Jesus is Lord Even to Muslims

Romans 10:9

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

This is my last devotion on the series concerning Islam and Christianity. The objectives were to familiarise ourselves with the main objections Muslims have with Christianity and to establish our Lord Jesus as the most effective bridge into the thinking of our Muslim friends. We did the second objective by learning about the titles the Qur'an and our knowledgeable Muslim friends attribute uniquely with much reverence to Isa ibn Maryam. In summary, Muslims agree that (1) Jesus Christ is the promised Jewish Messiah (Isa al-Masih), (2) Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Isa al-Kalimatullah), and (3) Jesus Christ is Spirit of God (Ruhullah). It is very reasonable to believe that the Qur'an actually tells us (contradicting itself at times) that Jesus is God's Son or indeed God Himself. We now come to the main objections Muslims have of Christianity. I have the five most common here and I will breeze through them: (1) The Bible has been altered and that the Qur'an fixed it. Many Muslims believe this but the Qur'an doesn't actually say that, on the contrary, the Qur'an views the Bible as reliable authority (Surah 5:47, 5:68). So is the Qur'an contradicting itself when it denies the historical facts about Jesus while saying that the Bible is reliable authority? (2) The Incarnation: "The Word was God… and The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1), but as discussed in previous sharings here, even the Qur'an confers marvellous titles to Jesus allowing a window wide open for the doctrine of incarnation. (3) The Trinity: Muslims are generally confused about this. But as I discussed last week, God is One Being (Essence, Nature), and three persons (Centres of self-consciousness). Muslims think the Christian idea of God is too complex, Islam is simple – that's a red herring because if we can understand God 100% I would be bothered, but He is indeed mysterious, ultimately beyond our human comprehension (Isaiah 55:9). There is a theological necessity of the Trinity. The Qur'an says God is Al-Wadu or self-sufficient, complete in Himself, He does not need anything, and yet He is relational, compassionate, a friend, lovingly kind, merciful and beneficent, etc — the Trinity solves this, He is essentially relational and only then sans creation He is complete in Himself: A Lover (Father), A Beloved One (Son) and A Spirit of Love (Holy Spirit). (4) Jesus' Death on the Cross – The claim is that God does not let his prophets die. But in this issue, which is historical in nature, the Qur'an faces opposition from recorded history itself. Muslims usually resort to apparent death theory or that Judas Iscariot was the one crucified, but Luke Johnson, a New Testament Scholar at Emory University in 1996 said "Even the most critical historian can confidently assert that a Jew named Jesus worked as a teacher and wonder-worker in Palestine during the reign of Tiberius, was executed by crucifixion under the prefect Pontius Pilate and continued to have followers after his death." (5) Jesus' Resurrection is another historically established event. Muslims will deny (4) to do away with (5). But again, the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth can be reasonably proven by historical analysis based on the facts of his death, burial, the empty tomb, his post-mortem appearances and the original disciples believed that Jesus was risen from the dead despite their having every predisposition to the contrary (1 Cor 15:3-5). These five are the most common objections that our Muslim friends have with Christianity and I have provided sufficient quick responses. Answering these provides permission to the Muslim to view Christianity as a more robust worldview than Islam along with the possibility of being captivated with person of Jesus Christ.

Now, importantly as well, here are some quick tips when sharing with Muslim friends. (A) Please remember that when we ask them to reject Islam and come to a loving relationship with Christ, it is about dismantling an authority structure, it is asking someone to change their entire worldview, culture, community and so much prayer and Holy Spirit power is required more than in any other case. They do not hear "for God so loved the world" or "for God so loved [insert Muslim friend's name here]..." but in their minds what's running is "I am going to lose my family, my society, my identity..." (See Matt 10:34-35) and in some parts of the world, it's his/her life that they may be losing. (See John 12:25) (B) Ask them relevant questions, what they think of the trinity, what they think of violent Jihad (and as I discussed here before, Surahs 8 and 9 and in the Hadiths, the language and context of violent Jihad are normative commands, very unlike the Conquest of Canaan in Joshua. Stand your ground on Christian doctrine, Dr. Ravi Zacharias says that in the experience of his international ministry, knowledgeable Muslims respect those who know their Christian faith and can defend it. Lastly, (C) Be their friend no matter what. I think this goes with anyone else as well: No agenda friendships! People can smell that from miles away. I heard of one preacher say that The Great COMMIssion takes great COMMItment. ;) I would like to end with Colossians 4:6: "...so that you will know how you should respond to each person." I like that it says "respond to each person" and not "respond to each question"; Ps Daniel Khong's preaching last weekend was a timely reminder. I am very big on truth, reason, and logic, and I do not think that is wrong. Love, after all, rejoices in it (1 Corinthians 13:6) and that God is Love (1 John 4:8) and also the Truth, reason Himself (John 14:6). However, the Gospel is mainly about truth with compassion, and so we "conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt..."  (Col 4:5).

John 14:5-7

"Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him..."

~30.01.2016