Hagenberg Beth - Connecting with Muslims: a guide to communicating effectively

InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400,
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
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2014 by Fouad Masri

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InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept., InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at www.intervarsity.org .

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

While all stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information in this book have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Cover design: Cindy Kiple

Images:
tea set: Pam McLean/Getty Images
coffee cup: malerapaso/Getty Images
green tablecloth background: kyoshino/Getty Images
flower border: azat1976/iStockphoto

ISBN 978-0-8308-9590-8 (digital)
ISBN 978-0-8308-4420-3 (print)

To my precious family,

whose love and prayers have

helped me finish this book

Christians have not always been very aware of our Muslim neighbors. We may not have thought much about the quiet shopkeeper checking out our order or the young graduate student at the library in her hijab. But after 9/11, Christians became alert to Muslims, and we didnt always respond well. Many saw all Muslims as threats to be feared. Some even felt compelled to strike back and hurt those who hurt us. However, this is not the heart of Jesus our Messiah!

Other Christians soon turned this around and opened their eyes to the new opportunities for evangelism and outreach. Muslims are not the enemythey are people created in the image of God, priceless in Gods sight. Jesus lived for them and died for them, and Christians likewise ought to love them and share the good news of the gospel with them.

But this hasnt always gone well either. Sometimes Christians have been so intent on winning converts that they have tried to argue Muslims into the kingdom, debating about theology or mixing up religion with politics. Some of our Muslim neighbors have been on the receiving end of sales pitches that brushed aside their faith and tried to sell them a Jesus that didnt make any sense to them. We have tried to get them into our churches without first welcoming them into our hearts and homes. This is not the way of Jesus.

Thats why Im grateful for Fouad Masris Connecting with Muslims. This book shows how Christians and Muslims can connect with one another in real relationships of respect and trust. Masri is an Arab Christian and a skilled communicator who can explain the cultural differences and bridge the gap between different worlds. He explains where Muslims are coming from in ways that Christians can understand, and he explains Christianity in ways that make sense to Muslims.

Make no mistake: Masri is clear about the differences between Christianity and Islam, and this book will help the reader answer the tough questions about what we believe and what is really true. But he does so winsomely, out of shared relationship and community. Connecting and communicating go hand in hand. When trust is built, truth can be heard. Then we will not be us over here and them over there, but a community of friends who can all journey toward God together.

So I hope this book will help you understand how to connect with Muslims, but more importantly, I hope that you will actually live it out. Invite that shopkeeper for a cup of tea. Welcome that graduate student into your home. Get to know them not just as Muslims, but as Khalid and Sorayah, or Abdul and Minya, friends and neighbors, beloved by yourself and by God.

Josh McDowell

With recent leaps and bounds in technology and travel, the planet is no doubt getting smaller. And yet, how well can we say we understand Muslims? And how well do Muslims understand Christians?

There are obvious gaps when it comes to Christian and Muslim relationships. Christians dont really understand Islam, and Muslims dont really understand Christianity. The divide between Christians and Muslims is at once social, spiritual and personal. In particular, two major gaps in communication and accessibility are impeding Christians communication with Muslims.

The first gap is a lack of understanding on the Christians part to Muslims and the religion of Islam. The second is a lack of communication tools that would help the Christian to effectively share the gospel of Christ.

An English teacher in Afghanistan (a Muslim country) was asked by a student, Why are you a Christian? The teacher stared at the student and avoided the question. When asked why she did so, her answer was, I do not know Islam or what they believe about Christians.

An evangelist was asked by a Sunni Muslim civil engineer, What does the Bible say about Muhammad? The evangelist read from John 10 and claimed that the Bible calls Muhammad a thief and a murderer. That was the last conversation the evangelist had with this engineer.

Unfortunately, Christians communication with Muslims has been overwhelmingly insensitive, and at times downright offensive. Communication with Muslims is characterized by an argumentative spirit and heated discussion. Instead of focusing on productive dialogue, too many believers are aggressive and uncompromising in their approach and end up alienating Muslims rather than befriending them. Discussions between Christians and Muslims that at first looked promising frequently dissolve into an impasse instead of resulting in an open pathway to understanding. On the whole, Christians are not finding accessible ways to connect with Muslims.

My hope is that this book will encourage and provide believers with communication and relationship tools to bridge the communication gap with Muslims. I hope that as you read these chapters you feel empowered to show love to Muslims as God brings them into your path.

My goal is to see believers have a crystal-clear biblical understanding of Islam and a variety of ministry tools for effective communications with Muslims. This book will introduce simple, conversational tools that cut to the core issues of Islam without offending Muslims or sidestepping the truth.

You dont have to listen too closely at church to hear people sharing about what short-term mission trips they are going on. It even sounds fancy to say, Im going to Beirut, or Im going to Indonesia or Im going to Morocco. Many Western believers have taken the plunge to cross the ocean to minister to Muslims. Dont get me wrongthese overseas trips are replete with amazing opportunities to meet new people and to engage with Muslims and explore a new culture. Even I go on them frequently. But in reality, there are Muslims living just across the street who have never been ministered to by their own neighbors.