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ISLAM: From God or Man? Class 4 – Reaching Muslims through Jesus Christ

ISLAM: From God or Man? Class 4 – Reaching Muslims through Jesus Christ. TODAY. A Quick Look at the Numbers Some 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide >> one person in four Fastest growing religion on earth (including the U.S) Over 80 % of all Muslims have never heard the Gospel.

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ISLAM: From God or Man? Class 4 – Reaching Muslims through Jesus Christ

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  1. ISLAM:From God or Man?Class 4 – Reaching Muslims through Jesus Christ

  2. TODAY • A Quick Look at the Numbers • Some 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide >> one person in four • Fastest growing religion on earth (including the U.S) • Over 80 % of all Muslims have never heard the Gospel. • So how many “Church of Christ” missionaries? >> 450 world wide (TOTAL) from U.S. • About 1 “Christian” missionary per every 1 million Muslims

  3. At least 42 nations are almost completely Islamic.

  4. Did you know? Comparative chart -  number of Muslims to those claiming Christian faith: “Christian”Muslim 1900 world population 26.9% 12.4% 1980 world population 30% 16.5% 2000 world population 29.9% 19.2% 2025 world population (PROJECTED) 25%30%

  5. Spreading of Islam • Most Muslim countries have either closed the borders to missionaries or have made evangelism illegal, or both

  6. Spreading of Islam • Islam is not only the dominant religion in North Africa, - Began in Saudi Arabia - But now non-Arab Muslims outnumber Arab Muslims (3:1) - The 4 nations w/ largest number of Muslims today are outside the Middle East + Indonesia – 150 million – about the total in the Middle East + Pakistan + Bangladesh + India – 100 million

  7. Spreading of Islam • Africa – 307 million Muslims • Asia – 778 million Muslims

  8. Spreading of Islam • Due to the liberal immigration policies, millions of Muslims have now emigrated to the West in search of a better life. • In many Western European nations, Islam has become the second-largest religion (32 million) - France - 5 million Muslims - Germany – 3 million Muslims

  9. "the 10/40 window." 40 º N latitude 1 billion unreached Muslims 10 º N latitude 1% of mission giving goes to the 10/40 window Most of the people still unreached by the gospel live in the 10/40 window

  10. History of Mohammed

  11. Mohammed was born into a pagan Arabic culture in AD 570 in the city of Mecca. • He was an orphan by the age of six. • He was raised by his grandfather and then his uncle. • In adulthood, he began working for a wealthy widow, Khadija, as manager of her caravan business. They decided to marry, which gave Mohammed economic security for the rest of his life. • He soon turned to religious pursuits to occupy his mind. He frequently fasted, meditated, and experienced dreams. • At age forty, he received his first “miraculous” revelation of the Qur’an (an Arabic term which means “recitation”). He said arch-angel Gabriel had appeared to him through visions in a cave, encouraging him to “arise and warn.” He began to recite what Gabriel was revealing to him in the form of sermons to local people. Except for a few loyal followers, including his wife, his teachings and revelations were virtually ignored by the general public.

  12. The people of the day, entrenched in idol-worship, belief in genies and spirits, were unwilling to convert to his monotheistic brand of theology. • Borrowing from Judaism and Christianity, he preached submission to Allah only. The Arabic/Muslim term for God, Allah, was borrowed from the main god in the Arabian (pre-Muslim) pantheon, Al-ilah. his name was derived from the Canaanite word, El, and the Hebrew word, Elohim, both meaning “God.” • Mohammed called his faith in Allah, Islam, which means “submission” or “surrender” • In AD 622, in order to find a more willing audience and to escape a rising opposition to his teaching in Mecca, Mohammed led a following of about 200 people to Medina. This was the turning point in his career as a religious leader. • That is why this date represents the beginning of Islam to Muslims.

  13. The withdrawal to Medina is known as the Hijra. Due to a gap in leadership in Medina, he soon became statesman, legislator, and judge of a new theocratic government. However, all was not smooth. • He continued to receive opposition, especially from the large Jewish minority in the culture. • This rejection of a fellow monotheistic group caused Mohammed to turn his emphasis against them and embrace the native Arabian culture in his newly founded religion. • The Ka’ba in Mecca became the center of the religion, and not Jerusalem, as he had previously planned. (The Ka’ba is a black meteorite stone previously worshiped by pagans in Mecca.) • Mohammed “cleansed it”, and gave it a sacred meaning in Islam, making it the place of pilgrimage for all Muslims.

  14. In AD 631, Mohammed and his followers, which now included a 300 man army, encountered the 1,000 man Meccan army and defeated them. • With Mecca now defenseless, Mohammed returned defiantly to his home city. He and his followers tore down the idols of the pagan religions, but preserved the Ka’ba. The Muslims formerly prayed facing Jerusalem, but now they were instructed to pray facing the Ka’ba in Mecca. • By the year AD 632, most of the people of the Arabian Peninsula had adopted Islam as their religion. Mohammed died that same year without appointing a successor. • He had continued his preaching of what was “recited” to him by Gabriel, yet without writing it down. • The first edition of the Qur’an did not appear until about thirty years after Mohammed’s death. Variations of the text continued until a final edition was agreed upon in the tenth century.

  15. Mohammed or the Qur’an never claim more than prophethood for the founder of Islam. He only claims to be a messenger for God, revealing God’s intentions for his people, delivering the Divine Law and regulations for religious practice. • Muslims believe that Mohammed is the fulfillment of Moses’s prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-18. • The Arabs believe they are “brothers” of the Jews, reasoning back to the relationship of Ishmael, the “father of all Arabs”, and Isaac. • To Muslims, this could not have been Jesus, since, unlike Moses, he was born of a virgin. Mohammed is the fulfillment of this prophecy, according to the Muslims. • Of course, this completely contradicts Peter’s inspired interpretation of the fulfillment found in Acts 3. • Peter explains that Jesus, and therefore, not Mohammed, is the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy given by Moses in Deuteronomy. The Christ is the one appointed to be the final authority for men’s lives.

  16. Blood from two perspectives Blood from Jihad Blood from Christ

  17. Christianity was founded on the blood of Jesus Christ Islam was founded on the blood of Jihad

  18. Consider Christianity began and spread through evangelism… Islam began and spread through violence

  19. The spread of Islam from the beginning until the present . . . Muhammad & the Medina Years - • Raids to support the movement • Muhammad personally led his followers into 26 battles. • By the Medina years Jihad was the force by which Islam spread – Mark A. Gabriel , Islam & Terrorism, p.31

  20. The spread of Islam from the beginning until the present . . . Early Days Until Present - • Jerusalem surrendered 678 AD • By 711 AD Islam controlled all of North Africa. • Constantine fell in 753 AD and Islam moved into Southern Europe. • Islam was finally stopped in 17th century • There has been a resurgence of Islam during the last half of the 20th century.

  21. Contrast that with evangelism – Life Blood of Christianity Evangelism is proclaiming the good news of Christ. Christianity was prophesied in the O.T. • Beginning of time – Genesis 3:15 • The prophets – Isaiah 53 • Psalms – Psalm 22-24

  22. Consider Salvation is promised to those who obey the Gospel (Hebrews 5:8-9) Islam guarantees Paradise to Martyrs who fight for their cause (Surah 8:39)

  23. This warring factor is a contract between Allah and Muslims “Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah – whether he is slain or gets victory – soon shall We give him a reward of great value.” – Surah 4:74

  24. 60% of the verses in the Qu'ran talk about Jihad EXAMPLE: Muhammad told to make war on unbelievers – Surah 9:73 “O Prophet! Strive hard against the Unbelievers and thee Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, - an evil refuge indeed.” EXAMPLE: Slay aggressors – Surah 2:190-191 “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not trangress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them.”

  25. Islam does not understand Judeo-Christianity’s patience in seeking to overcome evil via example and love.

  26. Islam has no redeemer, no mediator, and no forgiveness guarantor.

  27. God vs. Allah Allah Consider the following truths : Demands obedience to arbitrary demands Can change his mind, even to the point of casting one from paradise Doesn’t care for all of mankind He stands back aloof

  28. God vs. Allah God Consider the following truths: God is a God of Love (1 John 4)

  29. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

  30. “Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

  31. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

  32. God vs. Allah God Consider the following truths: We can have a personal relationship with Him He gives us a means of redemption He is actively involved…

  33. The contrast between Jehovah God and Allah is obvious!!!

  34. We need to understand---- More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 25 years than in the previous 1,400 years combined!

  35. Jack Evans • Bro. Evans, President of Southwestern Christian College since 1967, is perhaps the church’s MOST EFFECTIVE worker with the Nation of Islam • He has conducted two high profile debates… • Available on YouTube • one with a Muslim scholar • and the other with a black Muslim leader.

  36. Dr. Jack Evans • Graduated from Nashville Christian Institute (Marshall Keeble was Pres.)  • ENMU (Steve Eckstein) • PhD from UTEP • LL.D degrees by Harding, Pepperdine, and ACU. • President of Southwestern Christian College since 1967

  37. Jamal Badawi • A professor of Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. • Undergraduate studies in Cairo, Egypt and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees at Indiana University. • Dr. Jamal Badawi has been without doubt the best known Muslim speaker in the West for the last two decades. • His books on Islam and Muslim-Christian issues are quite popular. • Presented a 352-segment TV series on Islam, shown in many local TV stations in Canada and the USA In the first debate, Jamal Badawi, was overwhelmed by the careful preparation Evans had made

  38. The Debate Jack Evans vs. Jeremiah Muhammad • Jeremiah Muhammad – “in that dialogue Jesus kept coming out” • The ‘rest of the story’ – Jeremiah Muhammad left the Black Muslim faith and embraced Christianity and was serving as an international evangelist. Unfortunately he has embraced denominationalism.

  39. What arguments did he present that made you reconsider your own faith? • Actually, it was the question I asked him concerning Jesus that had the biggest impact on me that night. The question was, “Where was Jesus in Genesis 1:1? ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’” It was Dr. Evans’ answer that opened my eyes that night. He went to John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then he said to me, “Do you want to know where Jesus was? I can show you where he was.” He then went to Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible. ... and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” • That was the beginning of my 13-month study of Jesus the Christ.

  40. A message from brother Evans: “When a Christian considers the millions of Muslims in the world and their commitment to win the world to the prophet Mohammed, he must put on the whole armor of God as given in Ephesians 6, along with a historical and Quranic knowledge of Islam so that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The war has been waged, the battle is on, and the soldiers of Christ must rise to the challenge.”

  41. Studying with Muslims • It is important for us to focus on the important issues: + Christ's deity + The crucifixion + The inspiration of the Bible. • We should view them as friends in need of truth, rather than as enemies. • It is not wise to engage in confrontational evangelism with Muslims

  42. So, what should we do? Simply put, we must use the Truth!

  43. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17

  44. We need to learn to use quotes from Mohammed’s Qu’ran to undermine Muslim confidence in him and his writings.

  45. The Qur'an and Questioning • A Muslim may be more receptive to you discussing what the Bible says – and you answering questions – rather than you probing what he believes. • Muslims are discouraged from asking questions about their own faith. "O ye who believe! Ask not questions about things which if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. Some people before you did ask such questions, and on that account lost their faith." (Sura 5:101-102) • This is not like the God of the Bible who encourages us to seek, to ask, and to knock! • What does the Bible say about inquiry? Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

  46. The Bible or the Quran • What Muslims Believe: > The Quran is considered divine in its original Arabic form. > Muslims memorize and recite it only in Arabic > Muslims believe that many prophets before Muhammad were also given Allah’s Word: - Musa (Moses) – the Torah - Dawud (David) - the Psalms - Isa (Jesus) – the Injil (Gospel) * However, Muslims are taught that all these writings were corrupted, so Allah appointed Muhammad to receive the Quran in order to correct the corruption. + Among western-educated Muslims, the great diversity of Bible versions/translations adds to their belief that the Bible is corrupt.

  47. The Bible or the Quran • What Christians Believe: > The Bible is the authoritative, inspired Word of God. * The Christian view of inspiration is that God “breathed” His Word through the Holy Spirit to the inspired writers. • So, how do we seek to teach a Muslim? - Some Christian missionaries caution that pointing to the contradictions in the Quran many times provokes anger - The best defense of the Bible’s integrity is the nature, power, and reputation of God. - Some like to start at “common points of agreement” – the 120 times the Quran points to the Bible as truth.

  48. How does Islam view the Bible? • Quran 29:46 - "We (Muslims) believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you (Jews & Christians)“ • Quran 3:84 – “We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them.”

  49. Is Allah the same as God? • What Muslims believe--- - Allah is One + The Oneness of Allah is primary to Muslims • They consider it a great sin to associate any “partner” with Allah - Allah Himself cannot be known

  50. Is Allah the same as God? • What Christians believe--- + God: * God the Father * Jesus is God, the Eternal Word; also the Son of God * The Holy Spirit that He gives to each Christian

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