Are Muslims seeking God?
I Cor. 10:20
It’s a popular new fad in Muslim Evangelism to walk people through the Qur’an in hopes that they will somehow find the gospel or at least encourage them to read the Bible in addition to their holy book.
Simply put, I believe it is as effective as a Muslim trying to walk a believer through the Bible and convince you that Jesus prophecied that Mohammad would come after him with the Qur’an.
I personally do not buy into this method for a few simple reasons:
1. I am not a valid resource for teaching the Qur’an:
Why? Because I don’t believe it. If I did I would be a Muslim. There is no need to attack it or attempt to discredit it. Just leave it alone! I, as a Christian, have no business messing with their book. Think of any argument that you might have for or against the Qur’an, and then imagine a Muslim coming to you with the same accusation about the Bible. Why would you reject it (or at least be a little skeptical)? Because he is a Muslim and does not believe it’s message! That’s exactly how they feel about our opinions on what the Qur’an teaches. I could beat this dead horse some more, but I think you get the idea.
2. I see no Biblical model for such a method:
When dealing with Jews (who had and studied the inspired Old Testament), Jesus and the apostles would preach from the scriptures and show how He was the end of the law and the fulfillment of the prophecies. There was no problem with that because it was still the Bible.
When they dealt with pagan nations they would preach to the Bible. This is what people that buy into this method like to use to justify it. Just like in Romans where the book starts off talking about how God can be seen in nature, and His law is written in the hearts of men, Paul took common observations and went back to what the Bible said about them. He did not use religious materials that he picked up from the local Pantheon.
The question is usually, “Well, what about Paul’s message on Mars Hill?” Good question. First of all, he quotes a poet and not one of their prophets or a select passage from their holy book. He makes reference to an “unknown god,” but he certainly does not say that Zeus was another name for Jehovah. He preaches Jesus and uses truth from the Scriptures.
When Paul writes to the church in Corinth he mentions his own method: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2). The model for evangelism in the New Testament is simply to preach Jesus and Him crucified.
3. The Bible is the one true Source:
Jesus challenged people to “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). The Bible is called “a more sure word of prophecy” by a man who once actually heard the audible voice of God coming from heaven (see 2 Peter 1:19). And finally in Romans 10:17 we learn that, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That’s the source!
Study the Bible, memorize it, meditate on it, and preach it. Jesus is the only way to heaven and the Bible is the book that testifies of Him. Stick with the truth and leave the Qur’an alo