There is much confusion concerning our response to the Muslims living amongst us, especially since the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon. To unravel this confusion we must not allow our culture norms to cloud our thinking. In our Western culture which is radically turning more secular every day it grants equality and a limited freedom of expression from Christians, Muslims, and other world religions. I say limited because icons, symbols, and dress are being removed step by step from the public domain. Moreover, it has become illegal to witness about your faith in all public buildings, schools, and many common areas. Because of these culture norms most will not openly share their faith with the lost and especially with those of a different faith. As sin comes bursting forth from the proverbial closet many Christians have retreated to the closet in fear of offending others with their faith in Christ. Is that not what’s being taught in a secular society that we should not offend our Muslim brothers by sharing our faith, but rather we should respect their faith by loving our neighbor and remaining silent.
At the other end of the spectrum there are many Christians who fear all Muslims lumping them into the same basket of radical Islam. Clearly there is a radical element that seeks to destroy all Christians or convert them to their devilish faith. Personally, I don’t believe they will ever have a chance in succeeding, but in time will either join the ranks of growing secularism, as described above, or be annihilated by the coming new world order. In the mean time we live in a very dangerous world where bombs can be detonated in our inner cities killing and maiming innocent civilians. In confronting radical Islam we must allow the governing authorities to bring the full weight of their sword on the evil doer or the perspective evil doer. Without limiting the power of God we must not think that simply love for our neighbor and the sharing of our faith can stop the bomb of a radicalized jihadist. Jesus warned about this very thing when He said, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6). Having said all that, I don’t limit the power of God to convert even the radicalized Muslim through the sharing of the Gospel, but I would caution you to confirm the leading of the Holy Spirit and your willingness to suffer martyrdom at the hands of the infidel.
But how do we respond to the Muslim who has become secularized, especially when you consider that 80% of the Muslim population lives outside of the Middle East. With the growing population of Muslims in this country they will eventually become your neighbor, employee, employer, or fellow student. So how does the Christian respond to his or her Muslim neighbor? Before I answer that question let’s assume for a moment that nothing happens by accident. Perhaps it has been God’s divine plan all along to scatter the Muslim population among the secularized nations of the world to bring them into contact with the Christian and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do we not as Christians pray daily for His Kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? For God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven then one must be in the Kingdom, filled with the Holy Spirit, and following the risen Lord Jesus Christ. If we pray that prayer then we must take the commission of Jesus Christ seriously and witness our faith to everyone on the planet and that includes the Muslims who live amongst us. The first essential step in witnessing our faith believes that Christ is with us (See Matthew 28:20 b) and that all fear of the Muslim must be jettisoned. We must not fear the Muslim who has no power over you in the secularized nations of the world. We must not fear the Muslim thinking that his faith is stronger than ours or that he has the ability to covert us to his way of thinking. Once we have removed all fear by putting our trust in our all powerful God then we are ready for the next step.
Friends, in the next step we must not witness on our own strength but wait upon the Spirit to fill us with His power and His infallible Word – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Meet them where they are for they believe in Jesus Christ as a Prophet and a holy man but they don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this resurrection power that enables us to have a new life in Him – a transformed life where old things pass away and behold all things are new (See II Corinthians 5:17). God’s forgiveness has allowed you to forget about the old life and press on to your upward calling in Christ Jesus. It is imperative that they see this new life in you! Unlike the heathen we don’t beat our wife and children into submission. Unlike the infidel we don’t put our trust in the psychologist and his array of psychotropic drugs to deliver us from our emotional and psychological problems. Unlike the Muslim we are saved by grace and not by works of a man made law. Unlike the heathen we are filled with the Spirit of the living God that brings us comfort in the time of affliction, wisdom in the time of indecision, and strength in the time of weakness. Unlike the infidel our prayers are answered through a manifold of seen and unseen miracles. The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ stresses the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of a loving God, and the inner power to live a wonderful new life in Christ. Dear friends, be powerful in your witness to the Muslim, because if we truly love our neighbor then we will do everything possible to keep him from spending eternity in hell.
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Also published (in part) in my new book: “Revelation Truth” available in our secure online bookstore or at a bookstore near you.