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Muslims Have Questions
Posted by Guest Author in Church & Missions
In sharing Truth with others, it is always beneficial to know what questions they have about our beliefs and actions. Below are some common questions I, and many others, receive on a regular basis during dialog with Muslims from unreached people groups. While I am currently out of the country and cannot promise extensive, or even minimal, interaction on todayʼs post, your interaction and participation with these questions is encouraged!
- Islam is an all-encompassing religious system (religious duties, home life, politics, social interactions, etc). Why doesnʼt Christianity offer the same?
- If Christianity is true, why is the West so immoral (prostitution, abortion, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, etc)?
- If Christians believe in justice, why does the West support modern Israel even when they commit atrocities (this is often linked with the Crusades)?
- We believe in the prophethood of Jesus, why donʼt you believe in the prophethood of Muhammad?
- How can you have certainty that you will attain paradise? This is utter arrogance!
- If you truly have assurance of paradise, then you can do anything you want. How does that honor God?
- Why would God allow one of the most honored prophets (Jesus) to be defeated (on the cross) by unbelievers?
- If God is truly just, how can one person suffer for anotherʼs sin?
- How can you worship three gods (typically meaning God, Jesus and Mary) and claim to follow the prophets?
- Hasnʼt the Bible been corrupted/changed through the years?
If I am able to interact, maybe Iʼll play devilʼs advocate….
May His face shine upon you,
From the Middle East
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Middle East,
Very interesting questions. Questions that many Christians would be chomping at the bits to answer. If not already done, it would be a great idea to prepare literature that responded to these questions. Then distribute that literature among the Islamic people. Assuming that was permitted and could be done in relative safety.
At any rate, these questions should help believers better understand how to witness to others. And that sometimes we should listen more than speak.
David R. Brumbelow
I agree with David Brumbelow. It would be interesting to see a summary of how you would answer each of these questions. As Islam, and the challenges it presents, become more and more relevant for us as Christians interested in fulfilling the Great Commission, I agree that being prepared to deal intelligently and sensitively with these questions should be a priority assignment for all of us.
My impression as I read the questions is that they aren’t really questions at all. They come across as pejorative comments.
David
Brothers David B & David R,
I hear what you are saying… however the majority of Muslims peoples throughout the world are oral peoples. This means that most things are passed on orally through various styles (poetry, proverbs, stories, etc). If we want to communicate, it is not enough to give literature. What we must do is communicate in a way they understand – which (for the majority) happens to be in oral form using stories, proverbs, etc. This is very different from our the Western style of presenting syllogisms and doctrinal points.
I am considering dealing with each of these questions in an upcoming post, but also have other posts in mind. Time will tell….
Brother David W,
If a Western Muslim presented the questions this way, I would agree. However, Arabs (where the majority of my experience lies) have a very different communication style than Westerns do. While some are gentler than others, these are all questions that should be addressed as folks ask questions about God’s Kingdom. And, believe it or not, I love it anytime someone asks me any of these questions! It wasn’t always like this, but as I understand more about Islam, Arab culture and worldview, each of these has truly become an opportunity to lift Jesus up!!
His peace be yours in abundance,
From the Middle East
Brother Middle,
I would then be in favor of preparing stories, proverbs, poetry, etc. that would speak to and answer these questions.
I look forward to your answers to these questions. I think it might be helpful to have different Christians debating (in a friendly way) and answering these questions. Then take the best of these answers and share them with the Muslim people.
I’m a big believer in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
David R. Brumbelow
Brother East,
You mentioned conveying Christian truth through story telling. Would the following story be effective among the Muslim people you deal with?
It is effective with me. Makes a great Easter sermon illustration.
Many years ago a Christian missionary in Turkey told a group of Muslim people, “I am traveling down an unfamiliar path. I come to a fork in the road and do not know which way to go. There are two men there – one is dead and the other is alive. Which one should I ask directions?”
They replied, “Oh, that’s easy. The one who is alive.”
Then, the missionary said, “Why do you go to Mohamed who is dead, rather than to Jesus Christ, who is alive?”
David R. Brumbelow
Brother David B,
I think you have a good idea here. That is, that Jesus is alive…. which is taught in both Christianity and Islam. This is a powerful truth that is already accepted by Muslims, but typically not thought through and applied to life. There are several stories I have used in the past to bring this truth to light. One of my favorites is actually just a slight variation on this one. This is a great illustration!
One change you could make in order to make this a little more effective would be to leave off the last line. The reason for this is that oral peoples are much better at applying parables to life than we are. They already know what you are getting at. No reason to inflame and shame them and back them into a corner. If you back them into a corner, they have no choice but to argue in order to save face (no matter how illogical the argument is). Instead, let them think on it for a while and apply it themselves. This leaves them with their honor intact and in a position to continue the discussion… the ones in whom the Spirit is working in will come back for more!
His peace be yours in abundance,
From the Middle East
Brother Middle,
Interesting point. I’ve got a thick skull and need everything explained. In my preaching I’m always concerned that people understand exactly my point.
But I can understand how that could vary in other cultures. Come to think of it, I guess Jesus used both approaches depending on the situation. I also see the importance of honor and “saving face.”
Anyway, in the terms of my culture, go get ‘em. I appreciate the work you’re doing.
David R. Brumbelow
Brother David B,
Sorry, slept on it & came up with another though about your parable:
If you use this parable, most half-way religious Muslims would respond with something like, “We do follow Jesus. Why don’t you follow Muhammad?” This is not a bad question, but the answer should again point the conversation back to exalting the Messiah. I do, however, think you could modify this parable to show the supremacy of Jesus and how no one else is needed after Him thus answering the question before it is asked. The question of why we do not acknowledge the prophethood of Muhammad is a MAJOR one. And, according to Scripture, it is because Jesus is all-sufficient. So, the parable could be modified slightly to show this prior to the question ever coming up. This does not mean it would not be asked, but then you could just point them back to the parable again.
Exciting stuff… thanks for thinking & praying through it with me… very encouraging!
May His face shine upon you,
From the Middle East
[...] comment section of my last post “Muslims Have Questions” has prompted a few more posts. During the next few posts I will share some of the ways I [...]
[...] first “common question from Muslims” we considered was, “Why would God allow one of the most honored prophets (Jesus) to be [...]