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Evangelism Among Muslims

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Evangelism Among Muslims Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1975 Evangelism Among Muslims Kenneth S. Oster Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Islamic Studies Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Oster, Kenneth S., "Evangelism Among Muslims" (1975). Dissertation Projects DMin. 390. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/390 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I • t - > 1 i. Andrews University Seventh~day Adventist Theological Seminary EVANGELISM AMONG MUSLIMS A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Kenneth S. Oster June 1975 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Chapter Page MAPS AND C H A R T S ................................................ iv APPENDICES ...................................................... V INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1 I. THE CHRISTIAN WORLD .................. 3 The Prophetic-Historic Perspective . .................... 3 The Traditional Christian Attitude and Approach to Islam . 14 II. THE MUSLIM W O R L D .......................................... 31 The Birth of Islam and the Urgency of Its Message .... 31 The Fantastic and Rapid Spread of Islam ......... 36 III. THE ESSENCE OF ISLAM ................... 50 Roots of Modern I s l a m .................................. 50 Islam After the Reconstruction............ 55 Muslim T h e o l o g y ............ ............................ 57 Five Articles of F a i t h ........................ 57 Five Pillars of F a i t h ................................ 64 CrucialDifficulties of Missions to Muslims....... 67 Cultural Difficulties .......................... 68 Doctrinal Difficulties ............................ 73 Problems Connected with the Person of Christ ......... 80 IV. THE CHALLENGE T O D A Y ........................................ 82 Response of the Church Today .................. ..... 82 Seventh^day Adventist WorkAmong Muslims ................. 98 li iii Summary of Adventist Position 113 Factors of Growth, and Non-Growth in the Seventh^day Adventist Church in.the Middle East , , , , ........... 114 V, MIDDLE EAST UNION PROPOSALS................ , . ........... 124 Summary of TEAM Productions - . 132 1. Highways to Health and Happiness . , . ........... 132 2. Today's H e a l t h .................. 134 3. "The Straight Way" ................................. 148 4. Moslem-Oriented Spearhead Evangelistic Sermons . 150 5. In Search of the Straight W a y .................... 156 6. CoSmic Perspective of God and M a n ................ 158 Plans to Implement in Pilot Project in South Persia in 1975 161 Conclusion ........................ ...... ........ 164 APPENDICES.......... 169 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............. ......................... 177 ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND PERIODICALS ...... .................... 180 MAPS AND CHARTS MIDDLE EAST UNION CHURCH GROWTH.. STATISTICS.............. , . , 121 MIDDLE EAST UNION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS Membership Growth Chart ...... .................. , . 122 MIDDLE EAST UNION PERCENTAGE MEMBERSHIP GROWTH BY DECADES .... 123 THE MUSLIM EMPIRE, A. D. 700-1200 .............................. 40 IV APPENDICES APPENDIX A, "GQD'! IN I S L A M .................... ................ 166 APPENDIX B . , . ............................................... 169 Highways to Health and Happiness, Table of Contents .... 169 Today's Faith, Bible Correspondence, Table of Contents . 170 "The Straight W a y " ................ ........................ 172 Mdslem^Orierited Spearhead Evangelistic Sermons, Table of Contents .................................... ...... 174 In Search of the the Straight Way, Table of Contents .... 175 Cosmic Perspective of God and Man, Table of Contents .... 176 v INTRODUCTION I. The Issue The issue to be addressed by this project is specifically the apparent ineffectiveness of evangelization among Muslims of the Middle East as evidenced by thirteen centuries of polarization between Muslims and Christians. II. Description of the Project The project is an analysis and evaluation of existing methods of evangelism and approaches to Muslims as conducted by the Seventh- day Adventist Church with proposals for new and improved methods and approaches emerging from the study. "Evangelism Among Muslims" in its essence includes three parts: Christianity on the one hand, Islam on the other, and the necessary bridge that connects the two. Chapter I deals with "The Christian World", as it was born and as it was commissioned by Christ; the prophecies that outlined its future; its status at the time when Islam appeared; the "traditional" attitudes of the Christian world at large toward Islam and the approach generally followed by the Church in its dealings with Islam. Chapter II deals with "The Muslim World" and includes a brief history of the birth and spread of Islam. Emphasis is placed on the message of Islam in its formative stage, and the "raison d'etre" which catapulted it onto the stage of world affairs. In Chapter III we look into the essence of Islam as it is today. Islam today is not the homogeneous entity it was in A. D. 632 when the 1 2 responsibilities of the religio-political state created by the prophet Mohammed were bequeathed upon Abu Bekr, the first Caliph. Though Islam has basically retained a uniformity and unanimity in belief and practice, time and geography have interjected changes that inevitably make inroads into any organization. The inexorable secularization that has permeated religion in general will be taken into account as we try to pinpoint the areas of crucial difficulty in Christian missions to Muslims today. Chapter IV examines Christianity's response to this great chal­ lenge. Some bold steps have been taken by some Christian mission or­ ganizations by side-stepping the "traditional" approach. These innova­ tive methods and materials are certainly not yet the rule, but the exceptions; nevertheless they are an honest attempt at finding common ground and making of them some points of reference for a fruitful ministry. The last chapter explains the Step-by-step plans proposed by the Middle East Union TEAM (Thrust for Evangelism Among Muslims), along with a critical study of the theological implications and sequential treat­ ment of materials and methods in not only discipling the responsive Muslims, but also in their indoctrination. Throughout the manuscript use is made of Pickthall's English explanatory translation of the Koran except where otherwise noted. CHAPTER I THE CHRISTIAN WORLD The Prophetic-Historic Perspective The burden of world mission and the evangelization of the non- Christian populations weigh heavily on churchmen today. In this project we are particularly concerned over the problems that have separated two specific, large segments of God's earthly family--the Christians and the Muslims. Often we are so closely and intimately involved with the issue, that we fail to see the proverbial forest for the trees. To get a pro­ per perspective of the problem it may be necessary to move away from the intimacy of the situation and see the cosmic forces at work. During the thirteen centuries of their coexistence, often with saber-rattling and swordpoints, Muslims and Christians have cast blame on any and all except the real culprit. In Revelation 12:7 we read of a war in heaven! A cosmic view opens before us. Christ and Satan are personally involved. The field of battle is transferred from heaven to earth (Rev. 12:8, 9). Immediately "the inhabiters of the earth" become participants, "for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath" (Rev. 12:12). Man's infidelity, rebellion, and consequent destruction has been the studied aim of Satan. To accomplish this, he, "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4). His satanic majesty has stirred up the thinking of the children of God, aroused every hateful and sinful passion in the 3 4 breast of the unwary, engendered misapprehension and hatred in the emotions of one of God's creatures against his fellow-men, and gloated over the war and bloodshed that has resulted. All this was as Satan would have it, This was what for ages he had been working to secure. His policy is deception from first to last, and his steadfast purpose is to bring woe and wretchedness upon men, to deface and defile the workmanship of God, to mar the divine purposes of benevolence and love, and thus cause grief in heaven. Then by his deceptive arts he blinds the minds of men, and leads them to throw back the blame of his work upon God, as if all this misery were the result of the Creator's plan.l If only we and the Muslims would take a stance somewhat removed from the immediate conflict, and see the real cause of our differences, we would see Satan in his real role. We would place the blame for our misunderstandings on him where it belongs, and, as fellow-believers in the One Creator-God, and brothers of one another, we would in humility and contrition ask for forgiveness, and clasp hands in a bond of brother hood, faith, and trust. But more for a clearer
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