islamic, their banking system is Islamic, their commerce is Islamic, their hospitals are Islamic, and their cemeteries are Islamic. Islam covers every aspect of their lives from birth to death. And when they are finally laid in a Muslim grave, their head is tied in the prescribed Muslim way and the dirt is thrown on the grave according to Islam.
So, when we come and say, “I want you to become a Christian,” we are asking them to turn against their family, reject their culture, become a traitor to their country, and possibly be a total outcast without so much as a place to be buried when they die. It is not just a change in belief—it is a major life-changing decision.
This cultural situation has another side of it too. When Muslims look at our society, they expect it to be the same as theirs. Ours is a “Christian” country, so everything that comes out of America, in their way of thinking, is a product of Christianity. That includes our military intervention in Muslim countries. It includes our politics. It also includes all our movies. Everything that Hollywood produces is “Christian.” And the pornography that we produce, that’s all “Christian” pornography. Our alcoholism and drug consumption is also a product of Christianity in their minds.
So, when we glibly say, “We want you to become a Christian”, the message they receive is, “I want you to turn against your father, your culture, and your country and join a religion that practices immorality, produces pornography, gets drunk, eats pig meat, allows their wives to sleep with everyone, and worships three Gods.” And they say, “No Way!” The Gospel is rejected because we have not separated it from our culture.
So, we are faced with the task of presenting Christ without promoting Christianity. They don’t need another religion. They are up to their eyeballs in religion. They need a Savior, a relationship with a living loving God who can take away their sins and give them the peace that Islam could never provide.
Finally, here are some tips on how to talk to a Muslim. First, what not to do:
Don’t degrade Muhammad, the Quran, their religion, or their culture.
Don’t get into politics or defend our government.
Don’t use passages from the Quran.
Don’t talk in groups. Make it personal, friend to friend, alone. Take time to develop relationships.
Don’t debate. Proof texts are no substitute for knowing God.
What to do:
Use the Scripture with authority—refer to it as God’s Word.
Ask questions. Let them draw conclusions.
Start with basics—God, sin, man. Don’t rush to the Gospel.
Talk about your relationship. To a Muslim, God is far removed from his creation and cannot be approached.
Talk in parables. Be prepared with many stories for illustration.
Be prepared to answer hard questions. Common questions or comments are:
Jesus never claimed to be God.
The Bible is corrupted.
The New Testament predicted the arrival of Mohammad. (John 14:16 etc.)
Finally, what about Mohammad?
Don’t bring him up, but be prepared for questions about him.
Don’t say anything bad about him—let them draw their own conclusion.
Here are two possible responses when you are asked about Mohammad:
Show biblical qualifications for a prophet and ask if Mohammad meets those standards. This is dangerous and can only be done with trusted friends.
A safer way is to say, “I don’t know much about him. I know about Jesus and what Jesus did for me. You are Muslim—you tell me about Mohammad and what he has done for you.” (When they are unable to think of anything that Mohammad has done for them, go ahead and tell them what Jesus has done for you.)
Remember that the Bible comes out of an eastern culture, much closer to the culture of many Muslims than to our culture. Expect to learn more about Scripture by understanding their culture. Ask questions and show appreciation.