MUSLIM WORLD - The greatest challenge facing the western Church today
24/06/05 - Brother Andrew, Open Doors founder says the Western Church needs to learn to love Muslims
As Open Doors commemorates fifty years of service to the Persecuted Church on 15 July 2005, Brother Andrew, Open Doors' founder, reflects on the greatest challenge facing the western church today. He explains:
“We must start spelling ‘Islam’ as, ‘I Sincerely Love All Muslims’. That really gets people, because we don’t. We in the West see Islam as something threatening and outlandish; it doesn’t fit with our culture. We need to take time to get to know Muslims and show them real love – Christ’s love. If we cannot manage to invite them into our homes for a cup of coffee, forget about speaking to them about Jesus. We must earn the right to get their attention. Muslims are immune to preaching, they have had it for 1,400 years and it has got nowhere. The real secret is in your own heart: Do I really love them?.
"We see Islam as a primitive religion and a religion of works, but our knowledge is very superficial. One problem is, as Mohammed predicted 1400 years ago, in the end times there will be 70 different versions of Islam. Today, there are not just 70 but more than 100 different versions. Similarly, there are also many different versions of Christianity. We are also quite divided and do not have a united answer or message to Islam.
"But, Muslims too are divided and fighting each other, the Shi’ites and Sunnis especially, and then there are Wahabbis and Wallabbis, and Ahmadia Muslims. We have to understand this before we can affect these souls; but essentially it is all about connecting with people. It is much more refreshing to have a lively debate with a dedicated Muslim than a lukewarm Christian. It stimulates you. I appreciate the honesty and frankness of most Muslims, but having a conversation with a compromising Christian is so discouraging and deadening. I hate it!"
Brother Andrew also explains how we need to turn away from our lukewarm, indifferent version of Christianity and learn something from the dedication and commitment of many Muslims:
“You know, it’s terrific to meet a dedicated Muslim and see how at once they try to evangelise you. In my book, Lightforce, I spoke about the times when I was approached by Muslim men inviting us in to eat and pray with them. They would tell us, ‘Come with us – it’s so wonderful to be a Muslim!’ with smiles and excitement in their voices. This was Gaza – unemployed, poor, threatened, mourning, bombed – yet there is such enthusiasm there and people with strong convictions that radiate with joy when they talk about their faith."
Brother Andrew also talks about how we can come alongside Muslims and share in their personal suffering:
“I feel that we have to be very humble because we are facing an issue that we know so little about. We have never been to them when their people die. I went once to a Shi’ite leader when his sister was killed in a car crash in Turkey, just to give my condolences; he really appreciated that.
"I’ve been to another Muslim family in the West Bank when their 11-year old son was kicked to death. They so appreciated that also.
"Sometimes on our television screens, you see their grief, their crying women, screaming, wailing, because they don’t understand why they are being picked out to die, by an unseen enemy. They see an Apache helicopter or an F-16, and after that they don’t see anything. The bombs come so fast, and then suddenly there are children dead. This for them represents Christianity.
"In many parts of the world, God is speaking directly to Muslims through visions and dreams; but Christians, especially in the West, are fearful and hesitant to go to Muslims because they know they cannot match their dedication and commitment. But if we do not go now, to witness to them, they will come to us and we won’t like it.
Brother Andrew then elaborates on what we can do to change this situation:
"We need to reach out to these people. Most of whom are basically God-seekers. That’s what many Muslims are, and they are so serious about their faith.
"But Islam is a high-pressure religion. People have no secure eternal future unless they die in a 'jihad', a holy war. Their prayer lives are not satisfactory because they have no idea if God really hears them – if they are just one degree off when facing Mecca in prayer, it will probably be 500 kilometres off once you get to Mecca. That doesn’t make them happy.
"But then they always ask accusingly, does our Christianity make us happy? Seventy per cent of the UK claim to be Christian, but look at the television: is that Christian happiness? Its programmes are full of violence, anger, swearing and unfaithfulness.
"Then in the news, you see strikes, demonstrations and violence on the streets. These things are broadcast to the Muslim World, and they say ‘Ah, so this is Christianity. They are not happy people. They are immoral people! We don’t want that.’ They judge us by what they see and hear.
"When we talk about the future, we wonder how they can conquer us. It won’t be because they are so strong but because we are weak.
"So my message would be first of all to the Church: we have to repent, we have to take care of the lost, we have to go out to them.
"Until the end of the Second World War, 7/8 of all Muslim countries were colonised by Christian nations, but we hardly made a dent in their culture or religion.
"A few years ago, only less than 2 per cent of the total missionary force was directed to the Muslim world. Basically, that sends a message that we still don’t care. We need to go to them, as followers of Jesus Christ and talk about Him and explain that our values are different from the materialistic, violent, selfish society that permeates so much of western culture. Then we will find there is openness, because all we want to talk about is Jesus and all we want to do is love them."
Brother Andrew is founder of Open Doors which supports persecuted Christians in over 45 countries throughout the world. The ministry includes strengthening and encouraging the church throughout the Islamic world.
To find out more, call Open Doors on 01993 885400, email info@opendoorsuk.org or go to the UK website at www.opendoorsuk.org.
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Open Doors strengthens persecuted Christians in over 45 countries across the world by
1. Training Church leaders and Christian workers
2. Supplying Bibles, hymnals, Sunday School materials and other Christian literature
3. Providing livelihood training and self-help opportunities
4. Visiting, comforting and encouraging those who are suffering
5. Raising awareness of the difficulties persecuted Christians face and mobilising prayer for them throughout the western world.
For other press releases on the Persecuted Church, please go to: http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/releases/
Articles: http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/articles/
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