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ISLAM
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MINISTER TO THE MUSLIM
BROTHER AND SISTER
The “founder” of Islam is the prophet Muhammad. He was born
around the year AD 570 in the commercial city of Mecca. He
began his prophetic ministry at the age of 40 (AD 622 and
moved to Medina. He died in AD 632.
Muslims make pilgrimage to Muhammad’s home, Mecca.
Neither Muhammad, nor Muslims would claim that Muhammad
is the “founder” of the religion called Islam.
He believed that he simply brought back the
ancient faith of Abraham and the other prophets.
He believed that he was the prophet to restore
the “true religion” and the praise of Allah all over
the world. Islam considers Muhammad to be the
last and greatest of the prophets. They believe
that the fullness of the revelation of God (Allah)
was revealed to Muhammad in the “Qur’an.”
TIMELINE for Founding of Islam
TIMELINE for Founding of Islam
Rapid Influence of Islam – Let History Be Our Teacher !
Muslim Influence and Occupation Today
(shown in green). Notice culture
surrounding Israel.
Put It In Context:
ISIS Territory
ISIS = Islamic State in
Iraq and Syria
In order to dialog with someone, you need to have some common
language points. In order to understand how the Muslim thinks, we
need to define some key terms:
1.ISLAM – Arabic term which means submission. It is also the
religion that formed out of the revelations to and the teachings of
Muhammad.
2.MUSLIM – Arabic term meaning “one who submits.” It also refers
to one who practices the religion of Islam.
3.ALLAH – the Islamic term for God. Allah is called the “One True
Deity.”
4.QUR’AN – the sacred texts of Islam (Scriptures). The word means
“recitations.”
5.SURAH – divisions within the Qur’an
6. CALIPH – “leader.” One of the main leaders in
Islam.
7. HADITH – Islamic literature containing the
“collected traditions.”
8. INJIL – the gospel of Jesus Christ.
9. HAJJ – pilgrimage to Mecca (the holy city).
10. JIHAD – Holy War/struggle (believing that it
was sacred duty to kill anyone who rejected the
true faith).
Before we go further…Cults, False Religious Systems, Philosophies,
Strange Ideologies, and Heresies:
1. Founded on Lies.
Consider: Genesis 3:1-7 The Fall
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the
LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You
must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in
the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree
that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you
will die.’”
4 “You
will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be
opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good
for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for
gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave
some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they
realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together
and made coverings for themselves.
Before we go further…Cults, False Religious Systems,
Philosophies, Strange Ideologies, and Heresies:
Founded on Lies (Continued):
Matthew 4: 4-11
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights,
he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are
the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread
alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then
the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on
the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he
said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus
answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord
your God to the test.’”
8 Again,
the devil took him to a very high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All
this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and
worship me.”
10 Jesus
said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then
the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Cults:
- Warfare against the Kingdom of God
- Trouble with definition and identity of Christ
- Attempt to draw others away from Christianity
(who is this ???)
- Offered as alternatives to Christianity
- Most cults are philosophies – stimulated by
social conditions
EVOLUTION of Islam as a religion: It is important for us to
understand that Islam grew out of a culture and a context. Consider
the following historical events leading up to the introduction of
Islam:
1.Day of Pentecost and the birth of the Christian church.
2.Persecution by the Jewish establishment (esp. Temple Priests.
NOTE also Saul’s rebellion, Paul’s conversion and missionary
activity spreading the activity of the church).
3.During the 2nd and 3rd Centuries, Christianity suffered ridicule and
accusation of heresy by philosophers of the day (especially
Gnostics who claimed to have special knowledge of salvation
based on knowledge and not faith).
4. After the Apostles passed on, Church “Fathers”
took over the mantle of defending the faith against
internal and external enemies doubting the
qualification of Jesus to save.
5. Many wrote writings that they wanted to be
considered part of the sacred writings of Scripture and
there came a need to create a “standard” or canon for
the God-inspired writings.
6. Questions on salvation and sin caused great
disruption to the church’s growth. Creeds were
established to universalize the beliefs of Christians.
7. Controversies over the Holy Spirit began to
surface as well as the rise of the Roman
empire and the papacy.
8.
ISLAM arose in this culture of the church’s
struggle.
Example:
Heresy: - belief or opinion contrary to orthodox
religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
Gnosticism
A prominent, heretical movement of the 2nd-century
Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic
doctrine taught that the world was CREATED and RULED by
a lesser divinity (the demiurge), and that Christ was an
emissary (diplomatic representative) of the remote
supreme divine being, esoteric (specialized) KNOWLEDGE
(Greek: “gnosis – knowledge of spiritual mysteries) of
whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit.
These heresies were meant to “shake the foundation” of the
church. Gnosticism wasn’t by itself. There were heresies that
followed heresies:
1. Ebionism – salvation by good works…
2. Montanism – strict “compensation” against heresy that
became itself a heresy (strict fasting, moral discipline,
celibacy…).
3. Novatianism – purist legalism concept of church membership
4. Monarchianism – modified definition of trinity (Father is true
deity. Son and Spirit are personalities or impersonal attributes
of the Father).
5. Manicheism – Christ came into the world to aid man’s gradual
purification. Two classes of people existed: “elect” (worthy of
baptism) and “auditors”. Promoted ministers as
intermediaries.
ANYTHING BUT GOD !
ANY WAY BUT JESUS !
ANY “CONCOCTION” (a mixture of various
ingredients or elements)
BUT THE WORD !
Facts About Islam That Are Important For Us To Know:
1.Second largest religion in the world.
2.Introduced in a culture of “uncertainty” (heresies and
compensating heresies).
3.Islam accepts the traditions of the other two
“Religions Of The Book,” but with final “revelation.”
4.In Islam there is no distinction between social and
religious life. “Sharia Law” governs them both.
Facts About Islam That Are Important For Us To Know:
5. Genesis 21:17-21 (We are brothers) !
“And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called
to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you,
Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where
he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for
I will make him a great nation." Then God opened her eyes, and
she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with
water, and gave the lad a drink. And God was with the lad, and
he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert
with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; [northern
Arabia] and his mother took a wife for him from the land of
Egypt.”
Genesis 25:6,12-18, RSV. “But to the sons of
his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while
he was still living he sent them away from his
son Isaac, eastward to the east country."
Different Divisions In Islam
There are two different main groups (sects) in Islam:
1.SUNNITE – “Sunnis” practice a moderate Islamic
interpretation. Account for 90 % of Muslims in Middle
East.
2.SHIA’ITE – “Shia’ites” practice a much more literal
interpretation and application of the Qur’an. They are
generally much more fanatical than the Sunnis.
3.AHMDIYANS – very visible on American college
campuses – proselytize American students.
4.SUFI – mystical group within Islam not recognized by
many Muslims.
The Practice of Islam: What They Believe
Muslim
Christian
God = Allah (one true God)
Jesus = prophet
Holy Spirit – creation of Allah like angels
God = Father + Son + Spirit
Jesus = Messiah
Holy Spirit – God in Third Person
Sin & Salvation – handled through work and
fate.
Afterlife – Paradise obtained at discretion of
Allah.
Sex & Marriage – OT foundations with
cultural influences from Qur’an
Sin & Salvation – sin expiated (atoned) by
the sacrifice/blood of Jesus
Afterlife – John 3:16
Sex & Marriage – OT foundation Genesis
2:24
Race Relations – Brothers = All who believe ! Race Relations – Revelation 7:9
ISLAM: WHAT THEY BELIEVE
ISLAM: WHAT THEY BELIEVE
“La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.”
There is no true God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet
ISLAM: WHAT THEY BELIEVE
Muslims pray 5 prayers per day
PILGRIMAGE
PRACTICE
PASSION
The Qur’an (Koran)
- Islamic sacred book (Scriptures) –
Believed to be the word of God (Allah)
- Revealed/Dictated to Muhammad by
the archangel Gabriel
- Written in Arabic – considered the
“voice of God,” (not revelation of himself)
- Contains 114 units called “Surahs”
- Speak about all matters of human life
Ministering to The Muslim: The Central Problems
1. View of God – Allah is “One True God.”
2.How they see Jesus – Jesus (Isa) is one of the many
prophets of Allah. Jesus was sinless but did not die on
the cross – he was taken bodily into heaven without
having died (Surah 4:157).
3.Bible unreliable – corrupted by man.
“Is The Bible Unreliable ?”
Acknowledging their descent from Abraham, Muslims
believe in the Law of Moses, The Psalms of David and
the “Injil” – the gospel of Jesus Christ. BUT…they believe
that the Christian Scriptures were superseded by the
revelation given to Muhammad. Therefore they believe
that the Bible used by Jews and Christians is distorted.
If there is a contradiction in what the Qur’an says, they
believe the Bible is in error.
“Is The Bible Unreliable ?” (Continued):
2 Peter 1:21 (KJV)
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
(NIV)
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but
prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit.
“Is The Bible Unreliable ?” (Continued):
Tests of Canonicity (Does it belong to the set of
sacred, inspired writings ? Does is meet the standard) ?
1.Testimony of the Early Church Fathers.
2. “Apostolicity” – written by Apostle or
approved other ?
3. Thematic Consistency – is the moral
instruction consistent with standards set by
apostles ?
“Is The Bible Unreliable ?” (Continued):
Ephesians 2:19-20
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and
strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also
members of his household, 20 built on the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself
as the chief cornerstone.
“Is The Bible Unreliable ?” (Continued):
Romans 3:1-2
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew,
or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in
every way! First of all, the Jews have been
entrusted with the very words of God.
Ministering to The Muslim: Things To Keep In Mind When
Ministering To The Muslim:
1.Heaven (Paradise) is obtained only by a combination of
their acceptable “works” and fate.
2. Their picture of God does not include grace and love.
God (Allah is judgmental).
3. They are extremely diligent in their service and reverent
to God to obtain possible salvation. “Lukewarm” believers
in Jesus are a turn-off and especially ridiculed.
Ministering to The Muslim: Things To Keep In Mind When
Ministering To The Muslim (Continued):
4. Perhaps ask: “Where did we get the capacity to love ?”
5. Have the Muslim explain their interpretation of the
“common-link” between Islam and Christianity.
6. Never insult the trustworthiness of the Prophet
Muhammad nor the Qur’an.
7. Minister the concept of “love”, “grace” and “mercy.”
“Ministering” To The Muslim: Consider using knowledge
of the following when ministering (Continued):
The Qur'an also speaks of the Injil (the Gospel) as one of
the other great books (Sura 5:46; 48:29). In the Gospels,
Jesus taught, "Whoever believes in the Son Jesus (Isa) has
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,
for God’s wrath remains on them" (John 3:36 NIV).
Whereas in the Qur'an Jesus (Isa) is presented as a
prophet, the Injils or Gospels present Jesus as the Son of
God who can provide assurance of eternal life.
“Ministering” To The Muslim: Consider using knowledge
of the following when ministering (Continued):
This is not a new problem!
Keep in mind that the Bible teaches that the Jews were
ZEALOUS for God but their zeal was not based on
knowledge. They were diligently trying to keep the law so much so that it was blinding them from seeing God’s
way of salvation. Cults are characterized by such zeal –
diligent, but diligently wrong – religiously wrong !
( see Romans 10:2).
QUESTION:
Can you see that the church has (since its
birth) suffered persecution – both internal
and external at the hands of a disbelieving
culture ? What evidence is there today that
the culture is still striving against the church,
and why ?