Download TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR REACHING MUSLIMS C

Release: August 9, 2012 Subject: Islam TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR REACHING MUSLIMS C-­‐1075.4 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. John 6:37-­‐39 A billion and a half people, or approximately 22% of the world's population, worship under the crescent and the star, for they are Muslim; yet very few Christians understand what they believe or how to communicate their faith to them. They simply know that they are different. Because of its importance in the religious world today, I have been bringing a series of commentaries on Islam and what Muslims (who are adherents to Islam) really believe. While Muslims are just as guilty as Christians in being ignorant of what the other believes, the believer has a responsibility to share the Good News of the Gospel. In doing this, you need to understand basically what the hindrances are and what areas of agreement and disagreement exist between the two groups, for a believer to share his faith effectively. First, realize both Christians and Muslims accept the Books of Moses (the first five Books of the Old Testament), the Psalms, and the Gospels. Muslims also accept the Koran, a series of revelations said to have been given to Muhammed prior to his death in 632 A.D. The Koran sounds somewhat similar to the Words of Scripture, but of course its basic premise is that man must worship one God-­‐-­‐Allah, to the Muslim-­‐-­‐and that he must live in harmony with Islamic teaching. Fred Acord, who has worked among Muslims for 20 years, has written ten commandments for sharing the Gospel with your Muslim neighbor. 1. Use the Word. Muslims respect the sacred books: The Law of Moses, Psalms, Gospel, and Koran. Let the Word of God speak for itself. The Gospels are the best portions to start with, particularly Matthew and Luke. 2. Be constant in prayer. It is the Holy Spirit who wins men to Christ. Seek His guidance and power as you present the Word. 3. Be a genuine friend. Saying "hello" is not enough. If you really care, show it by inviting them to your home, sharing your time, and helping with their problems. 4. Ask thought-­‐provoking questions. 'Do you expect to go to heaven? Do you have the assurance that God will accept you? What does the Koran teach about forgiveness? May I show you what the Bible teaches?' Questions like these show that you have an interest in the important things of life. 5. Listen attentively. When you ask a question, courtesy requires that you listen to the answer no matter how long it takes. You will be surprised at how much you will learn. 6. Present your beliefs openly. State what you believe, clearly and without apology, showing Scripture passages that support those teachings. Thus, you place the responsibility for doctrine where it belongs-­‐-­‐on the Word of God. 7. Reason but never argue. Argument may win a point but lose a hearing. There are some points on which you can argue forever without achieving a thing, except closing a mind against you. 8. Never denigrate Mohammed or the Koran. This is as offensive to them as speaking disrespectfully about Christ or the Bible is to us. 9. Respect their customs and sensitivities. Do not offend by putting your Bible (a holy book) on the floor, or appearing too free with the opposite sex, or refusing hospitality, or making jokes about sacred topics such as fasting, prayer, or God. 10. Persevere. Muslims have a lot of re-­‐thinking to do when they are confronted with the Gospel. But rest assured that the Word of God will do its work, in His good time. There you have ten commandments for sharing the Gospel with your Muslim neighbors. Resource reading: Genesis 22. The preceding material was written and produced by Dr. Harold Sala. All rights reserved ©. Reproduction for sale or financial profit is prohibited. Permission to reprint may be obtained by contacting Guidelines International Ministries, Box G, Laguna Hills, CA 92654 USA. Email at [email protected].