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Why is the Muslim World So Resistant to the Gospel?
AlbertMohler.com ^ | April 8, 2011 | Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.,

Posted on 04/09/2011 10:24:59 AM PDT by wmfights

The future shape of the world appears to be a worldview competition between Christianity, Islam, and Western Secularism. For Christians, both of these worldviews represent real and lasting challenges to evangelism. Neither of these is a particularly new challenge, and the Christian encounter with Islam is now over a millennium in duration.

Writing over thirty years ago, when most American evangelicals had little knowledge of Islam, missiologist J. Herbert Kane of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School outlined six reasons why the evangelization of the Muslim world has been so difficult. His explanation of “Why the Muslim Soil is So Barren” remains both instructive and important.

1. Islam is Younger than Christianity

Having borrowed from both Judaism and Christianity, Islam “has just enough Christianity in it to inoculate it against the real thing.” As with Mormonism, Muslims claim a later revelation that corrects and supersedes the Bible. This represents a very real challenge to the Christian, who will base the argument for the Gospel on the biblical revelation.

2. Islam Denies the Deity and the Death of Christ

Islam not only denies the deity of Christ, it finds the idea abhorrent. “If a missionary but mentions the deity of Christ the fanatical Muslim is likely to spit on his shadow to show his utter contempt for such a blasphemous suggestion.” Furthermore, the Qur’an denies that Christ actually died on the cross, thus taking away the very act of our atonement. “There appears to be no way around these two obstacles,” Kane lamented. “The Christian missionary can find many points of similarity between Christianity and Islam, and certainly he will want to make full use of these; but sooner or later he must come to the central theme of the gospel — the cross. At that point he runs into a stone wall. He can remove many offending things, but he can never do away with the offense of the cross. That and the deity of Christ are hurdles that can never be removed.”

3. Islam’s Treatment of Defectors

“All religions, including the broadest of them — Hinduism — look with disfavor on the devotee who changes his religion,” Kane advised. “But it remained for Islam to devise the Law of Apostasy, which permits the community to kill the adherent who defects from the faith.”

For Islam, “conversion is a one-way street.” Even when death is not a real threat, losing the bonds of community and family are huge costs.

4. The Solidarity of Muslim Society

Even where Muslims are not in a majority, such as in Western nations, they often concentrate in specific areas or communities where this solidarity can be approximated.

Under such an arrangement, efforts by Christians to evangelize meet a unified resistance, and a decision to leave Islam can be construed as an unpatriotic act, tantamount to rejecting one’s nation and people.

5. The Public Practice of Religion

Often overlooked by many Christians is the fact that a faithful Muslim demonstrates that faithfulness in a public pattern of prayers and observances. A convert who ceases these observances becomes immediately evident. This system of public prayer and ritual represents a powerful support for Islam and a powerful deterrent to conversion to any other belief system.

6. The Memory of the Crusades

As Kane explains, “To Christians in the West the Crusades were a bad dream, of which we have only the faintest recollection; but to the Arabs they are the greatest proof of the Christian hatred for Islam.” Christians bear the burden of a long and intensely bitter Muslim memory. Though atrocities were common on both sides, the atrocities committed by Christians were uniquely a repudiation of central Christian teachings.

In the mind of many Muslims, the Crusades feel like a living memory. To many within the Islamic world, Christians remain Crusaders, and evangelism is just another way of continuing the crusading mission.

Professor Kane’s breakdown of these obstacles is not only interesting and helpful, it also serves as a reminder that these issues are hardly new. At the same time, Christians must evangelize, no matter the obstacles to Christian witness.

Christians must remember that the Holy Spirit can break down the greatest wall of resistance and the Word of God is, as He says, like a hammer that shatters a rock. Dr. Kane’s arguments help us to understand the challenge, but were not meant to suppress evangelism. To the contrary, he wanted the church to be better informed as we fulfill the command of Christ.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Charismatic Christian; Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: evangelism; islam
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Muslim societies are a solidarity, with religion, politics, economics, and personal life all accountable to Islam as a total way of life.
1 posted on 04/09/2011 10:25:00 AM PDT by wmfights
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To: wmfights

I would ask “why is the world so resistant to the Gospel?”


2 posted on 04/09/2011 10:28:47 AM PDT by SuzyQue (Remember to think.)
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To: Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Captain Beyond; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; GiovannaNicoletta; ...
Ping

I thought this was a pretty good summary. I believe the biggest barriers to successful witnessing to those caught in this counterfeit religion is the question of sin and that muslims are born into this false religion which encompasses every aspect of their life and to leave it means being separated from everyone in your life.

The sin problem is they deny original sin and don't believe in atonement, but believe in a works based salvation that they have no assurance of because their god is arbitrary and never clarifies what is enough.

3 posted on 04/09/2011 10:31:10 AM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights

Because the god of islam doesn’t fare too well at the end of the Bible.....


4 posted on 04/09/2011 10:32:38 AM PDT by mom4melody
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To: wmfights

I thought I read somewhere about huge numbers of Muslims converting to Christianity.

Anyway, Islam is the only religion that allows and encourages its followers to kill anyone who strays. Heck, they’ll beat you if your beard isn’t long enough for someone’s satisfaction. The element of violence keeps a lot of good people in line who might otherwise seek out something different.


5 posted on 04/09/2011 10:33:06 AM PDT by ChocChipCookie
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To: wmfights

Islam denies the Holy Spirit


6 posted on 04/09/2011 10:34:12 AM PDT by mylife (OPINIONS ~ $ 1.00 HALFBAKED ~ 50c)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: wmfights

For the same reason you (proverbial) are resistant to the teachings of Islam.


8 posted on 04/09/2011 10:36:32 AM PDT by TheZMan (Just secede and get it over with. No love lost on either side. Cya.)
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To: SuzyQue
I would ask “why is the world so resistant to the Gospel?”

Why do people prefer darkness to light?

I believe it all goes back to the fall. We choose the dark when left to our own desires.

The problem we face with islam is this counterfeit has grabbed hold of 1.5 billion people. They do not choose to be muslims. They are born into it and are not allowed to hear the truth. How do you reach so many people that are so deceived?

9 posted on 04/09/2011 10:37:04 AM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights
Thanks for the ping, wmfights!

Islam was brought to the world by Satan, and those who are enslaved to this belief and it's originator are the epitome of the spiritually dead.

Compounding the fact that almost all of them are doomed for all eternity is the fact that they are at enmity with Israel, have openly expressed their intention to kill every single Jew and drive God's chosen people into extinction, and will remain blinded and hell-bound just for that alone.

10 posted on 04/09/2011 10:38:02 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
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To: SuzyQue

And the Word would reply:

Isa 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.


11 posted on 04/09/2011 10:38:13 AM PDT by Anti-Hillary (Pretty soon everything in this country will be "free", except it's people!)
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To: wmfights
3. Islam’s Treatment of Defectors

To my mind, a necessary characteristic of any true "religion" is that continued belief is voluntary. Someone who believes in Christianity may believe that ceasing to believe would cause him to rot in Hell, but the notion of such punishment would only be relevant to a believer. Further, renouncing one's beliefs may alienate one's friends and associates, but someone who wants to renounce one's beliefs is free to do so and find other people to associate with.

Islam doesn't meet that requirement. Some societies may expel people who renounce their religion, but will bid them "good riddance". Members may reasonably expect that if they wanted to leave the society and establish associations elsewhere would be free to do so. By contrast, a Muslim who decides to openly renounce his religion is apt to be actively hunted down no matter where he goes. Some Muslims may manage to survive, but Islam does certainly does not encourage such expectation.

12 posted on 04/09/2011 10:39:01 AM PDT by supercat (Barry Soetoro == Bravo Sierra)
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To: wmfights; TSgt; RnMomof7; Alex Murphy; HarleyD; Forest Keeper; the_conscience; Dutchboy88; ...
The sin problem is they deny original sin and don't believe in atonement, but believe in a works based salvation that they have no assurance

That sure sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Thanks for the ping, William. Excellent article by Dr. Mohler.

Christians must evangelize, no matter the obstacles to Christian witness.

Christians must remember that the Holy Spirit can break down the greatest wall of resistance and the Word of God is, as He says, like a hammer that shatters a rock. Dr. Kane’s arguments help us to understand the challenge, but were not meant to suppress evangelism. To the contrary, he wanted the church to be better informed as we fulfill the command of Christ.

AMEN!!!

13 posted on 04/09/2011 10:39:47 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: ChocChipCookie
I thought I read somewhere about huge numbers of Muslims converting to Christianity.

This is why there is an increasing level of persecution. The House Church movement is growing and the lost are being saved.

Anyway, Islam is the only religion that allows and encourages its followers to kill anyone who strays.

Most of the false religions do this to varying degrees.

14 posted on 04/09/2011 10:40:38 AM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights

Political limits to evangelization in most islamic countries.

Muslims themselves are very open to Christianity.


15 posted on 04/09/2011 10:41:08 AM PDT by texmexis best
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To: mom4melody
Because the god of islam doesn’t fare too well at the end of the Bible.....

People don’t fare to well under Islam.

The example of Mohamed on forgivness Sahih Muslim, Book 17: 4206

There came to him (the Holy Prophet) a woman from Ghamid and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me. He (the Holy Prophet) turned her away. On the following day she said: Allah's Messenger, Why do you turn me away? Perhaps, you turn me away as you turned away Ma'iz. By Allah, I have become pregnant. He said: Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth to (the child). When she was delivered she came with the child (wrapped) in a rag and said: Here is the child whom I have given birth to. He said: Go away and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she came to him (the Holy Prophet) with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. She said: Allah's Apostle, here is he as I have weaned him and he eats food. He (the Holy Prophet) entrusted the child to one of the Muslims and then pronounced punishment. And she was put in a ditch up to her chest and he commanded people and they stoned her. Khalid b Walid came forward with a stone which he flung at her head and there spurted blood on the face of Khalid and so he abused her. Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) heard his (Khalid's) curse that he had huried upon her. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Khalid, be gentle. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, she has made such a repentance that even if a wrongful tax-collector were to repent, he would have been forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, he prayed over her and she was buried.

The example of Jesus on forgivness (John 8:1-11)

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."

Robert Spencer does a good job here explaining Islam - Blogging the Qur’an Start at the bottom.

16 posted on 04/09/2011 10:41:51 AM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: wmfights
7. How they culturally intertwine their religion with all of their lives from an early age. From as soon as they can speak, they practice the Salah, and they do it five times a day, every single day. In their religion and culture, everything they do, from eating to dressing, is tied to their religion. This isn't like witnessing to someone who their religion is just another category in their life.

For a Westerner, our lives are categorized, we have our work life, our personal life, our religious life, and so on. To witness to a Westerner is often like selling someone to a new job. For many who practice Islam, it is like asking them to give up themselves, like cutting off an arm.

A different approach is needed. No, I don't know the answer.

17 posted on 04/09/2011 10:42:16 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: wmfights

Churchill’s summation of Islam.

Here’s the original:
“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the infence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.

It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50, London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).


18 posted on 04/09/2011 10:42:29 AM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: wmfights

Islam rules by the sword. Converting in most of those counties ends your life when it comes to light.

On the other hand, I know of LOTS of fruit being produced in the Muslim world - in those same countries.


19 posted on 04/09/2011 10:44:10 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: supercat

If one isn’t free to leave, then one isn’t free to believe- it is not faith but compulsion.


20 posted on 04/09/2011 10:44:41 AM PDT by mnehring
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