There’s really not too much mystery in sharing one’s faith with Muslims. So why does it sometimes seem so challenging?
In this series called ‘The 5 Keys to Sharing with Muslims’ we aim to make reaching out to your Muslim friends (or refugees, co-workers, neighbors, etc) a bit more simple and stress-free. Enjoy!
Common Ground
Developing natural friendships should be pretty easy, as we truly have much in common with Muslims. We all believe in one Creator God and we share a common history: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and John the Baptist are all considered major prophets in Islam.
And then there’s Jesus, whom the Quran says was born of a virgin, being holy in all He did and performing many miracles.
Can’t get better than that in a major world religion, can we?
Having so much in common, then, gives sensitive, loving Christians a great foundation to build on as we illuminate to our Muslim friend who Jesus is and why He came.
Friendship
The foundation of sharing our faith must be friendship. Until you can use the expression “friend” for your Muslim contact, you’re not in the best position to discuss the good news about Jesus with them.
You’ll never win a Muslim’s heart by arguing.
But by being a friend you just might. And since most Muslims have never heard the Good News, you might just be the very first Christian your Muslim friend has ever talked to openly about faith.
Be Aggressive a Peacemaker
It’s interesting how aggressive Christians can become when they set out to win people to their cause. Normal peace-loving Believers can take the position of warrior and attempt to win a war of words, burning bridges along the way.
Instead, we should be like Jesus. Caring, sincere and demonstrating loving friendship along the way.
As Corinthians 13 says: “If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing.”
So don’t be a gong. 🙂
Be the hands and feet of Jesus to your Muslim friend.
Next month: Key #2 – Point to Jesus