Brother Hicham tells us why this month is a good time to reach out to Muslims
Around October 4, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha, (Festival of Sacrifice), also known as the Greater Eid.
During this celebration, Muslims commemorate and remember the trials of the Prophet Abraham, by slaughtering an animal. Eid usually starts with Muslims going to the mosque for prayers, dressed in their best clothes, and thanking Allah for all the blessings they have. It is also a time when they visit family and friends as well as offering presents. At Eid it is obligatory to give a set amount of money to charity.
So what?
In communicating the gospel to Muslims it is helpful to know their frame of thinking. It is often useful to begin with what they accept and value. We need to make use of what Muslims already know, to lead them on to accept the whole truth of the Word of God. They may not accept at first, but they will reflect. Eid al-Adha can be used in this way.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Christians to share the gospel with Muslims. The story of Abraham and his son (Genesis 22.1-19) is a glorious illustration of what Christ, the Lamb of God, has done for sinners. The blood of an innocent sacrifice was shed to save guilty sinners. Isaac asked: ‘The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’. Many years later, John the Baptist answered the question. Seeing Jesus coming toward him, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1.29).
But do Muslims know about this parallel between the ram of Genesis 22.13 and the Lamb of John 1.29? The answer is no!
Don’t be afraid!
Perhaps the greatest challenge to effective outreach to Muslim friends and neighbours is fear. ‘I’m scared – scared of the unknown; scared of being ridiculed; scared I won’t know what to say…’. But humans do some of their best work when they’re afraid. Remember, boldness (courage) is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in spite of it.
Fear of terrorists. Let’s be honest; a great number of Christians in the West think ‘terrorist’ or ‘potential terrorist’ when they see an Arab or Asian. The media has managed to inform this fear. The almost daily deluge of masked militia holding automatic weapons or rocket launchers and bearded men with headscarves fills Christians with suspicion and fear and therefore causes them to hesitate in sharing the gospel. They fear they might be talking with actual terrorists and somehow end up on their ‘hit list’. This fear blinds us to the person’s great need of the Saviour by focusing us on ourselves and our vain lust for security and safety. Please, put aside their religious identity and remember that Muslims are human beings, like us, and sinners in need of the Saviour.
Fear of offending Muslims. We worry far too much about this one. Yet Muslims won’t worry about telling you what they think is right or wrong. They will have no hesitation in proclaiming their own point of view (theological, political, cultural, etc.). So why do Christians have to worry about offending Muslims? However, no other offence should be shown except the offence of the gospel message. We need to do it with the passion that recognises that their and our eternal destinies are at stake when it comes to believing the truth about Jesus (John 17.3, 7-8).
Great opportunity
So, use the opportunity of Eid to dialogue with your Muslim neighbours, colleagues and friends about spiritual issues. Word of Hope Ministries has produced a useful tract (Why did the prophet Abraham offer a lamb in the place of his son? ), and a booklet (Why did God command sacrifices? ) on this very subject. Why not encourage folks in your church to distribute them before Eid? Or even better...
Just five
Take out a sheet of paper and pray ‘Lord, bring to my mind Muslim people I know in my circle’. Write down all the names of Muslims you know and meet in various circles (work, class, market, neighbourhood, organisation, family, etc.). You may not know the name, write a description: ‘the man who works in the shop’. Pray again. Call out to God asking him to whom you should talk and give the tract to first. Circle five names (you may want to circle more, but start with just five) God put in your heart. Then take time to pray that God will open up the hearts of these people in the coming days as you go to witness to them.
Just imagine how many Muslims will hear the gospel if each Christian overcomes his fear and witnesses to just five Muslims!
