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MISSIOLOGICAL
METHODOLOGIES
2011
Christians say:
“Christ is the Only Way to God!”
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Problem: We now live in a 'global village'
A multi-faith society
A multi-cultural society
An ‘inclusive’ society
Thus, ‘exclusive’ claims may offend.
Many People Say:
• Jesus: great teacher, prophet, leader and reformer
• Perhaps one way to God.
• Thus Christians are arrogant, intolerant and
narrow-minded to suggest he is the only way
• Politically incorrect
“All Faiths Must be the same”
Commonalities:
• Spiritual dimension
• Moral codes
• Authority for Peace
Differences :
– i.e. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism
– Nature of God, man, sin, salvation, and the world
– Too many differences
They cannot all be right!
• Perhaps all contain aspects of the
truth.
• But if one is true, in an absolute
sense
• Then it follows logically that none of
the others can be also.
• It's one or none
• So, believing this, how should we
go about persuading others?
WHAT METHODOLOGIES EXIST?
• There is no one ‘best’ method
• What works in Kingston, may not work in Conakry
• Learn from those who have gone ahead
– The missionaries who have stayed on, they know what’s
best
• There are a few classical models which we can learn
from, and employ…
Let’s look at the primary models:
[1] Tent-Making
• Getting into ‘closed countries’ by using a skill
– Doctors, nurses, teachers, students,
engineers…even tourists
• Through that means you introduce the gospel
into your conversations
• Usually only for a short time
• Often you will need to leave the country
periodically (visas, etc…)
Advantages:
• It is many times the only way to get into certain
countries: Middle East, etc…
• It gets you close to people immediately
• It is non-threatening
• You come in with status, especially if you are in the
medical profession
• You don’t necessarily have to know the language
• In many cases you don’t have to raise money
Problems:
• You can only do ‘moon-lighting’ evangelism
• Difficult to understand the culture
• Difficult to make long-term relationships (you will
always be perceived as an outsider)
• You are at the mercy of your ‘company’, or the
government
• There is little ‘in-country’ support
• Converts have little ‘follow-up’, discipleship
[2] Programs
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Orphanages…etc…
Advantages:
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They provide a need to the society
Are non-threatening
Usually are more permanent (great legacy)
Can provide education and employment for
Christians
• Gospel ‘should’ be preached within the context of
the program (chapels, classes)
Problems:
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Expensive (‘white elephants’)
Often lead to ‘Rice Christians’
Tend to become utilitarian, and often secular
Can be abused by local people (orphanages)
[3] Proclamation
• To proclaim Christ and the gospel publicly by
speaking and/or preaching.
• Open-Airs, Public meetings…
• Using media, tracts, literature, TV, Radio,
internet, etc…
• The Most Common form of evangelism.
• Usually is long-distant evangelism
Advantages:
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Easy to prepare
Simple to Understand
Lots of Examples to follow
Sometimes Cheap
Takes little time
Presents your agenda
Uses your background and experience
Problems:
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Can be expensive
One-way communication
Few responses
No rebuttals
Few relationships
Least effective way to win Converts
[4] Irenic/Friendship evangelism:
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Coming together through shared relationships.
Attending their meetings (Campus or Mosque)
Mosque visits
Home visits
Advantages:
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Easiest way to meet ‘cold contacts’
Many times the only way to meet contacts
Conducive to ‘Irenic’ relational cultures
Little hostility
Little persecution
Good way to ‘set an example’
Problems:
• Takes time and energy
• Difficult to get beyond friendships
– Due to fear of losing the contact
• Can cause jealousies
• Gospel isn’t always preached effectively
[5] Gospel in the Qur’an (Camel):
• Finding Stories/verses in the Qur’an as a Bridge
• Using these stories to introduce Gospel truths
• Once they believe these truths about Jesus, you can
then introduce the Gospels
• Examples:
– Sura 19:33 (&15) ‘Jesus did die on the Cross’
– Sura 19:19 ‘Jesus was the only perfect Man’
Advantages:
• It begins with something they are familiar
with…the Qur’an
• It doesn’t confront their view of ‘Issa’
• It makes it easier to make contacts
• It is not as threatening
Problems:
• It is ‘eisegesis’ (reading into the Qur’an what is not
there)
• It can create anger in Muslims who know better.
• It can give authority to the Qur’an unintentionally
• It can easily ‘cheapen’ the gospel
• Once you start with the Qur’an, it’s hard to move on
[6] Contextual Model:
• Breaking down any social barriers to the
Gospel, by incarnating oneself in the local
context.
• Became popular in the 1970s (i.e. Phil Parshall
& Frontiers)
• ‘Walking, eating, dressing, living
incarnationally, etc… (C1 – C6)
Advantages:
• It helps you to become part of the culture and
adapt easily
• It makes it easier to gain relationships and trust
• People tend to be more responsive…initially
• The Church, and converts don’t stand out as
foreign, or strange
• There is normally not as much persecution of
converts
Problems:
• Can lead to Syncretism
– (‘Son of God’, ‘Jesus as Lord’, ‘saviour’ -> ‘Jesus as messenger’)
– 5 Pillars are all salvific. We are now freed from them.
• Often seen as deceitful, & leads to persecution when they
find out
• Can mis-communicate & confuse the Gospel.
– Muslim worship forms were imposed on all cultures, & thus define
Islam.
– To adapt prayers, dress, or x-tian mosques, confuses & threatens
them.
• Muslims define themselves by external dress
– Forms function by reinforcing the meanings of beliefs and
ideology.
[7] ‘Insider Movement’
• Acts 21:20-26 – Paul does purification rites to
show he is still ‘living under the law’
• 1 Cor. 9:19-22 – Paul says we must “Become
Like” those we minister to (i.e. Become like
Muslims)
• 1 Cor. 7:17-22 – Paul says those who believe
should “stay like” that which God called them
to.
Advantages:
• There is little to no Extraction [i.e. ‘Put new wine
(love for Jesus) in ‘new’ wine skins (Islam), and not
‘old’ wineskins (Christianity)]
• Thus, there is little to no Persecution
• There is little to no Parasitism (no financial
responsibilities)
• There are many ‘believers’ & many ‘Janaat’s’
• Insider believers can ‘minister’ to their families (i.e.
‘Lamps on a stand’)
Problems:
• There is a manipulation of Scripture to find
authority for this paradigm (i.e. Lamp on a
stand, and ‘old’ wineskins)
• There seems to be a fear of persecution, yet
persecution is promised in Matt. 10:34-39
• There seems to be an unhealthy desire for
quick numbers
• This is primarily chosen by young American
Christians who are embarrassed by their
church/culture
Problems cont.
• It is impregnated with ‘Post Modern’ thinking
• They aren’t able to separate Arab culture from
Islam
• They trivialize the importance of Islamic ‘identity
codes’
• They don’t understand the spiritual power of these
codes
• Their ‘Christology’ is weak to non-existence (i.e.
“Mahatma Gandhi will be in heaven due to his love
of Jesus”)
• MCT’s or ‘Muslim Compliant Translations’
CHRISLAM (Smith & Sterling)
(Sung to ‘Superkalifrajilistic-Expealidotius’)
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You know I love whatever's new
Especially if it's bogus
And anything which seems to be
Completely out of focus
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So here's a trend which fits the bill
CHRISLAM is what it’s named
Some Muslims say Christ is their Lord
No hint of being ashamed
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Don't get me wrong they still believe
Muhammad is Gods prophet
But add a little Jesus Christ
And nothings gonna stop it
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They seem to want no difference
Between our faiths today
So what they’ve done is joined the two
And here is what they say:
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Just keep them in the mosque for life
And let them do ablutions
Then have them pray five daily prayers
So there's no persecutions
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Take some Qur'an, and Gospel too
Just stir and mix them up
And if the Talmud suits your taste
Then simply add a cup
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Don’t worry how you exegete
Few will pay much attention
Since much of what they hear today
Needs almost no retention
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Bring Ishmael into God's favour
He's been away too long
And if they ask what line he's in
Just bluff, you can't go wrong
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Take out the phrase of 'Son of God'
'Messiah' will do fine
Demote him to Muhammad's state
The Muslims will not mind
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In fact don’t mention trinity
It’s too hard to explain
The Bible never mentions it
So what’s there to maintain
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But don’t stop there, just when it’s fun
God’s fatherhood dispense
A god who walks and talks with me
Denies omnipotence
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‘Yahweh’ was God’s eternal name
He forced Moses to learn it
Eternity is much too long
So why don’t we just spurn it
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Instead let’s ask what Islam says
Concerning god’s true name
And use ‘Allah’ in all our texts
To prove our god’s the same
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But now that you have gone this far
No reason here to quit
Let’s see what else we can chuck out
In order to submit
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I never liked that ‘Christian’ tag
It gets us in hot water
It’s hated everywhere I go
So why then even bother
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Thus if they ask you who you are
Just call yourself a 'Moslem'
Cause now that you no longer care
You might as well just 'join em‘
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The best of both you pick and choose
A whole new cult I fear
A world religion that can't lose
A sign the end is near
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The Gospel must never confront
Hostilities must cease
It's easy thus to change our views
In order to have peace
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So let’s believe in everything
And nothing all at once
Now aren’t you really quite impressed
With Satan’s latest stunt
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But please you must not tell a soul
Cause Muslims would get mad
And Christians might stop giving funds
That thought is truly sad
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But Hey, who cares, it's all a game
The numbers are impressive
Yet in the end you'd have to say
It's really quite deceptive
[8] DIALOGUE:
Four Principles of Dialogue (British Council of Churches)
• Dialogue begins when people meet each other, pointing out that
each person needs to be approached as individuals, and not simply
representing a system of beliefs.
• Dialogue depends upon mutual understanding and mutual trust,
suggesting that each person should be permitted to define
themselves concerning what they believed.
• Dialogue makes it possible to share in service to the community,
alluding to the fact that dialogue can be a vehicle to bring about
harmony between those of separate faiths.
• Dialogue becomes the medium of authentic witness, suggesting that
because it begins in a context of trust, dialogue allows not only a
witness of one’s own faith, but “assumes the freedom of a person of
any faith, including the Christian, to be convinced by the faith of
another” (Riddell 2004:111)
• Inclusive Principles
Problems with Dialogue
Impractical:
rarely engage publicly with that which is foundational to each
faith, yet likewise separates them, namely, their conflicting and
often contradictory belief statements.
Unequal
No reciprocity
Un-trustworthy
Muslims suspect dialogue, as it leads to religious syncretism,
compromises the faith, a subtle ploy towards prosletysm, a
Western Christian initiative, perceived as an adjunct of
colonialism, a covert form of evangelism, since usually Muslims
are invited as guests, and are not able to set the agenda, so they
feel they have little to gain
Unpopular
They do not attract Muslims
CONCLUSION:
• Dialogues do bring Christians and non-Christians together
• Dialogues ‘get the ball going’, start the agenda
• They offer a wide range of models
BUT:
• They are usually promoted by Christians only
• They attract Liberal-Western & elite Muslims
• They tend not to be robust, more acquiescent on the part
of the Christian participants.
• And most importantly, they don’t reach the ones causing
most of the problems today (i.e. the radical Muslims)
So, what’s the solution?
[9] Debate/Confrontation:
• (2 Cor.10:5) “demolish arguments and take
captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ”
• Openly challenging the beliefs of another
person, using literature, media, etc...
• Using the conventional format of public
debate.
Advantages:
• Gets right to the ‘nub’ of the problem
• One of the few vehicles which confronts Islam
publicly
• Is conducive to Muslims, as it fits their culture, and
their form of communication
• Brings in the crowds
• Helps Christians feel confident
• Forces Christianity into the public sphere, where it
belongs, but hasn’t been…
Problems:
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Can create tensions
Goes against our cultural proclivities
Few places to train, or practice
Not many good models today
Consequently, not very popular
Can create fear of repercussions
Don’t know the answers to the questions
(FAQs)…so…LEARN THEM!
Purposes for Evangelism
Criteria and Methodology to help in
your ministry with Muslims
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Public:
Purpose is to Define what you believe, Defend it, then
Reverse the challenge publicly.
• You are in hostile arenas
• You are in public arenas
• Now is the opportunity to learn your apologetics/polemics
adequately, before applying it elsewhere.
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Laboratory:
Remember now is the time for trial and error.
-A place to practice what you have learned in class, in your research, in
your discussions, etc...
-Expect to make mistakes.
-Don’t be upset when you do.
-Simply learn from them, then ‘get back up on the horse’, and try again,
or move on.
-You are a ‘sojourner’ here, thus you won’t be held accountable for the
mistakes you make here.
-Learn from those mistakes, and make sure you don’t repeat them.
-This is ideal preparation for your chosen field.
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Mosaic:
Muslims are not monolithic, but multi-faceted.
• Any sort of Muslim can be standing in front of you
• Allows you to ‘dovetail’ (apply) responses for each
personality.
• Forces you to meet their specific need.
• “What is good for Abdul may not be good for
Ahmed”
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Focus:
The Audience is your primary goal, not necessarily the one you’re
speaking to
• So, concentrate on them, and not on the
detractors.
• By focusing on them, you neutralize the detractors
• Use the crowd to substantiate your view.
• Look at them when you talk, speak to them,
question them, involve them, and employ their
support.
• Your larger audience are the ones you are trying to
convince.
METHODOLOGY:
1) Pray:
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Always have a prayer covering.
Remember this is a battle you are in, and thus
requires ‘weapons not of this world’.
Prayer is to be employed: before, during, and
after the time you are ‘in battle’.
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Pairs:
• Try always to go in twos, or more.
• One person to speak, the other to pray.
• Preferably, one should be a veteran, with
experience.
• Roles can be flipped, depending on the need, or
time.
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Rule of Thumb # 1
‘Scratch where they itch’
To know them, you will need to first listen to them.
Yet, maintain control at all times.
Don’t let them set the agenda.
Stay away from ‘shopping list questions’
4)
Rule of Thumb # 2:
• ‘Scratch where they don’t itch’
• You must go beyond friendship, to introduce the
Gospel, which will confront!
• Assume a heated response.
• The Person-hood of Jesus will confront, a worthy
battleground.
5)
Response:
• ‘3 C’s’ = ‘Quick’, ‘Concise’, yet ‘Comprehensive’
• We tend to take our time, so learn to give ‘2 minute
sound-bites’ (usual attention time)
• We tend to be verbose, so be succinct.
• We seek erudition, so seek simplicity (remember
‘8th grade educational level’)
• We tend to be ‘fuzzy thinkers’, so learn to be
logical.
6)
Praxis:
There is a need to be multi-faceted in your response.
• We must use both Apologetics and Polemics.
• We must be both Irenical and Confrontational
• So that the onus is not always on us, but back
where it belongs…on them.
• Not ‘either’ - ‘or’; but ‘both’ - ‘and’
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Mannerism:
• Be Gentle, yet Passionate, Be Considerate, yet
Forthright.
• How you say it is almost as important as what you
say.
• Show confidence in your material, and in your
decisions.
• Do not employ ‘Character Assassination’.
• Our material is too good, and our testimony too
precious.
• Don’t waste time on innocuous argumentation
(i.e.“Don’t throw pearls before swine”)
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End-game:
• Bring discussions around to the Gospel
• (i.e. ‘How could God have a Son’, ‘Is Islam or
Christianity peaceful and tolerant’)
• Remind yourself who is in charge, and for whom
you are there [the Lord]!
EXTERNAL LOGICAL FALLACIES:
-typical arguments afforded by Muslims
(with help from Robert Morey)
1. “B B” Paradigm:
Make any claim, without sourcing it in scripture.
• You become your own highest authority
• (i.e. Benazir Bhutto: ‘Islam is relevant to 20th c.’)
2. Imposition Paradigm:
Take your premise and impose it on another
• (i.e. ‘Tanzil’ revelation, Where does Jesus claim ‘I
am God’, Jesus’ seeming inferiority, Paradigm of a
‘dualistic’ God)
3. Smokescreen/Red Herring:
Tactic to divert attention from the weakness of one’s
own premise, with the intention of putting us on
the defensive
• (i.e. trinity, Crusades)
4. Historical Precedent:
The new may test the old, and takes precedent over
it
• applying ‘law of abrogation’ [S.2:106; 16:101] to
scripture
• (i.e. Scriptural corruption, Jesus of faith vs. Jesus of
history)
5. Cyclical Argument:
Assume in your premise what you are going to state
in your conclusion
• (i.e. Muhammad gives authority to the Qur’an, and
vice versa)
6. False Analogy/Equivocation:
Comparing two things as if they are parallel when
they are not
• (i.e. revelation, Jesus, Allah)
7. The Fallacy of Irrelevance:
Introducing issues with no logical bearing on the
subject, as a proof of credibility
• (i.e. ‘Sura like it’, Qur’anic science, Celebrity
conversions, Islamic growth)
8. Phonic Fallacies:
The phonetic sound of a word should not be used to
twist its meaning
• (i.e. Allah = Allelujah, Muhammad = Machmad,
Mecca = Bacca)
9. Straw Man Arguments:
Put false arguments into mouth of your opponent,
then knock them down
• (i.e. S. 5:116, Catholicism)
10. ‘Might is Right’ Fallacy:
Loudest and most long-winded supposedly wins the
argument…having the last say…
• (i.e. ‘Poke, Punch & Pinch’)
INTERNAL LOGICAL FALLACIES: (typical arguments
afforded by Christians)
1. Losing Friends:
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It’s a risk, but with gentleness & respect
(1 Pet.3:15-16) they will stay
2. Appearing judgmental:
• Being Good = Being Christian, thus non-Christians
are not good?
3. We must use only Dialogue, never stoop to
confrontation:
• Dialogue: We cannot talk to non-Christians about the
Gospel unless we first talk with them, & so earn the right
to be heard.
• Confronting: >demolishing arguments and taking captive
every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Cor.10:4-5).
• showing the holes in peoples thinking (in Lk.20:20-39; Acts
17:28-29)
• i.e. lead out on a current topic, and go on into >deeper
things = (news, sports etc...)
• Start with their ideas & lead them ‘to their logical
conclusions’
Conclusion – Things we MUST do:
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Accept the need for a Public Confrontation of Islam
Realise that we are the only ones capable of engaging it
Move beyond our fear of Confrontation
Move beyond our fear of Repercussions
Move beyond our desire for Security
Move beyond our opponent’s Sensibilities
Move beyond dialogue → to debate
Begin to teach Christian Apologetics & Polemics
Begin to publicly confront their auth. (Qur’an)
Begin to publicly confront their models (Muhammad)
Some leaders must model it (i.e. ‘ol Codgers’)
Others can begin to practice it:
&
We must ‘Stand in the Gap’
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It’s the best way to get their attention
Forces our antagonists to respond
May be the 1st time they have heard criticism
Gets the agenda moving
‘Pre-Evangelistic’
We don’t have a choice
-Muslims/Humanists tend to initiate the confrontation
-Fits their cultural paradigm
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Creates a Christian Public Presence
Does that which the state may/can not do
Upgrades and strengthens the church
We have the only alternative!
We have the Best Material!
WE HAVE THE TRUTH…and his name is JESUS!
What weapons will we use?
• “For though we live in the world, we do not wage
war as the world does. The weapons we fight with
are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they are divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that
sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we
take captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ”
(II Corinthians 10:3-5)