<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE RELIGION OF ISLAM" Responding To Islam INTRODUCTION 1. Our study thus far has mostly focused on learning about Islam... a. How it began and its early history b. The origin, importance and content of the Qur'an c. Some of the faith and practices of Islam d. Whether or not Islam is a religion of peace e. Some comparisons between what Islam and Christianity teaches 2. In this final study, I wish to offer some thoughts on responding to Islam... a. How Christians might prepare themselves for trying to reach Muslims with the gospel b. What approach to use in seeking to convert a Muslim to Christ [There may be many effective ways to evangelize Muslims, but I doubt that any will succeed without proper...] I. PREPARATION FOR RESPONDING TO ISLAM A. REGARDING OUR CONDUCT... 1. Islam has much to be commended a. Submission to what they perceive to be the Will of God b. Dedication to what they believe is the Word of God c. Personal religious devotion as expressed by prayers, fasting, charity 2. Christians should certainly equal if not surpass the righteousness of Muslims a. Just as Jesus taught His disciples regarding the scribes and Pharisees - cf. Mt 5:20 b. Our submission to the Will of God should not be any less - Mt 6:33 c. Our dedication to the Word of God should be as fervent - Ja 1:21; 1Pe 2:2 d. Though not as formal or ritualistic... 1) Our prayers are to be fervent, without ceasing - Col 4:2; 1Th 5:17-18 2) Our fasting to be done to be seen of God, not men - Mt 6: 16-18 3) Our charity to be abundant - 1Ti 6:17-19 3. We must take the call of pure and nondenominational Christianity seriously a. Christ prayed for unity of believers, to convince the world - Jn 17:20-21 b. Paul condemned religious division, and so should wee - 1Co 1:10-13 -- The call to follow Christ will be hindered if Christians are less dedicated to their Lord than Muslims are to their Prophet! B. REGARDING OUR ATTITUDES... 1. Much harm has been done in the name of Christ a. As during the Crusades b. Or even today, through misrepresentation of beliefs, or name-calling (e.g., describing Muslims as "Mohammedans" or even worse, "rag heads") 2. Paul has listed the proper Christ-like attitudes - 2Ti 2: 24-26; Ga 6:1 a. Must not quarrel, but be gentle b. Must be able to teach, patient c. Must correct in humility, in a spirit of gentleness -- The gospel of Christ is more likely to be taken seriously when represented by those imbibed with the spirit of Christ! [With personal piety and graceful demeanor, the Christian is useful for the Master (cf. 2Ti 2:21). But when there are so many differences between Islam and Christianity, what approach does one take? Here are some thoughts on the matter...] II. APPROACH IN RESPONDING TO ISLAM A. WE MUST DEFINE THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE... 1. The crucial difference between Christianity and Islam is this: a. The Christian faith is based on the testimony of the apostles and first generation Christians 1) All that we know and believe about Jesus is based upon their word - cf. Jn 17:20 2) This testimony is found in the pages of the New Testament - cf. Jn 20:30-31 b. The Muslim faith is based on the testimony of the Rashidun ("rightly guided" caliphs) and first generation Muslims 1) All that they know and believe about Muhammad is based upon their word 2) They compiled the fragments of the revelations given to Muhammad and put them into the Koran forty years after his death 2. Once we admit our respective faiths are based on the testimony of these various witnesses... a. Our task is to examine their lives and teaching, to determine which is the more credible b. We must ask what possible motives could any of these witnesses have for lying, for someone (if not both) is lying 3. When we compare the lives and deaths of the apostles and first generation Christians with the lives of the first generation Muslims, we see a remarkable contrast... a. There is no reasonable ulterior motive that one can place on the Christians for their willingness to die for their faith; they received no power, fame, or money for their testimony - this gives weight to their testimony as true b. The Muslims, in contrast, spread their religion with the aid of a sword; they gained great wealth and power in the process - this makes their motives suspect and weakens their testimony -- The fundamental issue is this: Who are we going to believe? The apostles or the Rashidun? Who are the more credible witnesses? B. WE MUST EXAMINE BOTH THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE QUR'AN... 1. The key test is to compare the New Testament with the Koran a. To see which presents the higher standard of morality b. While this is somewhat subjective, I believe the fair minded person would agree that the New Testament presents a higher standard of morality c. The Qur'an reverts to a standard of morality equal to the Old Testament (even worse) 2. It basically comes to this: "faith comes from hearing the Word of God" - Ro 10:17 a. Muslims believes that if one will read the Qur'an objectively, it will convince a sincere person that it is from God b. I contend that if one will read both the New Testament and the Qur'an objectively... 1) A sincere person will see that that New Testament presents a higher plane 2) Supported by the lives and death of witnesses who suffered great hardship for no earthly gain 3. Muslims like to point out slight corruptions of the Bible in some manuscripts or translations a. Yet God has preserved it sufficiently to fulfill its intended task, as promised - Ps 12:6; Mt 24:35; 1Pe 1: 23-25 b. Which is to present to us the true Word of God, Jesus Christ - cf. Jn 1:1-5 4. Yet read the suras of Qur'an chronologically, in the order they were "revealed" a. One can see the gradual progression of the Islamic religion b. "Revelations" were received that changed previous "revelations", to accommodate current circumstances -- The Word of God (i.e., Bible) has the power to produce faith; the challenge for Muslims is to read it objectively, not for the purpose of trying to prove it wrong! CONCLUSION 1. There are many side issues that can easily distract efforts to evangelize Muslims... a. But as with all religious discussions, the key issue is one of authority b. What is our standard of authority in religion, and what evidence supports it as such? -- Which is why I suggest our focus in approaching Islam be on the credibility of those who gave us the Qur'an, and upon the Qur'an itself, in comparison with the New Testament and its authors 2. As stated at the beginning of this study, Christians need to become more familiar with Islam... a. To better understand world events, our neighbors, and in some cases, our enemies b. To be able to share the gospel of Christ with those who in many cases know the Bible better than many professing "Christians" 3. I hope this study has helped in that regard, and also to challenge Christians... a. To consider our own dedication to God b. Are Muslims more dedicated to God than we? Of course, dedication alone to God does not save, as Paul wrote regarding Israel... "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Ro 10:1-4) Can (should) we not say the same for the followers of Islam...?<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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