Jeremy Tiss, January 24, 2001
With over one billion followers, Islam is considered to be the second largest religion in the world. Materialistically, Islamic adherents are influential in the world economy through their monopoly of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil price and production quotas. Politically, Islamic fundamentalists actively work in secular governments to implement Islamic religious law, as first adopted by Iran and now lately in Nigeria. Militarily, the goal of Islam is to conquer by the sword and thus gain religious converts, as first demonstrated by the Muslim Moors in the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. and in recent times in Indonesia and the Philippines. The driving force behind this cultic religion is submission to a new rule of law and order given by Muhammed.
As a caravan trader between Syria and Yemen, Muhammed became prosperous and married Khadija. At the age of forty (610 A.D.), Muhammed claimed to have received a revelation from Gabriel (Jibril; B. McDowell 33). From this experience, a group of men gathered in support of Muhammed’s spiritual and political leadership in Mecca. Opposition soon arose and Muhammed and his followers were forced to flee to Medina, a city about two hundred miles north of Mecca. While in Medina, Muhammed claimed to have spiritual encounters with angels who knew the will of "Allah". These encounters were orally transmitted and later written into what became known as the Qur’an. With conquest in their eyes, Muhammed’s followers soon accompanied him back to Mecca. The crusade for Islam began to sweep across North Africa, north into the Byzantine Empire, and east through Pakistan. In less than 150 years, the iron grip of Muhammed’s Islam descended upon much of the known world and today continues to enslave hordes of humanity.
Five spiritual stipulations are imposed on all Muslims. The first is the recitation of a strict monotheistic creed, "Allahu-Akbar" ("Allah is the Most Great"; B. McDowell 297). Second, the town muezzin (crier) calls upon Muslims to ritualistically pray five times a day toward Mecca. In addition, a daylight fast is imposed for one month (Ramadan) with feasting at night in commemoration of the "revelation" of the Qur’an to Muhammed. Then, Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their currency in cooperation with a complicated donation system. Finally, a pilgrimage (hajj) to the Ka’aba (a black meteorite stone) in Mecca is required of every Muslim who is financially capable (Saal 37). In some radical Islamic sects, jihad (holy war) is added as an additional requirement of service.
Apart from Muslim’s ritualistic service, Judeo-Christian concepts of God, Jesus Christ, salvation and the Bible are often distorted in favor of exclusive Islam doctrine. In contrast to the personal God of Christianity, Muslims believe that He is "unknowable" and "dissimilar to contingent beings" (Saal 43). Instead of the Biblical view of the total depravity of mankind, Islam portrays man as being good and pure who needs divine guidance, not salvation. The Shariah ("law of God") as revealed in the Qur’an and Hadith (Muslim traditions) is imposed on all Muslims to procure ultimate submission to God through works (Saal 45-46). Yet, William J. Saal says, "From a Biblical perspective, no culture, language, or community can claim any special divine status that puts it beyond investigation or makes it the standard by which everyone and everything is judged" (46-47).
Instead of being God’s "one and only Son" (John 3:16, NIV), the
Qur’an states that He was only a prophet (Ankerberg 14). With this adamant
denial of deity, Muslims additionally deny that Jesus died on the cross or rose
from the dead. Dr. John Ankerberg states, "Any Muslim who believes that
Jesus Christ is God has committed ‘the unforgivable sin’ called shirk—a
sin that will send him to hell forever" (15). According to Islam, salvation
is sought by merit, keeping Islamic law, and is only guaranteed in the case of
martyrdom for the cause of "Allah". Thus, lacking the assurance of
salvation through the Holy Spirit, Muslim fanatics often recklessly strive for a
guaranteed assurance of heaven through suicide bombings in the name of Islam.
Foundational to Islam, the Qur’an claims authenticity, yet reeks of corruption, plagiarism, and manipulation. Asserting to be pure Arabic, the Qur’an is permeated with grammatical errors and non-Arabic words (Ankerberg 33). In addition, hundreds of verses have either been lost, replaced, or added to the variant text (Morey 120-126). During the caliphate of Uthman (644-656 A.D.), one specific text was officially sanctioned while all other varying texts were destroyed (Ankerberg 34). Even more, Dr. Ankerberg highlights how the later official version of the Qur’an differs greatly from earlier versions. Contrariwise, Christianity both accepts and endorses the authenticity and inspiration of the very earliest Scripture manuscripts (34). Josh McDowell states that from comparing the earliest Muslim tradition writings, variant and conflicting statements and whole passages in the Qur’an have been discretely removed or altered by human discretion (172). Contradictions to the Bible, mutations in the text, ambiguity in doctrine and practice, and the unknowable intentions of God as found in the Qur’an lead its adherents to moral, spiritual, and eternal chaos.
In the midst of this confusion, every effort must be made to reach out to
those enslaved in Islam. Although Islam can be violently antagonistic against
Christians, there are many ways to indirectly reach Muslims for Christ. Most
evangelization strategists stress the importance of non-threatening Bible
correspondence courses. Also, Christian radio broadcasts can reach beyond the
closed borders of Islam and teach sound Biblical doctrine. Internet websites and
e-mail can disseminate Biblical truth to more affluent Muslims. Pressure from
the United Nations can coerce closed Islamic states to honor religious freedom
for all of their citizens (Olsen 287). Book shops and film displays with
hospitality refreshments can assist in reaching skeptical Muslims for Christ (B.
McDowell 174). Sadly, only one thousand evangelical foreign missionaries work
among the over one billion Muslims, thus one missionary for every one million
Muslims (Olsen 220).
Yet, moving closer to home, over three million Muslims have made the United States their home and over 500,000 have settled into Los Angeles, California. A huge opportunity exists for evangelism right at home, especially with foreign university students. Through relationships built on trust, friendship evangelism can be utilized to share the Biblical gospel. The Fatherhood of God, the Sonship of Jesus Christ, and the authenticity of the Bible should be unequivocally defended in a spirit of love. Rarely fruitful, a Christian witness should avoid engaging in hostile and repeated arguments. More importantly, prayer should be made on behalf of the Muslim’s heart to be drawn to Christ.
The unfailing Biblical Gospel is more powerful than the empty driving force of cultic submission to the Islamic Qur’an. Through the transforming power of Christ, believers in Jesus can have true peace as they submit to a loving personal God who indwells them through the Holy Spirit. Sharing the love of Christ with Muslims is like embarking on an endless ocean of opportunity. Looking to the Lord of the harvest, may we cry out with the compassion of Abraham, "O that Ishmael live before Thee!" (Genesis 17:18 KJV).
Works Consulted:
Anderson, M. The Trinity: An Appreciation of the Oneness of God with Reference to the Son of God and the Holy Spirit for Christians and Muslims. Caney, Kansas: Pioneer Book Company. 1994.
Ankerberg, John and John Weldon. The Facts on Islam. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. 1998.
Coplestone, F.S. Jesus Christ or Mohammed?: A Guide to Isalm and Christianity that Helps Explain the Differences. Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications. 2000. Updated and Expanded by Jem Trehern.
Hahn, Ernest. How to Respond to Muslims. St. Louis, Missouri: Concordia Publishing House. 1995.
Holy Bible, New International Version. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society. 1984.
Holy Bible, King James Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: World Publishing, Inc. 1995.
McDowell, Bruce A. and Anees Zaka. Muslims and Christians at the Table: Promoting Biblical Understanding Among North American Muslims. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P. & R. Publishing. 1999.
McDowell, Josh and John Gilchrist. The Islam Debate. San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers. 1983.
Miller, Stephen M., ed. Misguiding Lights?. Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City. 1991.
Morey, Robert A. The Islamic Invasion. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. 1992.
Newton, P. and M. Rafiqul Haqq. Allah: Is he God?. Caney, Kansas: Pioneer Book Company. 1991.
---------. The Place of Women in Pure Islam. n.p. n.d. ISBN: 0-88264-310-X.
Olson, C. Gordon. What in the World is God Doing?. Cedar Knolls, New Jersey: Global Gospel Publishers. 1998. 4th Edition Updated and Expanded.
Saal, William J. Reaching Muslims for Christ. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press Edition. 1993.