Piper on Interacting with Muslims
John Piper penned an article this week on How Christians Should Respond to Muslim Outrage at the Pope’s Regensburg Message About Violence and Reason. I have taken a condensed form of the article from Justin Taylor’s site and pasted it below for your edification and thought.
1. Admit that the Christian church has often been too entangled with civil governments, with the result that violence has been endorsed by the church as a way of accomplishing religious, and not just civil, goals.
2. Make clear that the use of God-sanctioned violence between Israel and the nations in the Old Testament is no longer God’s will for his people.
3. Admit that there are many Muslims today who do not approve of violence in the spread of Islam.
4. Point out how Islam, in its most sacred writings and authoritative teachings, belittles Jesus Christ, not just occasionally in the news, but constantly by its dominant claims.
5. Point out that, in response to this constant defamation of Jesus Christ, there are no public threats or demands for apologies.
6. Do good to those who hate you—and, of course, those of other faiths who don’t hate you (Luke 6:27).
7. Seek to win others to saving faith in Jesus by persuading with words, not imposing with force.
8. Always be ready to die, but never to kill, for the sake of commending Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for sinners and rose again as the Lord of the universe.
9. Pray for the salvation of all those who belittle Jesus Christ.
10. No matter the cost, continue to exalt and commend Jesus Christ as the great and only Savior that he is.
September 29th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Religion! = God. I think that by debating the faults of the “church” is misdirection. Christianity as a religion with its churches is not God. Many people will claim the name of Christ but looking to the actions is where you can determine if they are living to the principles of truly being a Christian, aka a follower of Christ.
Even those who are followers of Christ are not to be THE example. In any discussion on religion I would immediately address that my short comings are many and great, however the one who I serve has none.
If someone can already readily identify sin, the concept of depravity should be at hand, present Christ as the only one who lived in perfection and gave that perfect life in exchange for my life of unrighteousness and trust in the power of the Gospel.
Dwelling on my sin or the churches sin is futile, because sin is sin is sin and we all have it. Let us instead dwell on Christ and His atonement for sin, remembering that religion is NOT Christ and it is our beautiful Christ that is to hold our focus.
September 29th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Now that I have read past point 1…
It really does not seem wise to point out how our reactions are superior the way other religions have acted (not just Muslim specific). People in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks and as sinners I am afraid our buildings are not up to code.
Also of concern is pointing out faults in other religions. This is an argument that quickly deteriorates into what ammounts to name calling. You are generally preaching to the converted and even if you are not religion is full of faults which is why it is important to remember religion is not God.
To persuade with violence is wrong, and at best probably not that effective. To persuade with words probably not that effective either unless they are as these:
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
(I really wanted to quote all of 1 Corinthians 2)
Here is my revised 10 points to interacting with Muslims
1. Preach the Gospel
2. Make clear that the use of God-sanctioned violence between Israel and the nations in the Old Testament is no longer God’s will for his people.
3. Violence! = Islam just as Religion! = God
4. Preach the Gospel
5. Preach the Gospel
6. Do good to those who hate you—and, of course, those of other faiths who don’t hate you (Luke 6:27).
7. Preach the Gospel
8. Thou shall not kill.
9. Pray for the salvation of all.
10. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.
It may be heavy on Gospel as I have found no substitute.
September 29th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Last post, I promise.
In short I think that Christianity is very simple and it hasn’t changed in the last 19xx or whatever years. Sin is still sin and Christ is the only source of redemption. Every year sin will come up with a new name and a new look but it is all sin and all not Christ, yet the answer is still the same is it has always been and that is Christ.
Let us Love God, Pray, and Preach His Gospel and by this men will be saved.