Posted on 04/22/2019 8:17:51 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Someone asked me the following question: “Is it wise to have open-air preaching in an Islamic country like Malaysia? The constitutional law in Malaysia is basically Islamic. The country appears to be democratic but deep down it is rooted in Islamic core values.”
This is my response:
The answer to this must be your decision, but I will give you my thoughts to help you to shape yours.
First, I would find an appropriate place to preach, and then make inquiries about the legalities of speaking in the open air. Perhaps a permit is required, and having one will keep you on the right side of the law.
Secondly, Paul “crafted” his message for his hearers at Athens, and I have crafted a gospel for Muslims. Some think that it’s their job to dismantle Islam and to say that Muhammad was a false prophet. I don’t believe that is wise if we truly want to reach Muslims with the gospel. If we are trying to feed the dying, we should try to avoid poking them in the eye.
Muslims have a “works-righteousness” religion. They believe that salvation comes from performing religious works to merit everlasting life. The hope is that God will overlook their sins because their religious works will outweigh them in the scales of God’s Justice. And that will hopefully mean Heaven rather than Hell.
The reason they have this hope is that they don’t understand the nature of God. Therefore, our job is to show them His holiness in contrast to their sin. And we do this by preaching the spiritual nature of the moral Law, as Jesus did to those who were self-righteous.
Understanding the Law strips sinners of false hope. It shows them that they are lawbreakers and that God (as a judge) sees their religious works as an attempt to bribe Him. And the Bible tells us that He will not be bribed—that the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God (see Proverbs 15:8).
How then can they be justified in the sight of a holy God if their sacrifice is inadequate?
And so enters the light of the glorious gospel, and it’s important how you present it. Tell Muslims that their Creator provided a Savior for all mankind—for Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, atheists, churchgoers, and agnostics. The gospel is universal, and if biblically proclaimed to a Muslim is the greatest news he could ever hope to hear. He can cease from his labors and simply trust in the mercy of God, because of the cross. Jesus came to suffer and defeat death by rising again, and those who would be saved need only to repent and trust alone in Him.
There is no need to argue about the exclusivity of the Savior. Your message has already said that. The Law shut out every human effort to be saved, and God provided only one Savior.
Nor do you need to try to convince them that God had a Son, or that Jesus is God in human form. This is because it’s not your job to do so. When Jesus asked Peter who He was, Peter said that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 16:16,17). At this point, Muslims need only hear the gospel. In God’s timing, He will reveal other biblical truths.
And so your commission is to only preach the simple gospel, because it’s the power of God to salvation (see Romans 1:16). And your preaching should be mingled with evident love, gentleness, and patience, praying that God in His mercy will bring life to your words.
If you seek martyrdom...
Nuke it first; then preach.
Preach away - if you have a strong death wish.....
Death wish...
Tell your head you love it and will miss it.
LOL !!! Now THAT’S a plan.
The savage subhumans kill anyone who favors a religion different from their gutter religion. With that in mind, the choice to go there is a free choice.
My son went on a mission trip with quite a number of other young people from his church for 90 days in Indonesia last dummer. The largest
Moslem country, it is probably the most pluralistic and tolerant of their very substantial religious minorities. Even so, open air preaching is absolutely out of the question. They’re not so strict on apostasy being a capital crime, but arrangements to visit people still had to be done discreetly, ie, “Auntie coming for a visit.” You’re playing with fire and extreme caution must be exercised. Best of luck, Your Brother Michael
RE: Tell your head you love it and will miss it.
Francis of Assisi was willing to risk that. He tried but did not succeed.
Only if you’re ready to die.
Islam does not allocated speech.
Their notion of "religious works" is far different from a Christian understanding of same. Number one on their list of "religious works" is offing as many kafirs as they can.
In case you don't know, "Kafir" is an Arabic term meaning "infidel", "rejector", "disbeliever", "unbeliever", and "nonbeliever."
God had a Son, or that Jesus is God in human form....
This is exactly what gets you in trouble with Muslims.
Their man is only a prophet of God not a family member. And they cannot handle that along with other anger management issues.
Only if you want your head lopped off.
RE: My son went on a mission trip with quite a number of other young people from his church for 90 days in Indonesia last dummer.
You mean summer ( that was a typo ). I’ve been to Indonesia several times and yes, although the country is majority Muslim, it has a huge Christian and Hindu/Buddhist population ( see for instance the tourist island of Bali ).
However, the more west you go, the more dangerous it becomes. Banda Aceh is an Islamist hotbed that frowns on Evangelism.
Like another totalitarian political philosphy we faced recently (Communism), we should conduct a policy of “containment” on Islam.
Open minded Muslims (and there are a few, but very few) are actually receptive to the idea of a God who sends his only son to die for you versus demanding that you send your only son to die for him.
You can’t even open-air preach the Gospel in the U.K. They’ll arrest you for “breach of the peace”.
Bear in mind the US is one of the rare countries to have a First Amendment, even among Western Countries.
Don’t cast your pearls before swine.
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