How to talk to a Muslim

It is interesting to have a go at witnessing Jesus to a Muslim, good on you for having the courage to try.

I am not sure where he is heading with his comment on Allah, few muslims would suggest that Allah wore a cloth on his head, more likely he means Muhummad.,

Bear in mind that the majority of Muslims like to talk to Christians about Christianity and also Islam, they like the opportunity same as you, and yet they also are often very interested in what Christianity is all about.

What I think is important is to talk about your relationship to Allah through Jesus, the fact that you know God through Christ, In Islam, they have a scale, and their good deeds must outweigh their bad deeds, resultantly they do not have an assurance of Salvation. Imagine how you would feel not knowing that you are saved or not? For a muslim they are often interested to hear about this because it is the one thing that they crave.

A major stumbling block to muslims becoming Christians is that they feel that they may dishonour their parents by doing so. You have to be sensitive in this area.

Why not ask him what the Koran says about Jesus. It affirms that he was born of the virgin Mary, ask him how he feels about this and if he believes that miracle of God. In doing so, you have shown him that it is o.k to see Jesus as more than a man through his own book. Resultantly he may not be as defensive.

Any way just a few suggestions. Please keep on trying in your desire to witness to muslims. Few Christians ever really try, and I believe that the people of the Islamic world are the last group that has to be reached in order that Christ would return for the church.

 

Just present the Gospel to them in a loving manner, and don't worry about their response. That is my advice. Leave that to God.

Joseph Botwinick

 

If Christians sincerely desire a meaningful dialog with members of other faiths, they should become acquainted with the beliefs and scriptures of those faiths. So, if one wishes to have a discussion with a Mormon about Mormonism, they should be familiar with the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. If they wish to do the same with a Muslim, a working knowledge of the Quran would be appropriate.

 

The North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Georgia, of the Southern Baptist Convention produced a 75-minute DVD entitled The Cross or The Crescent: Understanding Islam, published in February 2001.

It is available at LifeWay Christian Stores online or at The North American Mission Board. The ISBN number is 063303447-9

http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=0633034479&mscssid=8BL0SS5H8V2S9H8HE07913Q4M5WT90DE

www.namb.net/catalog

 

If anyone is interested in a free resource, I found the following on the University of Southern California's website. It gives a parallel of three English translations of the Quran. It could be useful in witnessing to your Muslim neighbors, acquaintences or friends.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/

 

Hmmm, quite interesting. In reading a few of the verses there, the Quran seems to promote a live and let live attitude with other religions. This is not the position of the Islamic terrorists.

The verses I found:

109.004
And I shall not worship that which ye worship.
109.005
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
109.006
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.

Mods, please not, I am not posting this as an inducement to anyone to become a Muslim. I posted the link and verses as resources for Christians who want a dialog with Muslim acquaintences.

 

Here is a recent broadcast with Dr. Richard Land and two former Muslims. I would not recommend it for people who have pre-conceived notions about Islam but only for those people who are interested in the truth and not afraid to hear the truth.

http://66.116.223.30/

 

008.012
YUSUFALI: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
PICKTHAL: When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger.
SHAKIR: When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

008.067
YUSUFALI: It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.
PICKTHAL: It is not for any prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. Ye desire the lure of this world and Allah desireth (for you) the Hereafter, and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
SHAKIR: It is not fit for a prophet that he should take captives unless he has fought and triumphed in the land; you desire the frail goods of this world, while Allah desires (for you) the hereafter; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.


A real warm and fuzzy religion there. I am glad that very, very few Muslims actually take these verses literally and live by them.

 

yes, looks like one can find whatever they wish.

 

Listen to them...listen ..listen ..listen some
more...ask for opportunity from God to serve them
the Holy Spirit promises to help you in what
to say but lay the ground work imho by listening
and serving them.

sincerely
Aslanspal

 

There are parts of the Old Testament that are every bit as bloody and brutal - what does that prove except that what we find is influenced by who we are?

 

Having discussed matters of faith with Muslims, I probably would have replied "You and I both follow God we we know Him". We Christian also look at the teachings of Jesus, because we believe he was the Messiah (since Muslims also believe Jesus was the Messiah, this would result in something in common).

Interesting, since not all Muslims have their heads covered. Many Muslims in the US don't, including women. Just like some Jews cover their heads, and some don't. I probably would have pointed out that lots of Muslims don't cover their heads.

Once the conversation gets to the level of "my" this and "my" that, it's over, because it becomes an infantile game of "my deity is better than your deity". Even when we do this amongst believers, I don't think this is respectful of God. And we do it all the time.

I lived next to a Muslim family for years, and I think because I never belittled him or his faith, he never did mine. In fact, he always knew he could ask me questions about Jesus and scritures becasue he never felt threatened by me. Unfortunately, I moved, and I was never able to continue the years of conversations we had together. I miss them. However, when I moved, I told him, "I have an extra bible. Would you like it?". He said "oh yes, that would be very nice". I gave it to him and signed the inside cover, and when he read it, he teared up.

He told me once that I was the first Christian that ever treated him in a Christian manner. What does that say about us?

Perhaps the next time you see him, tell him "hey, I didn't mean to come off as offensive to you. I respect you and your religion (you can respect someone's faith even if you disagree with it) and don't want you to be offended by me. That wouldn't be very 'Christian' of me. I like talking to people about their faith, because it lets me know more about them." He'll probably be very appreciative of that, and probably willing to talk to you about matters of faith in the future.

Ya can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

 

Maybe this thread should have been in the theology department. Anyway, Daisy, you wrote, "There are parts of the Old Testament that are every bit as bloody and brutal - what does that prove except that what we find is influenced by who we are?"

What you are probably referring to are the special rules that God put into place to preserve Jews as a set aside people. Even then only two Jews, Anna and Simeon, recognized Jesus at His Birth.

Those rules dealt with Israel only and only until the Birth of Jesus.

Try Dr. Land's broadcast if you have a half hour to listen to 2 ex-moslems who are now Baptist preachers:

http://66.116.223.30/index.php?id=59