Historian shares how Islam really began

[Matthias]

For those interested in sharing Christ with Muslims …

I don’t think there are many who are.

Evangelizing Muslims. It sounds good. It sounds right. It sounds holy. But who is really doing it? David Paul is.

Who is David Paul? I don’t know. I know very a little about him. I’ve just started following him on X / Twitter. He’s earned a doctorate degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. (I was raised Baptist. I’m no longer Baptist but I’m still drawn to Baptist sources. Here we go again.) He’s a married man.

David Paul. What a great biblical name. But it’s not his real name. It’s a pseudonym. Why doesn’t he use his real name? Because he’s doing work, serious work, dangerous work in Southeast Asia.

”There are over two billion Muslims worldwide … most Christians are unprepared to take the gospel to their Muslim neighbors despite the need.

The barriers that stop Christians from loving their Muslim neighbors are less about issues within the Muslim community and more about our hearts. The most significant obstacles preventing Christians from ministering to Muslims are heart issues. Until these heart issues are appropriately addressed, there is no benefit in training them to share the gospel with Muslims. Therefore, the purpose of this blog post is to help Christians identify and address the heart issues that inhibit them from being used by God to reach Muslims.”

(David Paul, “Five Barriers to Engaging Muslims with the Gospel”)

Five Barriers to Engaging Muslims with the Gospel

A pulpit inside of an imambara, a Shia place of worship. In 1791, William Carey published An Enquiry, effectively launching the modern missions movement. His argument was that Christians neede…

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Dr. Paul’s question, in a nutshell: How’s your heart?

 

[Matthias]

“The first three barriers (Fear, Anger, and Hopelessness) are heart issues. The last two barriers (language / culture and lack of ministry tools) are what training can provide.

Heart Barrier #1 - Fear Many Christians are afraid of Muslims, and therefore, they will not go to them to share the gospel.

Let me share a common experience that I have had. It is common that when I train a group of people how to share the gospel with Muslims, I can see their hearts close as I teach. Smiles turn into frowns, and arms become defensively crossed.

Inside the minds of my listeners, there is often a dialogue that goes something like this: ‘Doesn’t this guy know that Muslims are dangerous? If we go and try to do what this guy says, we’re going to get killed! We can’t go talk to Muslims about Jesus!’

I call this inner dialogue the fear barrier. Fear is the strongest barrier that keeps Christians from talking to Muslims about Jesus. Here are four ways that the fear barrier can be dispelled.

1. Trusting in God to protect us. My favorite verse on this subject is ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10). In fact, the most common command in Scripture is, ‘Do not fear.’ Ultimately, we do not need to fear when doing God’s will because He is our defender. He will protect us.

2. Remember that ‘to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21). Even though God is our defender, it does not mean that we will not die while doing His work. Jesus was crucified while teaching God’s Word. Likewise, almost all His apostles died violent deaths for proclaiming the gospel. While Paul awaited execution in Rome, he wrote, ‘The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom’ (2 Timothy 4:18). While expecting to die physically, Paul trusted God to safely bring him into His kingdom. The gospel means that we have no fear of death. Even if we were to die while proclaiming the gosepl, we are taken immediately into the presence of God.

3. Knowing that Muslims are without eternal hope. In contrast to our hope, if our Muslim neighbor dies today, they go before the judgment seat of Christ (Hebrews 9:27). They are without hope in His judgment. If we truly believe the gospel, our eternal future is secure in Christ! How can we withhold this message that brings eternal hope from those who have never heard (Rom 10:9-15).

4. Realizing that most Muslims are peaceful people. While many Christians believe that Muslims are violent people, the reality is that most Muslims simply want to live peaceful and quiet lives. In fact, the number of Muslims who seek to express their religion violently is minimal when we consider Muslims in South Asia. For this point, the Muslim Triangle is helpful. Secular and folk Muslim, as a rule, are not violent in their faith. Since folk Islam is the most common expression of Islam in South Asia, we know that ordinary Muslims in South Asia tend to be non-violent. In addition, most of the major Muslim groups in South Asia reject violence in the name of Islam. Therefore, we can have confidence that most South Asia Muslims desire to live peaceful lives.”

(Ibid.)

What about Muslims elsewhere in the world? Is this true of them too?

 

[Matthias]

Are we sure we really want to evangelize Muslims? It needs to be done. It has to be done. It is being done. It will be done.

“Send me? Well, send someone. It’s interesting and all. But I’ve already got a lot going on, and someone else is already taking care of that, aren’t they?”

Who here is really interested in evangelizing Muslims? Interested enough to actually go and do it?

I don’t think there are many.

 

[Matthias]

“Heart Barrier #2 - Anger. Many Christians are angry with Muslims, and therefore, they do not want to share the gospel with them. For some, anger is not the right word. Instead, bitterness or animosity would be more appropriate. What I mean is that many Christians see Muslims as other than themselves and do not have a love for their Muslim neighbors. One good biblical picture of this animosity is the prophet Jonah. God sent him to proclaim a message of repentance and forgiveness to Nineveh, who were the enemy of his people. Because Jonah hated the people of Nineveh, he sought to disobey by traveling the opposite direction from Nineveh. Likewise, many Christians are not ready to share the gospel with Muslims because they do not have the love of Christ for Muslims.

However, Jesus died for Muslims, just like He died for everyone else. Revelation 5:9 praises Jesus saying, ‘You purchased people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.’ It is clear, from this verse, that Jesus died for every type of person on the planet, including every Muslim people group. Therefore, God loves Muslims!

If God loves Muslims and we do not, our hearts are not like God’s. So we need to ask God to transform our lives, and we should ask God to give us His love for Muslim peoples!

Jesus taught us that there is no benefit of only loving people like us. In fact, He taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-47). Therefore, if you feel in your heart that Muslims are your enemy, then your biblical obligation is to love them. Let me suggest that you pick a Muslim group or country and pray daily for that group or country and pray daily for that group to begin loving them. As you pray for them, God will undoubtedly change your life and help you love them as He loves them.

Finally, Jesus provided the best model of loving those who did not love Him. When He was being crucified, He said, ‘Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34). To be like Jesus means to have a heart ready to forgive others, even if they were killing you. In fact, Stephen followed the same example when he died for proclaiming the gospel and was the first martyr in the book of Acts. As he died, he said, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ (Acts 7:60)”

(Ibid.)

I have picked out a country - Malawi - but I haven’t prayed for Muslims living there as often as I should. I purchased a map of the country in Blantyre when I briefly worked in that area. Whenever I see it, I’m reminded of my time there and I’m prompted to pray.

Try it. I think you’ll find that it’s an excellent suggestion.

 

[Matthias]

“Make sure your attitude points to the fact that Christians are supposed to be marked by love.”

(Bill Hybels, Just Walk Across the Room, p. 183)

View attachment 85894

I wouldn’t evangelize Muslims if I didn’t.

The Prince of Peace wants them to hear the gospel of peace and by it be drawn to him.

I’m not hunting likes but I‘ve noticed that there was no reaction, nor was there any comment, about the “I love Muslims” post.

I‘ve also noticed two other things.

1. Discussion about evangelizing Muslims in this thread has become me, talking to the wind. (A little better than talking to myself, I suppose.) Hence my question regarding who is really interested in evangelizing Muslims.

2. The rumor that I’m a Muslim apologist / sympathizer, a lover of evil and a hater of Christianity has ticked up (in another thread on the Crusades), with a new wrinkle added - I‘m now accused of supporting lawlessness.

I don’t want that to be stopped; I want the people doing it to have a change of heart and stop doing it because of a changed heart.

But there’s more to it than that. The devil doesn’t want Muslims to be evangelized. What is he doing to keep that from happening?

Well, he can try to kill interest in discussing evangelizing Muslims - which may be what is happening in this thread. Ignore the thread. Nothing to see here. Lots of exciting topics to discuss elsewhere.

He can try to damage the reputation of those (myself and others) who are actively encouraging evangelizing Muslims.

Spurgeon. What was done to him on the forum yesterday …

https://soundcloud.com/cem-ersay-n%2Fking-crimson-i-talk-to-the-wind-bbc-version

 

[Debp]

I don’t think there are many who are.

Evangelizing Muslims. It sounds good. It sounds right. It sounds holy. But who is really doing it?

In the USA I think one needs to have an opportunity to know some Muslims or be a neighbor to some Muslims. Of course we should love Muslims just like we are taught to love our neighbor as ourselves by Jesus. But loving Muslims doesn't mean we have to love Islam.

Also there are underground missionaries working in Muslim countries but they must keep hidden. Christian Aid Mission in Virginia funnels money to these missionaries if anyone is interested.

 

[Matthias]

In the USA I think one needs to have an opportunity to know some Muslims or be a neighbor to some Muslims.

Most people in the USA wouldn’t have to look very hard to find Muslims. I live in a rural area. It’s less than 20 miles from where I live to the nearest mosque. And a new mosque is under construction within a few miles of it.

Some time ago I started a thread which asked the question, “Should a non-Christian have Christian friends?” The Christian response was negative. Please read that again. The Christian response was no!

But loving Muslims doesn't mean we have to love Islam.

That’s right. If we love Islam then there is no reason to evangelize Muslims.

It wasn’t by accident that the button says “I love Muslims” not “I love Islam.”

Christian Aid Mission in Virginia funnels money to these missionaries if anyone is interested.

That’s good information. Let’s see how many members say they’re interested.

 

[Matthias]

View attachment 85891

Do you know what this is @Debp?

Does this convey the idea that the Christian who posted it and the Christians who liked it love Muslims? No.

Where have we seen something like it before? Nazi Germany. In regard to Jews.

 

[Debp]

Some time ago I started a thread which asked the question, “Should a non-Christian have Christian friends?” The Christian response was negative. Please read that again. The Christian response was no!

How will Muslims find out what true Christians are like unless we are neighborly towards them? A lot of them might never find a Christian friend.

I had a missions course and one of the classes was on friendship evangelism. Otherwise I too probably would have been hesitant to make a non-Christian friend.

 

[Matthias]

How will Muslims find out what true Christians are like unless we are neighborly towards them? A lot of them might never find a Christian friend.

Right on. That’s the point. The Christian response should have been positive, not negative. That’s a heart problem.

I had a missions course and one of the classes was on friendship evangelism. Otherwise I too probably would have been hesitant to make a non-Christian friend.

That’s an outstanding comment. You put your finger on the problem.

 

[Lambano]

1. Discussion about evangelizing Muslims in this thread has become me, talking to the wind. (A little better than talking to myself, I suppose.) Hence my question regarding who is really interested in evangelizing Muslims.

I'm listening. What you are doing here and in the Crusades thread is important.

 

[Debp]

I'm listening. What you are doing here and in the Crusades thread is important.

Are there any Muslims in your area?

 

[Lambano]

Are there any Muslims in your area?

Three doors down the street. When my wife came back from the hospital after her mastectomy (this was many years ago), they brought food over. "Who was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?", Jesus asked.

 

[Debp]

Three doors down the street. When my wife came back from the hospital after her mastectomy (this was many years ago), they brought food over. "Who was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?", Jesus asked.

Yes some Muslims can be very nice. However usually they need to do good so hopefully they will enter Paradise. And their Paradise is a place of carnal pleasures for men, and not many women enter because they are stupid, according to their teachings.

 

[Lambano]

Yes some Muslims can be very nice. However usually they need to do good so hopefully they will enter Paradise. And their Paradise is a place of carnal pleasures for men, and not many women enter because they are stupid, according to their teachings.

Yeah, the die-a-martyr-and-get-72-virgins story made the rounds after the nine-eleven attacks. Most Islamic sites repudiate that.

Talk to some real Muslim woman and find out what Islam looks like from their perspective. BTW, they may bring up how Christianity has historically treated women.

 

[Matthias]

I‘m going back to David Paul one more time, to draw out the third heart barrier.

”Heart Barrier #3 - Hopelessness. Many Christians do not believe Muslims can come to Christ, and therefore, they do not think it is worth it to minister among them. Perhaps my favorite story about this issue is a friend whose father was a Muslim-background believer. He was unwilling to share the gospel with his Muslim neighbors despite his background. He would tell me, ‘It is impossible for a Muslim to come to Christ!’ I kept reminding him about how the Lord drew his father to Christ, so he said, ‘It is very difficult for Muslims to come to Christ.’

So I asked him how long it had been since he had shared the gospel with a Muslim, and he admitted that it had been more than ten years. So, finally - perhaps even just to make me quiet - he agreed to try. A few weeks later, this same man excitedly told me how he had shared the gospel with one Muslim man and how that man and how that man had repented and believed!

Sometimes, Muslim ministry is slow. However, the Lord is in control. If we say that Muslim can’t come to Christ, we are really saying that Muslims are the one people group on earth strong enough to resist God’s will! Our God made the heavens and the earth. He brought His people out of Egypt through Moses. He raised Jesus from the dead. Our God can do all things! Perhaps the greatest antidote to the hopelessness barrier is to meet Muslims who have come to Christ and hear their stories. In fact, more Muslims are coming to Christ now than at any other time in history. Across South Asia many thousands of Muslims are coming to Christ. Also, significant movements of Muslims to Christ have happened in countries like Indonesia, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Iran. If you want to learn more about Muslims coming to Christ, I recommend reading David Garrison’s A Wind in the House of Islam.”

Five Barriers to Engaging Muslims with the Gospel

A pulpit inside of an imambara, a Shia place of worship. In 1791, William Carey published An Enquiry, effectively launching the modern missions movement. His argument was that Christians neede…

nocousinsleft.com

I frequently encounter Christians with this heart problem. There is cause for hope, and Christians with this problem can be gently led to see that there is. Of the three heart problems, this one strikes me as the easiest one to heal.

 

[Matthias]

“Summarizing the Heart Barriers
Suppose the three heart barriers of Fear, Anger, and Hopelessness are not addressed. In that case, no amount of training about reaching Muslims with the gospel will be effective. The question is, are you ready to let God change your heart? Are you prepared to love Muslims and work among them? Our God has a great desire to bring Muslims into His kingdom, and he is ready to use you if your heart is ready to be soft towards Him. Please stop now and pray that God will take away your Fear, Anger, and Hopelessness. Ask that He will replace it with His love for Muslim peoples.”

Five Barriers to Engaging Muslims with the Gospel

A pulpit inside of an imambara, a Shia place of worship. In 1791, William Carey published An Enquiry, effectively launching the modern missions movement. His argument was that Christians neede…

nocousinsleft.com

Evangelizing Muslims begins with our heart condition, not the training needed to carry it out.

The heart of the crusader is hard. It has to be.

It isn’t a heart that evangelizes Muslims; it’s a heart that kills Muslims.

Does Jesus want his followers to kill Muslims or save Muslims?

 

[Matthias]

Followers of Jesus with hard hearts.

“Hello. My name is _______ and I’m a hard hearted Christian.”

CHHA -> Christian Hard Hearts Anonymous

 

[stevesonthebay]

It seems that the Byzantine west is where Christianity was born and established and the Persian east ended up with most of the heretical ideas and beliefs. From memory I think Nestorians followers were exiled to the east.

The term "Nestorians" refers to followers of the Antiochene school of theology, who were exiled east to the Sasanian Empire (Persia) after Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Ephesus in 431. [1, 2]

They make a destinction between the two natures of Christ. I think this influenced Muhammad and his followers. It developed into the belief that Christ was just a human prophet and not the son of God born to Mary.

Its interesting that the Dome of the Rock has text written across upper sections which focus on Christ not being the Son of God. That God does not have a son.

It seem by the short video that Islam picked up many ideas. Primarily I think it was a opposing belief directed at the Jews and Christ. Enough time had gone by where heretical ideas developed and combined. But its interesting out of all beliefs and ideas it is the Jews and Christians. More specifically Jerusalem.

I think its crazy that the Jews and Christians are subject to Islam on the temple mount. The place where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Where David purchased the land and Solomon built Gods Temple. Where Jesus accended into heaven and will return.

Notice how Islam copycats the Jewish and Christian bibles. The Prophet Muhammad made a miraculous night journey to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where he ascended into the heavens.

They knew what they were doing. They were riding on the coat tail of the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. Christianity was fast spreading and the Jews had a long and strong history in the area. The Muslims were conquering and with that they also usurped the one true God and His Son with their own hereticaal version.

 

[Matthias]

It seems that the Byzantine west is where Christianity was born and established and the Persian east ended up with most of the heretical ideas and beliefs. From memory I think Nestorians followers were exiled to the east.

The term "Nestorians" refers to followers of the Antiochene school of theology, who were exiled east to the Sasanian Empire (Persia) after Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, was condemned as a heretic at the Council of Ephesus in 431. [1, 2]

They make a destinction between the two natures of Christ. I think this influenced Muhammad and his followers. It developed into the belief that Christ was just a human prophet and not the son of God born to Mary.

Its interesting that the Dome of the Rock has text written across upper sections which focus on Christ not being the Son of God. That God does not have a son.

It seem by the short video that Islam picked up many ideas. Primarily I think it was a opposing belief directed at the Jews and Christ. Enough time had gone by where heretical ideas developed and combined. But its interesting out of all beliefs and ideas it is the Jews and Christians. More specifically Jerusalem.

I think its crazy that the Jews and Christians are subject to Islam on the temple mount. The place where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Where David purchased the land and Solomon built Gods Temple. Where Jesus accended into heaven and will return.

Notice how Islam copycats the Jewish and Christian bibles. The Prophet Muhammad made a miraculous night journey to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, where he ascended into the heavens.

They knew what they were doing. They were riding on the coat tail of the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. Christianity was fast spreading and the Jews had a long and strong history in the area. The Muslims were conquering and with that they also usurped the one true God and His Son with their own hereticaal version.

What do you suggest we should do about it?