The mission of Islam: How should the church respond?

We live in a day when the advance of Islam in our land can no longer be ignored.

A recent video shows a group of Muslim men raising money to buy a Methodist church. The imam declares, “This is the next church we want to convert into a mosque. We have converted many churches so far. Please help us in our mission.” Such words ought to wake every slumbering Christian. They show us what happens when the church of Christ forgets her own mission and loses her first love.

Islam is a missionary religion. It aims to conquer, not only by sword, but by promotion, and by persistence. They believe their cause is the cause of God, and they give, pray, and labour for it. Many of them speak boldly of reclaiming Europe for Allah. Meanwhile, the church that bears the name of the living God seems weary, timid, and ashamed of her own message. We have truth, yet many act as though it were opinion. We have the gospel, yet many speak and live it as though it were a private hobby.

A short history lesson

It is not the first time the faith of Christ has faced a confident adversary.

In the days of the apostles, the gospel met the proud philosophies of Greece, the opposition of the Jews, and the superstitions of Rome. In the Middle Ages, it faced Islam at its height, when the crescent banner flew across lands once bright with Christian light. Yet Christ’s kingdom stood then, and it will stand now. But let none deceive himself - it will not stand through silence, compromise, or comfort.

The gospel must be preached, and the church must be holy.

Every Christian has a part to play

We must learn again that our weapons “are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10v4). The battle will not be won with political arguments or angry speeches, but with prayer, truth, and faithful witness.

Every Christian has a part. The smallest act done in faith is not wasted. When you speak to a Muslim neighbour, you are doing more than you think. When you pray for the conversion of Muslims, you are laying hold of heaven’s power. When you give to support gospel work among them, you are joining in Christ’s own mission.

Our Lord did not say, “Hide until I come,” but, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The same Saviour who died for you died for His sheep who are right now lost Muslims. Many Muslims are zealous, but lost. They pray, but not to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They fast, but know nothing of the bread of life. They fear judgment, but have never heard of the blood that cleanses from all sin. Will we keep that news from them? God forbid.

If Islam is zealous for error, how much more should we be zealous for truth? If they give to spread falsehood, shall we give nothing for the truth? If they pray for the triumph of darkness, shall we not pray for the spread of light? “The night cometh, when no man can work.” Let us work while it is day.

Not without hope

True revival in the church and awakening of the lost is the great need of our day.

When the Spirit of God moves in power, dead churches live again, cold hearts burn, and sinners are converted in multitudes.

Revival restores the fear of God, renews love for Christ, and makes the gospel once more a fire in the bones of God’s people. What man cannot do by schemes or speeches, the Spirit of God can accomplish in an hour.

Let us plead for such a revival, until our land once more trembles at the Word of the Lord.

Dear Christian, the situation is serious, but not hopeless. The Lord still reigns. His arm is not shortened. The gospel is still “the power of God unto salvation.” The Spirit of God can yet rend the heavens and come down. What He has done before, He can do again. Let us repent of our worldliness and unbelief. Let us cry to God for a move of the Spirit, for a holy boldness, and for the conversion of the Muslim world.

And when the Lord answers, the same mouths that now say, “We have converted many churches,” shall say instead, “We have found the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4v6).

This piece was originally published on Pooyan Mehrshahi's blog, which can be read here.