Equip Your Church to Cross Cultures
Posted in: Connect
The Encountering the World of Islam course will help your church discover the frustrations and desires of Muslims and learn how to pray for and
befriend them. Read more about one man’s experience...
I’d just been treated to a wonderful dinner by a group of eight Muslim high school teachers. Our conversations had been warm and engaging. When we moved our conversation to their apartment, things turned ugly. They had prepared objections to the gospel and studied the Injil (New Testament) to formulate questions designed to prove that Islam is superior to Christianity. It was a difficult evening. Fortunately, I did not lose my temper; I was gracious and patient with them as I attempted to answer their questions. I sympathized with their growing frustration until I left without the usual expressions of hopes to meeting again. Gone was the memory of the initial enjoyment of the evening. I felt battered as I took a bus back to my hotel. The evening had taken me through the tempest of warfare.
“Church-ianity” vs. Jesus Christ
Being a disciple of Christ is not meant to be like going to summer camp. The call of Christ is the boot camp preparation for war, not against Muslims, but against Satan. Neither is following Christ a spa treatment, but it is more like a M.A.S.H. unit, patching us up just enough to return to battle. The role of the Church is in some ways like an elite hostage rescue team: we rescue some people from materialism and narcissism and others, including many Muslims, from the evil of suffering under poverty, disease, oppression, illiteracy, and not knowing Jesus Christ.
Although Muslims have recently garnered our attention because of the events of September 11, 2001 and the tsunami in Indonesia, Jesus is not apprehensive about today’s turmoil. His gracious love and willingness to quietly suffer indignation has not changed. He continues wooing Muslims to follow him.
Likewise, we must not fear or blame Muslims: they are victims of Satan’s global war of oppression. As such, Muslims and Christians are equals. Compared to Christ, neither of us meets God’s standard of perfection. We should not engage in raising walls between us, leading to stereotypes based on ideology, politics, and nationalism. Rather, with empathy we should tear down barriers by building lasting relationships, just as Christ unilaterally initiated relationship with us.
Speaking Out in Love
Yet, as an evangelical, I have something I desire to share – the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Sharing hope does not constitute proselytism or coercion. I discourage forms of witness which are argumentative or disrespectful. However, I am obligated to share my faith in Christ. I choose to exercise my fundamental human right to share my faith in Christ even where not invited by speaking with love and not on condition of response. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
What Do You Think of Muhammad?
Sadly, too many Christians have preached fear in response to terrorism or have been uncritical of Western political and economic agendas. Others have disparaged Muhammad or Islam without recognizing the deep debt that all societies owe Islamic civilization. Muhammad was a great political leader and religious reformer who unified a pagan feudal society under monotheism and the rule of law. Unfortunately, deficiencies in his character are no different than many Christian leaders.
Likewise, Muslims have made huge contributions to our society today. Arabic permeates our language from “algebra” to “azimuth” to “zenith” and “zero.” Personally, I am grateful that I do not balance my finances in roman numerals. Until the Renaissance, the gathering and advancement of knowledge was centered in Islamic Spain and the universities of the Middle East. Modern scientific methods, advancements in medicine, mathematics, architecture, and law are all rooted in contributions made by Muslim scholars.
In our course, Encountering the World of Islam, we have been delighted to help Christians in a number of churches respond constructively to the local and global community of Muslims. Students have heard Muslim leaders thoughtfully explain Islam without an aimless blurring of Muslim/Christian distinctions. Participants have read from the Qur’an and Muslim authors. Palestinian Christians have given these congregations a more balanced view of the Middle East, and we have seen Christians open productive dialogue with Muslim acquaintances leading to lasting friendships.
Seeking to Understand
I believe that Christians can begin to immediately experience the honor and joy of befriending Muslims. It is important for Christians to understand their Muslim neighbors, co-workers, and students. Regrettably, numerous Christians still hold prejudices against Muslims because they lack personal knowledge of Islam through friendships with Muslims.
Even after feeling beat up in our interaction, I decided to e-mail the teachers I had met several times that year – just little pleasantries, nothing substantial was discussed. But I procrastinated calling them to meet again when I visited their country. I was not looking forward to another spiritual meat grinder. When I did call they said, “We have been waiting for your call. We have been discussing what you said for months, and we have a lot to talk about.” My heart sunk as all remaining energy drained away. When we met in a garden overlooking the sea, they began by apologizing! They regretted mistreating me with their superior attitude and had come to see me as a true believer in God. Relationship was key.
If you want to ride a bike, do you read a book? Or to fish do you go to a conference? I have too many books on “the Bible is better than the Qur’an,” “Christianity is better than Islam” and “Jesus is better than Muhammad.” How about if we start building relationships with Muslims? I’m sure we can do it! The less capable we feel, the greater the opportunity we have to depend on Christ. It’s called faith. Few people are persuaded or convinced by knowledge alone and debate more often entrenches each side within their own preconceptions. Willingness, however, to step off the diving board is a perquisite to getting wet.
I was amazed at what God had done in those relationships. Gone was any vestige of hostility between us. My jaw hit the floor as they told me that they had new questions, not questions to prove their beliefs were superior, but questions to learn and understand my beliefs so that they could be closer friends and better believers in God. I’d love to tell you that they immediately believed in Jesus Christ. They did not. We continued to talk and share for more than three hours. There was excitement, interest, and discovery in their faces. “It makes sense. We see it. The Bible’s message is consistent,” they would say. God had done something there. Jesus Christ had created unity and fellowship were I least expected it. They heard the gospel again, this time without hostility. And they understood it.
God has affirmed His way, relationship and love, again and again with my Muslim friends, in Philadelphia, Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea. It has not been the strength of my words which God used to demonstrate His power, but rather my vulnerability, sharing how God has loved me quite in spite of myself. God’s Word rings true, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17).
Faith, Hope and Love
I have faith that Christ is Good News for both Christians and Muslims. Likewise, I believe that Muslims will be attracted to Christ. Many people, including myself, were so loved by a Christian that we could not resist. We cannot change another person’s mind, only the supernatural action of God can. Loving them is our goal. Not because they are any more lovable than us or have petitioned us to love them, but because Christ first loved us and His love ought to overflow out of us to them. Unconditional, unmerited love cannot be bestowed in a drive by shooting of information. It requires the intimacy of friendship. Muslim walls raised by a history of hurt and pain are lowered through trust built over meals, listening to their objections and their hearts, and time spent praying with them for God’s intervention. Will you trust God to powerfully use you to bring peace in relationships with Muslims that He loves?
For he himself is our peace … and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14).
by Keith Swartley
Keith Swartley has enjoyed learning from and sharing with Muslims since 1983. Keith motivates Christians to reverently and gently share the love of Christ with Muslims around the corner or across the globe through the course, Encountering the World of Islam. Keith is the course’s editor and developer. Keith also speaks at churches and teaches in Encountering the World of Islam and Perspectives courses. For more information, contact him at 303.459.5357 or info@encounteringislam.org.
Audience: Churches
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