Islam Series

SLIDE 26

So in conclusion I think there are many things we can learn from our Muslim cousins:

Prayer: The dedication of the Muslims in their prayer lives puts us to shame.

The Idea of Being Totally Surrendered to God: Christ followers give it lip service, but to what extent do we really practice it?

Caring for the Poor in our Community: a profoundly Christian concept that I often fail at.

But there are some places that I cannot agree with the Muslims on—the belief that Jesus is not the Son of God for instance. Muslims accept he was born of a virgin but not the son of God. Didn’t Muhammad understand that such a birth teaches us that he is in fact the Son of God?

You can believe in his miracles but didn’t believe what they pointed to? And Muhammad didn’t believe Jesus was crucified to save humanity—yet you don’t understand that the name of Jesus means the one who saves? Or to fail to understand the power of the resurrection.

I have to conclude that the Qur’an robs the gospel of Jesus Christ of its power—the power to save, deliver and give hope. I will never agree with my Muslim cousins on this matter. But I still love them. And I can reach out to them.

Even our own President a few weeks ago during his trip to Britain attempted to reach out to the Muslim population when he said that he believed that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

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How can Christians reach out to Muslims?

Discussions about religion with Muslims should not be one-sided. Christians must be willing to listen respectfully and learn about the faith of Islam. Christians should pray that God will touch the heart of their Muslim friends and neighbors and make them open to the Gospel. Rather than trying to engage Muslims in heated debate (which generally is unsuccessful), Christians can reach out through meaningful friendships and relationships with Muslims, demonstrating what Christian love, compassion and forgiveness is all about.

As is usually the case, a Christian’s lifestyle can go a long way toward helping Muslims at least to consider the possibility of the Christian faith. On the other hand, if Muslims witness behaviors that are unloving and reflect a prejudice against them this can turn them away.

You can share with your Muslim friends: God is a God of love and mercy, who gives us forgiveness freely, as a gift, because of Jesus, who is the Son of God, not merely a human prophet.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20 Msg.

We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them.

SLIDE 28

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your love, mercy, grace and the gift of life. Help me to reflect your love to my Muslim cousins should I ever have the opportunity. Help me to learn from them, but help to have opportunities to share with them the fullness of your Good News. Make me your ambassador, your representative in the process of reconciliation among all people. Amen.