It is estimated that there are more than nine million Muslims in North America and fifty-two million in Europe today! Half of global births will be Muslims by the year 2055 if present trends continue. Over 80% of American converts to Islam were raised in a Christian church. The main reasons that these trends have gone largely unnoticed are that most American Muslims are in larger metropolitan centers and 85% are African-American. Muslim prison chaplains have been trained by terrorist to recruit and radicalize inmates. Islamic imams are able to convert America’s prison felons because Islam appeals to the mentality of the aggressor. A rapist’s, a killer’s, or a child molester’s criminal appetites and resentment of the West are legitimized in one simple step. Muslims have tried to both understand and meet prisoners’ definite felt needs. Prison authorities say the return to crime and imprisonment is lower among Muslims than other groups. It must be stated that much of the reason for the faster growth of Islam is simply higher birth rates among Muslims – Muslims are just having far more children than Christians. As the trend is just beginning in America, it is time to become informed and prepared for what promises to be the church’s greatest challenge ever.

 

 There are good reasons why it is appropriate for a Christian to extend grace towards a Muslim. There is probably a migration of Muslims to the West because they prefer living in freedom under democracy to living under the totalitarian regimes in Muslim countries. Because of their strong family identification, many Muslims will move to places where they can stay in their sub-groups. If God is the sovereign Lord of history, then the Muslim presence in Western nations must be part of His purpose. God has allowed the influx of millions of God-fearing Muslims at precisely the time when Western societies are walking away from Judeo-Christian principles, in favor of godless secularism. If the Christian and Muslim religions are compared side-by-side in terms of actual behavior, you would see that many Muslims are actually more religious (in practical terms, i.e., prayers, traditions, and duties) than many Christians. The presence of Muslims in Western nations should be seen by Christians as a kind of spiritual reinforcement in the battle for biblical morality in societies where secularism is its biggest threat. Muslims regard the Judeo-Christian moral framework higher than most secular westerners – a response to the Muslim means holding the West’s (secular) moral high-ground more lightly and approaching the Muslim sense of morality with more humility. Has God brought Muslims into the Western “free” world where they can hear the Gospel more easily than in the Muslim world? Will Christians be more concerned about the salvation of Muslims than our own success so we can be used by God to set many free from their sins and penalty in the next life? Christians have a specific command from Jesus to communicate the good news about Him to be carried out under the constraint of love (2 Cor. 5:14). We have the greatest commandment: Love God and love people. Love has always been and will always be the strongest force in the universe. The whole message of god can be summarized on one short sentence: Love God and love people.

 

There have been military, mental, and migratory Muslim incursions into Europe in the past. Islam has again set its sights on a conquest of Europe and European civilization. Europe is probably the number one target today in the world for Muslim strategists seeking world dominance. Western Europe has been flooded with Muslims coming from Muslim countries. They include: guest workers, immigrants, refugees, students, businesspeople, tourists, and European Muslims. Muslims are free to proselytize in the West and grow – they are taking advantage of Western religious tolerance in order to expand their base of operation. 

 

Islam has its strategy and battle plans in place, but it still has many weaknesses that are not acknowledged. Many Muslims argue against the use of terrorism because of its potential to provoke the more powerful West into action. They feel Islam will achieve its goal without the need for terrorism. As the Muslim minority in Europe (and North America) grows, it will press harder on the native culture to bow to its demands. Compromising freedom of speech and expression is the first dagger in the heart of Western societies. Appeasement is the result of accommodating Muslim people who refuse to assimilate and prefer domination over assimilation. Eventually, we can expect the civil wars that happened in Lebanon and Bosnia to take place in Western Europe. Remember, Islamic communities are directed by their theology when they are strong enough to take up arms and impose Islamic law. Islam probably will not succeed if we awaken to its threat in time; however, if there is not adequate planned resistance it does have a better chance of succeeding.

 

There are at least ten reasons why Christians should witness to Muslims in Western nations: 1 – Jesus’ Christ Great Commission (Matt. 28:19); 2 – Islam is the world’s second largest and fastest growing religion – it may overtake Christianity in only 7 to 17 years; 3 – It is the only religion that denies core Christian beliefs. The Qur’an not only denies these doctrines, but actually expresses utter distain for them. It also curses people who believe these things; 4 – Christianity and Islam cannot be reconciled – the two religions contradict one another at the deepest level (they are incompatible); 5 – The Qur’an commands Muslims to wage war against Jews and Christians until they either convert to Islam or are subdued as second-class dhimmis; 6 – The call to kill and enslave all other faiths’ members is what makes Islam different from other religions; 7 – God is calling Muslims around the world to Jesus Christ in greater numbers than any other time in history; 8 – If God is the sovereign Lord of history, then the Muslim presence in Western nations must be part of His purpose; 9 - Today, there are more than 13,000 mosques in North America. If your church has either a Muslim mosque or community center within a 5 mile radius, then you are probably affected by Islam’s influence even if you don’t realize it! ; and 10 – A detailed document has been found by the F.B.I. that outlines radical Islam’s plans to establish an Islamic government in North America. The church assembly of Christian believers should wake up to its privilege and bearer of Jesus Christ’s good news especially to Muslims in Western nations. Yet sadly, the Christian church has essentially ignored these Muslims! 

Today, would Western Christians still be able to remain faithful to Christ if it meant our families would suffer greatly? What if the day came and we are called to surrender all of our things because of our faith in Jesus Christ? Down through the ages Christians have been able to make the right choice because they kept their eyes on the eternal prize – Heaven! A Muslim in the Islamic religion is probably the hardest type of people group to witness to by a Christian. They have been brainwashed daily since they were born that Islam is the "right way" and that Jews and Christians are "infidels" and must either be converted to Islam, subdued as second-class dhimmis, or killed! It is simply so hard to witness to Muslims that Western Christians will not be successful to any degree unless through an organized church "Muslim Witness Training program." I hope to give you some information to help you befriend a Muslim and practical tips on how to live a life that's truly Good News to a Muslim.

 

Information about secret Muslim believers in Christ present Western Christians with four challenges: 1 - to love all Muslims by giving them the Good News, 2 - to forgive them when we’re attacked, 3 - to live lives totally committed to Jesus Christ, and 4 - to engage in the real war – the spiritual war between Satan and God! 

 

Challenge 1: Do we view Muslims as enemies? Or are we seeking to win them to Christ? Is it possible that we are concentrating too much on the threat of Muslim fundamental groups? Are we doing everything in our power to make sure that Muslims who may want to come to Christ have that opportunity? Challenge 2: Are we going to seek revenge when we’re attacked? Should we not offer forgiveness instead? By offering forgiveness, Jesus removes the barrier between a sinful people and a loving, forgiving, and giving God. Forgiveness is the power that can truly change the world. Challenge 3: What would happen if we accepted the challenge of Islam by striving as Christians to imitate Christ? The problem is that Muslims look at the West and think they are viewing Christianity, and they want nothing to do with it – in their minds, religion is not separated from culture and politics. Isn’t the problem that we love ourselves more than we love the people in the world (including Muslims) whom God loves. Challenge 4, Part A: Are we really convinced that we are engaged in a spiritual war? If so, shouldn’t we commit to a life of prayer? If they hate us, we have to love them more than their hate. Challenge 4, Part B: In this war are we willing to do anything even lay down our lives to advance the kingdom of God? Until we are willing to give up all we consider important in this life and whatever Christ requires of us to be His disciples and accomplish His work – the world will not take the church seriously. In this spiritual war there will be casualties. If following Christ means risking my life so that others may know Him – that is not too great a price.    

 

Prayer is absolutely the most significant power available to mankind. Yet sadly, it is significantly neglected, even within the Christian Church. Many nations will be completely dominated by the Antichrist (Mahdi), but not every nation will completely fall to him. God’s Word tells us we should pray frequently with many requests. How should we pray for missionaries and the people whom they work to save? The Holy Spirit has given us many examples in the Bible as how to pray to assist the work. God desires us to actually wrestle with Him in prayer, not only for our own souls and our families, but also for the very nations that we live in and call home. Never underestimate the ability of prevailing prayer to effect reality and the final end of any matter. The Lord has given us the ability to affect the measure of His mercy verses the measure of His judgment that will touch our homes, cities, regions and even our nations. So now is the time to cry out for God’s mercy for the days to come. We can beseech God to give us more time and to pour out revival on our nations before these dark days come.

 

An overcomer is a person who does not allow fear to overcome them but rather overcomes fear with love. An overcomer does not allow hatred to overcome them but rather overcomes hatred with reconciliation. Jesus said it “. . . Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” If a Muslim mistreats you, then try to reconcile when possible. Every time the memory of hurt comes back we must forgive, again and again. At the same time we should pray for the person who mistreated us. If we consistently pray for the person who has mistreated us, God is free to work on our hearts to free us and open our opponent’s heart. While the primary purpose of outreach is to offer the message of salvation and life abundant to our Muslim neighbors, there are also some very powerful benefits that we receive as well – that we find ourselves in an ongoing and continual state of conversion and transformation. Christians in the twenty-first century are called to proclaim with passion and faithfulness the good news to the House of Islam, so that our Muslim friends do not any longer worship in ignorance but discover the divine gift of salvation and love available to them in Jesus Christ!

 

We must become ambassadors of Christ’s love to those who declare themselves sworn enemies of the cross. We are to act according to the mandate of our Lord and love Muslims along with other neighbors, even though some in the Muslim world call for jihad against all infidels. Our responsibility is to pray for our own renewal, the renewal of the church, and for the responsiveness of the world around us, that God will use us in love and power to effectively reach the world for Christ. We will have something compelling to say to the Muslim world when we have discovered once again our first love and find ourselves intoxicated with Christ – saying something powerful enough to free Muslims from slavery to the written word of the Qur’an, to the liberty of the living Spirit of God. God is calling Muslims around the world to follow Jesus Christ in greater numbers than at any other time in history. Christians should ask themselves why (at a time when the West is so secularized) God has chosen to allow many millions of Muslims to settle here? Why are Christians not seizing this opportunity? One major answer lies in the alarming discovery that followers of Islam can be far more devoted and willing to acknowledge and apply their faith in public than many church goers. Stronger religious convictions seem to prevail over weaker ones. Uncompromised principles attract greater loyalty when supported by negative emotions. What might God be saying to the marginalized western church – struggling with its spiritual mandate? Also, what is God saying to western governments and to secular society in general?

 

When we disobey God and attempt to live life without His law, we bring negative consequences upon ourselves and others. The root cause of war is sin, and victory over sin and death was achieved at Calvary. The task of the Christian in the War on Terror is to reflect on the horror of war – this makes us alive to the reality of sin and humanity’s need for the gospel. If we are filled with praise for the wonders of God’s salvation, we should cry out for the world to know it. This should lead us to devote all our energy to proclaiming the gospel to the world – calling it to repentance and true life (and working as peacemakers). It is vital to remember that we do this as “Citizens of Heaven” – the church as a new nation made up of people called out of every nation on earth. As Christians, our primary loyalty should be to the kingdom of heaven. The church is particularly susceptible to making the mistake of allegiance the wrong way during wartime such as the War on Terror.

 

In America, a Muslim’s conversion to Christ seldom destroys the new believer’s family relationships; however, it can. The church needs to have a program to provide support when needed. Elsewhere, a conversion often means rejection by family, expulsion from country, and in some cases facing a possible death sentence – here, the church defiantly needs to be ready to help. Christians need to understand a Muslim’s hesitation to convert because of implications. Many ex-Muslims who are now Christians have suffered a great deal of persecution from their countries and families. A person’s entire life is altered, affecting heritage, inheritance, family connections, and friendships. To become a Christian in Islamic countries you may face torture and imprisonment or become destitute without a home or job. At least half of all Muslim converts return to Islam. The loneliness and the pressure from family, community, and Islamic groups are simply too great.

 

You cannot end your relationship with a Muslim after his prayer of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Without extra attention, the new Muslim convert is likely to be drawn back to Islam. You need to help him to settle into a church. Someone from the church needs to accept responsibility for this person to grow in Christ – the new convert must be accountable to this person on a daily basis at first and later on a weekly basis. The Muslim’s convert’s source for knowing how to live the Christian life must be Jesus, not other Christians. He must use the Word to decide whether or not he is doing the right things. The new believer must know that he can take any doubts or questions that Satan causes to either his mentor or church leader. The church needs to find out about the financial needs of the new believer – if he or she needs help getting a job or paying bills. A Muslim convert will usually suffer from losing family, home, and Muslim society – he needs to feel that he has a new home at the church. The new believer will be vulnerable to influences from the Muslim life that was left behind for two to three years. If the convert remains immersed in Muslim society, other Muslims will try to make the new believer change his mind and return to Islam. After the believer is firmly grounded in faith, then she or he can go back and share the gospel with other Muslims.

 

Due to the complexities encountered, the individual Christian witness to Muslims should be part of an organized group that is provided leadership by the Christian church "Muslim Witness Training" program. Your church can take the first step today in establishing a "Muslim Witness Training" program by clicking www.crescentproject.org/index.cfm/pageID/1616/index.html. You can obtain their Bridges Leader and Small group Kits. These are professional training materials that cover how Christians should connect with Muslims!

 

 

 

It is helpful to focus on the things we have in common. Refer to the “Muslim Witness Sheet” (Appendix II on page 12-17) for suggested ideas in witnessing. It contains thoughtful suggestions a Christian should consider before attempting to witness to a Muslim. Christians need to be absolutely sure that Muslims need to be saved and can be saved before tackling what can be a delicate and even dangerous mission – it must be entirely for their sakes, not ours. The kind of Muslim that is open to being witnessed to just happen to be the type that has migrated to North America – secular and moderate. Secular Muslims are nominal believers, perhaps even agnostics. They know very little about their religion, the Qur’an, and Muslim traditions. They believe in the nice parts about Islam, but they reject the call to jihad. Secular Muslims live life very much like secular Westerners or Christians. They are open to discussion about a variety of topics in life: the arts, sports, politics, philosophy, current events, and religion.

 

Moderate Muslims practice their faith by praying up to five times a day or as often as they can fit it into their schedule. They read the Qur’an occasionally, fast during the month of Ramadan, and hope to visit Mecca someday on a pilgrimage. A moderate Muslim woman will probably not wear a head scarf or dress conservatively. A moderate man is not likely to visit a mosque regularly. They often enjoy friendships with both Muslims and non-Muslims. Moderate Muslims enjoy discussing topics with Christians related to theology and spiritual discipline and recognize that in many respects they have more in common with practicing Christians than they do with secular members of Western society. However, remember they are people who study Islam, know it and practice it, but they have a stumbling block with the concept of jihad.

 

Five practical thoughts on how to reach out in friendships in the name of Jesus to a Muslim neighbor includes: 1 - Have fun! - Have a good time; 2 - Have no agenda; 3 - Be A-Religious (in other words, don't be religious) - don't be defensive, don't argue, and don't carry yourself as if you know all truth; 4 - Adapt to the religious forms of your Muslim friends - Talk about Jesus in every nonreligious way possible, get involved in their lives - this takes time, never invite them to a Bible study - invite them to a discussion group, bring in the neighbors on the decision to meet, and remember that these people are worth more than our plans; and 5 - Be yourself - share Jesus only when you want to, do what you're good at doing, and say what you believe.

 

Six suggestions for a Christian beginning a conversation with Muslims include: 1 - Don't insult Muhammad, and don't be flippant with religious phrases or with God or your Bible; 2 - Do everything you can to keep it from becoming a me-versus-you debate; 3 - Show interest in your Muslim friend's faith because you are interested in them and what they think about God; 4 - Be genuine and patient; 5 - When speaking about Jesus: Use his title with respect, i.e., Jesus the Christ; and 6 - Many Muslims are pleasantly surprised when they see someone praying, reading a Bible, or treating religious things with a sense of devotion. Muslims are happy to talk about matters of faith and Jesus Christ specifically. Their understanding of him and his work isn't the same as ours, but to engage a Muslim in a serious conversation about Jesus of Nazareth is easy. At the beginning of a relationship stick with conversations about the Scriptures, God, and Jesus. Keep in mind the Muslim's perception of the deity of Christ, his son ship, and the cross, and go there when your new friend is ready and Holy Spirit is leading.

  

Christianity and Islam agree on some points of theology – spiritual disciplines such as fasting and giving to the poor, a belief in personal holiness, and belief in prayer to God. Broadly speaking, a list of beliefs shared by Christians and Muslims include: 1 – There is one God, the Creator of heaven and earth; 2 – God sent His inspired Word as the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and the New Testament (Gospels); 3 – Jesus was conceived without sin in the womb of the Virgin Mary and lived a sinless life; 4 – Jesus performed miracles including healing the blind, the deaf, the demon-posed, and raising the dead; and 5 – Jesus will return to Earth again to intercede for humans at the Last Judgment.

 

The way people see and process their environment is a worldview. A Muslim’s worldview is impacted by three driving forces: honor, the Bedouin ideal, and Islamic traditions. Honor is an actual commodity to Muslims, which can be sold or bought, added to, and subtracted from. Education, generosity, and wealth adds to family honor and is highly valued. The Arabic term Bedouin means “one who wanders” and is very important in Muslim culture. The Old Testament Hebrew culture is almost point-by-point in line with the Muslim worldview.

 

Some of the significant culture values that impact (->) a Muslim/Eastern society worldview include: Time orientation -> past (traditions); Time usage -> punctually not important; Honor -> all important; Status -> usually inherited; Change -> little value (often shunned) ; Rights -> society is most important; Relationships -> people more important; Sin -> an external mistake; Family -> extended; Aging -> leads to greater respect, increased decision-making; Discipline -> external, (shame, by family); Blame -> avoided, transferred; Confrontation -> usually indirect (third person or through a story); and Hospitality -> essential and honorable.

 

The six Islam articles of faith include: 1 - First, there is Allah - there is one true Allah, and there is none other; 2 - The angels - Angels are the servants of Allah; 3 - The Holy Books - Muslims treat their holy books with great reverence: The Taureh (Torah), The Zabur (Psalms of David), The Injil (the Gospels), The Hadith (Series of traditions and precedents set in place by Muhammad's life), and The Qur'an (Holiest book in Islam); 4 - The Prophets: Six are considered major : Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (regarded as the "seal of the prophets" - the one who has rendered all prophecy complete and final); 5 - The Day of Judgment: The greatly feared day in which Allah will weigh every man's deeds and determine his eternal fate; and 6 - Predestination: Because God is supreme and all-powerful, fate is understood to be predetermined by Allah and therefore his will is final and absolute.

 

The structure of Islam is based upon five pillars of religion (five basic tenets) that Muslims are required to observe: 1 - The Testimony (Shahadah) There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah; 2 - The Fast (Sawm) observed primarily during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar; 3 - Giving (Zakat) By and large, each Muslim is required to give at least 2.5 % of their assets to the poor; 4 - Prayer (Salat) Muslims are required to pray at certain times each day: at sunrise, shortly after noon, midafternoon, after sundown, and after nightfall; and 5 - Pilgrimage (Hajj) All Muslims who are able are required to make a journey to Mecca.

 

Muslims making their journey toward the Kingdom require six things: 1 – Prayer by the saints (Christians): Jesus’ followers are commanded by the Bible to be alert, devoted to prayer, and to pray continually – for laborers for the harvest field, for opportunities to share the Gospel, and for the salvation of those outside the Kingdom; 2 – Friendship with at least one genuine Christian : friendships with Muslims take longer to develop compared to our Western relationships, and trust is given more slowly. Once trust is given, it usually lasts longer and goes deeper. Significant commitment is required to build these types of friendships; 3 – Making the Bible culturally relevant: exposure to God’s Word is required for the Holy Spirit to spark new life even if we have good friendships with Muslims. Question-asking is probably the most helpful initial technique, followed by telling stories and using analogies; 4 – Building bridges through Muslim culture: the Lord has commanded Christians to take the Gospel to the lost. Three natural bridges already exist that are dear and near to the heart’s of all Muslims: the Qur’an, their holy book; their prophet Muhammad’s sayings contained in their traditions; and Muslim’s proverbs; 5 – The ‘wooing” of the spirit: God has chosen, forgiven, and redeemed Christians, and even our ability to respond must be awakened by Him. This is beyond our human understanding; and 6 – The insider approach: you should pray that the Spirit of God will “woo” your Muslim friend to place their trust in Jesus and enter the Kingdom. Then, you will become a spiritual mentor to your friend, who will probably ask hard questions about what they should do. Our job is to make sure our friend knows of the options to stay or leave Islamic culture as the Holy Spirit leads.

 

Most Muslims long for committed friendships with godly, moral people they can trust and with whom they can share life’s experiences. Christians that are authentic about their faith are appreciated by Muslims. A Christian’s Muslim friend would be very happy for us to pray with him. It would be good for your Muslim friend to be able to see how natural our relationship with God is – show how meaningful prayer is to us. A Muslim will appreciate giving thanks for God’s many blessings, and praising Him. He will be deeply touched and grateful if you pray for him and his family. Christians can pray that they may receive His mercy and His healing power (in the case of ill-health).

 

How do we live out our faith as Christians in an authentic but non-offensive manner with Muslims without wounding their sense of identity? 1 – Take your time to get to know the Muslims to be a friend first; 2 – Always ask God to direct your conversations; 3 – Study about Islam and its view of Christ; 4 – When appropriate offer to pray for your Muslim friend; 5 – Be careful that your attire doesn’t offend Muslims – respect their customs; 6 – Be sensitive by avoiding parading or advertising your religious beliefs with stickers, posters, knick knacks, and jewelry, which many Muslims find sacrilegious or offensive; 7 – Share passages from the Bible (specifically the Gospels) that speak to your Muslim friend’s circumstances; 8 – Share proverbs, stories, and poems; 9 – Invite them to your home for Easter or Christmas; 10 – Give Muslims a gift – worship music, a book of prayers, or a Bible in their own language; 11 – Visit those in mourning and the sick; 12 – You should handle your Bible with care; 13 – Deep spiritual discussions should be limited to men with men, and women with women; 14 – Never speak of or argue about their religion in derogatory terms; and 15 – Seek to understand their worldview by listening attentively. Graciously point Muslims to Jesus in a way that is relevant to their life experience and level of spiritual interest by first sharing how Christ makes a difference in your life.

 

Practical Muslim witness considerations must be considered: Do not eat pork in front of Muslims. Never greet a Muslim or offer anything with the left hand, because the left hand is used for personal hygiene. Do not refer to a Muslim as your brother befriending him, because a Christian is not accepted as a brother. It is a personal affront to decline hospitality that a Muslim offers you. Show appreciation and eat whatever is given you without question and thank him for it.

 

Common Muslim questions and knowledgeable Christian responses include: 1 - Do you believe the Qur'an is God's inspired book? - Realize that the Qur'an would never have been written unless God allowed it to be written; 2 - Do you believe Muhammad is a true prophet of God? - Recognize that Muhammad wanted his people to return to the one true God, and demonstrate your respect for that tradition; 3 - Has the Bible been changed? - If you feel it is the right time in your relationship to begin pushing the boundaries, you can point out what the Qur'an itself says about the Bible: The Taureh (Torah) was given to Moses by God, The Zabur (Palms) was given to David by God, The Injeel (Gospels) was given to Jesus the Messiah by God, and numerous times the Qur'an says of itself that it is a confirmation of the Bible that was before it; 4 - How can God have a son? - To the Muslim, the idea of Jesus being transferred to earth as a "word from God" or a "spirit from heaven" is normal; and 5 - Was Jesus crucified? - Muslims think it is against God's nature, or even his capability, to allow such a prophet to be killed by human hands. At the same time, Muslims believe that Jesus ascended to God, and that at the end of time he will come to earth again.

 

Muslims defense of the Qur’an and Christian responses includes: 1 – To those who approach the Qur’an with reverence, it confirms itself as inspired by Allah. No – a book that claims to be God’s Word should be read with honest doubt; 2 – The way the Qur’an sounds so beautiful in Arabic is evidence of divine inspiration. All such talk has one goal – to distract readers from the reality of the Qur’an pseudo moralizing, repetitiveness, and violence; 3 – Seeming weakness in the Qur’an are due to the inability of other languages to communicate what it expresses in Arabic. If the Qur’an makes full sense only in Arabic, it is not a revelation for all mankind; 4 – Such a literary masterpiece could not come from an illiterate man. A novice expects to feel inspired as he begins reading – boredom quickly chills expectation. If every story or statement that is repeated were given only once, the Qur’an would slim down to about 40 percent of its length; 5 – Violence against Jews and other non-Muslims was justified at Islam’s beginning, but no one need fear Muslim violence now. By Muhammad’s day over 1,000 years had passed since any Hebrew prophet was described in the O.T. as using a sword in the service of God; 6 – Blame Christians and Jews, not Muhammad, for the differences that exist between Biblical stories and Muhammad’s revisions. Allah would not confirm anything that had been corrupted. The fact is Muhammad himself did not regard the Old and New Testaments as corrupted; 7 – God gave Ishmael’s descendants, the Arabs. a revelation in Arabic for his descendants? Muhammad offered Arabs three things: himself as a prophet, his Qur’an as Holy Scripture, and his Allah – centered monotheism as basis for let's-get-equal-with-Christians-and-Jews effort; 8 – When either a newsperson or a Muslim says the predictable – You are a Muslim basher! Say, Islam is its own basher since it denies basic freedoms to its own people, especially women; 9 – The question, do you as a Christians believe that God does not hear the prayers of Muslims or Jews? Say, God is not deaf and hears every prayer before it is prayed. However, He may answer or decline to answer any given prayer; and 10 – On the question, do you believe Muslims are going to hell? Say, the Qur’an itself warns that we as infidels and even many Muslims are going to hell in 783 verses!

 

Christian should consider these following points making use of scriptures: 1 – Handle the Bible carefully – do not put it on the floor, nor place it on our laps; 2 – Treat the Bible lovingly – it is the Word of God and life to us; 3 – Employ the Bible authoritatively – do not argue its case, or defend it; 4 – Use the Bible prayerfully – Know which aspects of teaching within the Scriptures are those that the Holy Spirit wants us to use on any particular occasion; and 5 – Use the Qur’an only with extreme caution – using it may give the impression that you are accepting these writings on an equal footing with the Bible. Also, the Qur’an is said to be only reliable in Arabic and we are able to quote it in Arabic as the imams do.

 

Christians may want to tell Muslims too much on any one occasion. We need to ask that the Holy Spirit will prepare the heart of the Muslim, pray for wisdom to speak to him in a sensitive and relevant way. Christians must be careful in choosing their words, and explain the meaning of terms that can be misunderstood. We must use vocabulary that is both pertinent and understandable to Muslims even if speaking English is appropriate. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom to share Christ in a way that may be understood, and that He will apply His saving grace to the Muslim heart. Christians have to handle the Muslim misconception of the Trinity with great care, if we are to break through Muslim prejudice which is based purely on a misunderstanding of what they think we believe. There is no appreciation of Allah as the God of love in Islam, because Muslims believe that he is remote and unknowable, and no one is capable of having a relationship with Allah. We should not present the whole gospel all at once. Be patient and do not rush what you are doing. Sharing the Gospel with Muslims must be done strictly using the wise strategy of men talking with men and women talking with women. Understand that Muslims have not rejected the gospel – they have not understood its message.

 

Christians should consider ten specific strategies when sharing the gospel with Muslims: 1 – Use the Word of God. Muslims respect the sacred books: the Law of Moses, the Book of Psalms, the Gospels, and the Qur’an; 2 – Pray constantly – it is the Holy Spirit who wins men to Christ; 3 – Be a genuine friend. Show it by inviting them to your home, sharing your time and helping with their problems; 4 – Ask thought-provoking questions about God and the Bible. Example – Do you assume that God will accept you? 5 – Listen attentively after you ask a question – courtesy requires that you listen to the answer no matter how long it takes; 6 – Present your beliefs openly. State what you believe, clearly and without apology, showing scripture passages that support those teachings. Talk about sin and how it affects our lives; 7 – Reason, don’t argue – argument may win a point but lose a hearing; 8 – Never denigrate Muhammad or the Qur’an. This is as offensive to them as speaking disrespectfully about Christ or the Bible is to us; 9 – Respect their customs and sensitivities: Speaking too freely about sex (Muslims don’t speak about sex – it is considered dirty), making jokes about sacred topics such as fasting, prayer or God; 10 – Preserver – don’t give up. Muslims have a lot of rethinking to do when they are confronted with the gospel. However, the Word of God will do its work in the Holy Spirit’s good time.

 

Muslims in the Middle East probably can understand Jesus' parables more immediately the Christians, since they are closer to the culture of Jesus' day than us. When applying the teachings of Jesus the Messiah, Christians should be able to use the Gospel parables systematically to great effect CONCERNING SIN: The proud Pharisee and the corrupt tax collector (Luke 18:9-14); The rich fool (Luke12:16-21); and Ceremonial and real defilement compared – Jesus teaches about inner purity (Matthew 15:1-20); GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY TOGETHER WITH OUR NEED FOR REPENTANCE: The lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7); The lost coin (Luke 15:8-10); and The lost son (Luke 15:11-32); THE JUDGMENT OF GOD: The wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30); and The fishing net (Matthew 13:47-50); GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN’S SALVATION: The wedding banquet (feast – emphasizing the need for righteousness) (Matthew 22:1-14); and The vineyard tenants (The evil farmers – showing how God sent His Son and how He was rejected) (Luke 20:9-18); THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP IN FOLLOWING CHRIST: Hidden treasure (the treasure) (Matthew 13:44); The precious pearl (the pearl) (Matthew 13:45-46); and The wise and foolish builders (Jesus teaches about building on a solid foundation) (Luke 6:48-49); CHRISTIAN LIVING AND STEWARDSHIP: The unmerciful servant – on forgiveness (the unforgiving debtor) (Matthew 18:23-35); The two debtors – on forgiving others (the forgiven debts) (Luke 7:41-43); The faithful servant – on serving God (the faithful and sensible servants) (Luke 12:42-48); The gold coins (talents) – on serving God (the nobleman’s servants) (Luke 19:11-27); New cloth, new wine – on the fact that the way of Christ is completely new) (Luke 5:36-39); and The good Samaritan – on love (Luke 10:25-30).

 

Consider a thorough and well thought-out Biblical presentation of the gospel of Christ that we may take to the Muslim. Ten subjects are suggested as a scheme: 1 – God is one, and has created man to love and serve him (The Ten Commandants begin with condemnation of idolatry); 2 – God has given His laws to man (may refer specifically to the Ten Commandments to show the standards that God has set mankind); 3 – God warns man of the consequences to keep His laws (Sin is rebellion against God – man needs to acknowledge and confess sin and to repent); 4 – God is merciful and forgives (Introduce the concept of the Fatherhood of God in terms of Psalm 103:8-14); 5 – God revealed to the prophets that He would come among men (the doctrine of the incarnation could be introduced through relevant Old Testament passages which speak of how God reveals himself in His word, dwells among His people, and how He personally declares that He is coming to make Himself known in truth, and to proclaim His covenant); 6 – God sent Jesus the Messiah as His Word by means of a miraculous birth, and gave Him miraculous powers (Three miracles are helpful to point this out: a – The stilling of the storm, b – The feeding of the five thousand, and c – The casting out of unclean spirit; 7 – God gave Jesus the Messiah the message of the Injil (Gospel) to proclaim (the parable of the lost son shows that God’s forgiveness is based on His love for the sinner); 8 – God demonstrates His love for sinners through the death of Jesus the Messiah (Point out Jesus’ willingness to be captured and killed; that He laid down His own life voluntarily); 9 – God raised Jesus the Messiah from death to life (The Gospel record explains how Jesus the Messiah was raised up from the grave and given resurrection life); and 10 – God gave His Spirit to the disciples who acknowledged Jesus as God’s Messiah and God’s Word (The work of the Holy Spirit is described in Romans 8:1-17, and establishes that man is unable to help himself spiritually although he thinks he can).

 

The Qur'an mentions Jesus over one hundred times, all with great reverence. As a tool to help Christians relate to and understand Muslims, a list of verses from the Qur'an can be organized and summarized what they say about Jesus. Summaries include: 1 - The conception and birth of Jesus (15 times), 2 - The names of Jesus (7 times), 3 - The humanity of Jesus (7 times), 4 - The character of Jesus (6 times), 5 - Jesus being exalted (17 Times), 6 - Jesus as the fulfillment (2 times), 7 - Jesus' relationship to God (6 times), 8 - Jesus and servant hood (4 times), 9 - Jesus and revelations (7 times), 10 - Jesus and His miracles (11 times), 11 -Jesus as the Word (5 times), 12 - Jesus as a prophet (6 times), 13 - Jesus being sinless (1 times), 14 - The death of Jesus (13 times), 15 - The followers of Jesus (7 times), and 16 - Jesus and Judgment Day (1 time). The Qur'an verses and corresponding Bible verses are provided as points of reference (not suggesting the Bible verses say the same thing as the Qur'an - see Appendix II for details).

 

 Relational witness enables Christians to facilitate the faith journey of Muslims while avoiding the possibility of becoming a spiritual predator – relational witness is actually spiritual friendship. Relational witness requires Christians to be confident enough to listen and weigh anything of significance the Muslim has to offer in return. Grace relationships means Christians want Muslims to follow Jesus because they love them – grace must remain grace, irrespective of the outcome of a relationship. The difficulty with many Muslims is their quiet contentment with spiritual life in Islam, so there is little curiosity about how spiritual hunger might be satisfied.

 

Cross-cultural evangelism is made difficult by the following four characteristics: 1 – Being as culturally far from Christians as opposed to culturally near, 2 – Socioeconomic depression as seen in developing nations, 3 – Political instability, and 4 – Being religiously hostile as opposed to being neutral or supportive. Muslim people groups fit into all four of these categories.

 

 

Islam is presently the world’s fastest growing religion with an estimated 1.5 billion believers. Islam is growing at a rate four times faster than Christianity not only in the world but also in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. If your church has either a Muslim mosque, academy etc. within a 5 mile radius, then you are probably affected by Islam’s influence even if you don’t realize it! If so, your church needs to organize a "Muslim Witness Training" program to carry out Christ's Great Commission to Muslims in Western nations today!

 

It is estimated that there are nine million Muslims in North America and fifty-two million in Europe today! Europe is probably the number one target today in the world for Muslim strategists seeking world dominance. It is so hard to witness to Muslims that Western Christians will not be successful unless through an organized church "Muslim Witness Training" program. In this war are Christians willing to do anything even lay down our lives to advance the Kingdom of God?

 

God is calling Muslims around the world to follow Jesus Christ in greater numbers than at any other time in history. You cannot end your relationship with a Muslim after his prayer of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. The individual Christian witness to Muslims should be part of an organized group that is provided leadership by the Christian church "Muslim Witness Training" program.

 

There are six requirements for Muslims making their journey toward the Kingdom. Graciously point Muslims to Jesus in a way that is relevant to their life experience and level of spiritual interest by first sharing how Christ makes a difference in your life. We should not present the whole gospel all at once. Be patient and do not rush what you are doing. Consider a thorough and well thought-out Biblical presentation of the gospel of Christ that we may take to the Muslim.

God expects Christian church leaders to provide leadership and organization in carrying out Christ’s Great Commission to Muslims in Western nations. I feel it is simply so hard to witness to Muslims that Western Christians will not be successful to any degree unless through an organized church "Muslim Witness Training" program. God will judge the Western nations harder if church leadership is not shown. I feel Islamic terrorism will gradually get worst until the Mahdi (=Antichrist) appears and the End Time Tribulation begins. Church leaders cannot get out of providing leadership thinking they don’t have to worry since the Rapture will come before the Tribulation and they will not be on the earth. GOD WILL HOLD CHRISTIAN CHURCH LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE!

 

 

Islam(meaning literally submission) is the religion founded by Muhammad. Its beliefs are based on the Qur’an and the life of Muhammad. He is the prophet of Islam who lived from 570 to 632 AD. The Qur’an is the Holy Book of Islam – the words of Allah (God = actually Satan) revealed by Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia. The Qur’an is 114 suras (or surahs =chapters or sections) long – about the length of the Christian New Testament. Hadithis the record of Muhammad’s words and actions. This material was committed to memory for several generations and then collected and recorded by Muslim scholars.  Muslim means literally, “one who submits himself to the will of Allah (=Satan)”; a follower of the religion of Islam. Mosque is a place of Muslim worship. Da’wah is “call or invitation” summoning others to heed the call of Allah to Islam; propagation of the Islamic faith. Shahada is the profession of Islamic faith, a statement of fundamental belief – there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

 

Jihadis the word for struggle. It need not be physical but could be - also used to mean sanctioned holy war. . A Muslim may choose to practice jihad peacefully through teaching and persuasion, or decide that the most effective jihad will be through force and violence. Mujahidin are Muslims engaged in jihad. Dhimmisis a conquered Jew or Christian who lives under Islamic law. Dhimmis are forced to pay the jizya poll tax that Muslims do not have to pay. Islamic law (sharia) is based first on the Qur’an (revelation from Allah = Satan), then on sunnah (The words and actions or example of the prophet Muhammad) and finally on ija’ah (the informed decision of a qualified group of Muslim scholars). A fatwa is a legal decree announced by an Islamic scholar. A Muslim who converts to Christianity is considered an infidel (one who rejects Islam teachings) accused of apostasy (Muslim who decides to leave Islam). Caliphateis the “office or dominion” of the caliph - an Arabic word that means “leader.” The term caliph specially refers to the successors of Muhammad who served as the political and spiritual heads of Islam until 1924.

 

A radical Muslim is a fundamental Muslim who practices all of the teachings of the Qur’an and hadith including jihad as a call to all Muslims to establish the worldwide caliphate and implement Islamic law. Ummad is the world Islamic community.    Dar al-Islam (The House of Islam) embraces territory where Islamic law is the law of the land, while dar al-harb (House of War) comprises the rest of the world. Islamic terrorism is forceful and violent jihad used by radical (fundamental) Muslims to establish the worldwide caliphate and implement Islamic law. Therefore, radical Islam is jihad terrorism. Finally, Radical Islam has been referred to as “Islamofascism” (Authoritarian and totalitarian). Islamofascisms’ leaders support the overthrow of democratic governments and law because this ideology respects no government or rule of law except the rule of strict Islamic Sharia law.

 

You can request a free copy of the companion paper "The Truth About Islam (Satan’s Stealth Religion)" by clicking oren.boyd@yahoo.com. You can also take the next step in establishing a "Muslim Witness Training" program in your church by clicking www.crescentproject.org/index.cfm/pageID/1616/index.html. There you can obtain their Bridges Leader and Small Group Kits - these are professional training materials that cover how Christians should connect with Muslims!

 

You can keep updated monthly either on "Muslim Witness Training" and/or “The Truth About Islam” by going to the website, clicking on “World Religions” button on the upper-left side, then clicking either on "Muslim Witness Training" and/or “Islamic Truth Part I” buttons.

 

If you find any grammar error, etc., if you disagree with any section, or if you think something else should have been covered; if you think any book or internet link should not have been included, or if another book or internet link should have been included; you are encouraged to email me why at: boyd@basic-christian-books.org