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Due to increasing travel and global shifts in population, it is no longer unusual to find followers of Islam in many traditionally Christian parts of the world. Because of ancient rivalries and Islam’s violent events, few religious groups have been more difficult to converse with on a meaningful spiritual level. Fortunately however, those challenging circumstances are less frequent in different parts of the world.
Perhaps because of misconceptions brought about by Muslim’s early contact with Nestorianism, it is sometimes necessary to assure them that Christians have always believed in one God—not three. Many have been inaccurately taught that Christians believe in God the Father, Mary the mother of God, and Jesus the Son. Typically, their questions concerning the Christian doctrine and the divinity of Christ are unique to their own religious background. For that reason, you will need to carefully review the information in each chapter of this simplified explanation of Islam.
The “ISA” of the Koran
Every Muslim professes to believe in Jesus, but we must understand what that actually means. The “Isa” (Jesus) in the Koran is only one of the six great prophets of Islam. These are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isa, and Muhammad. They see these men as major prophets, each of whom introduced a new law from God for his generation. In addition, a great many lesser prophets are also revered.
The “Isa” of the Koran was sent only to the Jews. Though they officially believe that he was miraculously born of the virgin Mary, strangely they do not believe that he was the Son of God. They have also been taught that His teachings deny the doctrine of the Trinity. They fully agree that He healed the blind, cleansed lepers, and had the power to raise the dead, but this was only by God’s permission. Rather than teaching about the coming of the Holy Spirit, they believe that he foretold the coming of Muhammad six centuries later (see John 14:16).
The Muslim’s “Isa” cursed Israel, was not crucified, and did not die—yet; he appeared to have died to those of his day. He is alive today and will return to earth to marry, have children, reign forty years, establish Islam worldwide, and die at Medina, where he will be buried in a special grave beside Muhammad. In summary, the Koran specifically denies the two most outstanding truths about Christ in the Gospels: His deity and his atoning death.
Even a casual knowledge of Biblical truth reveals that the “Isa” of the Koran is not to be equated with the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament. For this reason, we must convey to the Muslim something of the true wonder of the person of our Lord before using the term, “Son of God,” which refers to His deity. It will also be necessary to communicate “why” Jesus came and “why” He chose to die. Let us remember that until Muslims grasp this truth, they cannot be saved (John 3:36). It usually takes time to fully communicate this truth, but when one has done so, how rewarding it will be.
Attempt to understand the Islamic point of view. Muslims mistakenly believe that the term “Son of God” means that God actually had sexual intercourse with a human woman and baby Jesus was born as the result. This, as they rightly state, would be blasphemy! Because of this, Muslims generally feel that the name, Son of God, is both dishonoring to God and to the Lord Jesus.
To deal with the deeper issue and lead them to a sound Biblical understanding, we must help them see that if Jesus Christ were a Savior who was less than divine and sinless, then the bridge of salvation would be broken!
To immediately tell a Muslim that Jesus is “God” only widens the gap of misunderstanding. They may respond by definitely asking, “When Jesus was born, was God born? When He died, did God die?” Because of his failure to understand the profound truth of the Trinity, he may also ask, “Who was looking after the world when God died for three days?”
Communicating the Truth Concerning the Son of God
Lesson #1:
When a Muslim asks, “Was Jesus the Son of God?” you can respond by asking, “What do you understand the term, ‘Son of God,’ to mean?”
He will probably reply, “It can have only one meaning: God went to bed with a woman, and a baby was born.” Once he has stated his deep misconception, you can then begin helping him honestly deal with his misunderstanding.
You can then respond by saying, “No Christian in all the world has ever believed that to have happened; such a thought would be blasphemy!”
In astonishment, a Muslim may then be expected to ask, “Then, what does Son of God mean?”
You can then explain that in everyday speech the expression, “son of,” is used as a metaphor and does not imply a physical relationship. For example, in some Arab countries a bad person is referred to as “the son of a jackal,” while in other countries, a strong-willed person is called a “son of a gun.” In the Bible, the apostles James and John are referred to as the “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3:17) We know that jackals, guns, and thunder do not have human babies. In the Bible; the term “Son of God” is describing a spiritual rather than a physical relationship.
This concept is clearly seen in the word, “image,” which means “likeness.” Colossians 1:15 says, “He is the image [likeness] of the invisible God.” The spiritual meaning intended by the term, “Son of God,” is also expressed in Luke 1:35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;” therefore the Holy Child will be called the Son of God.” You can then explain, Mary was simply overshadowed by God, much like the shadow of a cloud, when she miraculously conceived, but it was her baby’s lifelong – sinless character, selfless love, and amazing power that demonstrated His likeness to God.
Lesson #2:
Moving beyond a casual witnessing conversation to a sustained friendship with a Muslim usually requires the patience to develop an environment of trust.
Like the experience of those who lived in the early days of the Lord’s ministry, there will be progressive levels of understanding concerning the true meaning of Jesus’ identity. Pause to reflect. At first, the early believers recognized Him as a teacher, then as a healer, a prophet, and finally as their Savior. Though He had explained His identity many times in various ways, it was only after His death, burial, resurrection appearances, and ascension that the disciples finally realized that He was simultaneously a man and God! It should not therefore seem strange to us that a modern-day Muslim would need to go through a similar process in order to discover and believe God’s truth about Jesus.
It is good to remember that Muslims accuse Christians of believing – a man to be God. We must therefore remind them that the Bible consistently teaches that in reality – it was God who became a man! The spiritual initiation was from above, not from below. This is why Jesus explained, “You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23b) This important spiritual reality can be illustrated with powerful verses like John 1:14a, which says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory….”
A Muslim often refers to Jesus as the Word of God. Knowing this, you can read John 1:1-4 and affirm that God truly desires to speak to man and He does this through His Word. As an illustration of that concept, you can simply say, “Let me ask you a question. Where were the words which I just spoke, before they came from my mouth? Were they not in my mind? But if you performed surgery on my brain, while I was speaking, you would not be able to find them. In some mysterious way, my soul and my words are unified; they are one within me. This is why whatever my words do, to please or annoy you, you can accurately say that I was doing it. In the same way, whatever God’s Word says or does, God Himself is the One doing it. Explain that, Jesus Christ did not merely speak about God, as the other prophets did—He actually was God’s sinless, perfect Word.
Lesson #3:
When witnessing to a Muslim, you may begin by asking, “What do you think about the person of Jesus Christ?” As you talk, help them realize the importance attached to their answer. You can say, “One day The Lord Jesus will return, and when He does, He will ask you the question that He once asked the Pharisees: ‘What is your opinion of Me?’”
As you continue your conversation, you can say something like this: “Do you really feel that the Lord Jesus is just a prophet, or one good man among many? He is totally unique. There is no one like Him in all the world.”
Questions:
To illustrate the special uniqueness of Jesus, the following questions from a penetrating message by Charles Marsh can be discussed. Although these questions about the Lord may seem unusual, you will find them to be highly effective in conversing with a Muslim. If you are using this book in a group setting, plan ahead to discuss each of these nine questions. To do this thoughtful “role play” witnessing with one of your teammates. Be sure that you are able to understand the major points being explained in this classic presentation. To improve your own ministry skills, patiently learn by repeatedly being asked these questions. This study can be spread over several weeks so adequate role playing can be experienced. Your spiritual goal is to develop a relaxed proficiency in covering these valuable questions.
Question #1: What do you think about the Lord’s miraculous birth?
After the Muslim’s initial response, point out that no one was ever born in the way that Jesus was (read Matthew 1:18-20).
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’” (NASB) The prophet Isaiah foretold how baby Jesus would be born (Isa. 7:14) and it happened exactly as he predicted. No other birth has ever occurred like this. Even His name Jesus, which means Savior, implies His uniqueness!
As another example of His special uniqueness, Jesus was called the son of Mary. However, I believe Muslims call Ishmael the son of Abraham, John the son of Zacharias and Muhammad the son of Adbullah. Is that right? All other men take the name of their father, so why did Jesus take His mother’s name? It was because He had no earthly father. Being overshadowed by God, He was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary apart from the involvement of any man.
Question #2: Why do you think Jesus came into the world?
Wait for the Muslim to respond then point out that God created Adam, our father, from clay. State that we are all children of Adam. Then say – so were the prophets. We were all created from the earth, but the Lord Jesus came down from heaven. Though He took upon Himself a human body and became a man, He was, nevertheless, pure and clean—like the snow and rain that come down from above.
It is no wonder the Bible says that all other men “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) We are from the earth and are therefore – infected with sin! It was the Lord’s response to our need that led Him to come into this world. You can then say, “The Scriptures explain that ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’” (1 Tim. 1:15)
At this point, if needed, you can use this simple illustration:
One night while talking, two men fell into a deep pit. One man said to the other, “Help me! Please, get me out of this place!” The other replied, “How can I? I’m in the same condition that you are!”
Both men were in the pit, so they couldn’t help one other. Then they heard a voice calling from above, “Take hold of this rope.” The assistance they needed came from one who had not fallen into the pit. He was able to bring them help from above.
Let me explain, the best man among the prophets could not save us from the pit of sin, but Jesus did not inherit mankind’s earthly sinful nature. He was not from the earth; He came from above! God even sent down His holy angels from heaven to announce His miraculous birth: “And the angel said unto them, Do not be afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) He came to be our Savior!
Question #3: What do you think of Jesus’ amazing life?
Every man who fears God must confess his sins and ask for forgiveness. David did, and so did Abraham. In fact, one major prophet said that he had to ask God for forgiveness seventy times a day. (This was Muhammad, but do not mention his name).
The Lord Jesus was uniquely different! You can search the Bible and the Koran in vain to find a single verse where Jesus asked for forgiveness. He did not need pardon, because He was sinless! Even those who knew Him best—his constant companions—said that He was without sin throughout His entire life.
God forgave the prophets when they confessed their sin, but Jesus’ life was perfect. He could even say to His enemies: “Which of you can silence Me by pointing out one sin that I have done?” (John 8:46, Arabic) None of them could point to a single sin in His life. Who of us would dare to make such a challenge to our enemies?
During Jesus’ trial, He was brought before Pilate and falsely accused. Therefore, when Pilate could find nothing wrong, he washed His hands and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just man.”
No one but Jesus has ever had a sinless life! Therefore, the quality of His magnificent character and power makes Him incomparable. No one in history was even like Him.
Question #4: What do you think about the teachings of the Lord Jesus?
On one occasion, His enemies sent the police to arrest Him. They listened closely to His teaching and then came back without having made the arrest, saying in amazement, “Never did a man speak the way this man speaks.” (John 7:46 NASB)
Next you can say, think about the meaning of Jesus’ words: “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NASB)
If needed, you can also use this illustration. A wise old man once explained what Jesus taught by using an example from nature. He said, “The prophets are like the moon. Just as the moon shines brightly at night, the prophets brought God’s light into this poor, dark world. The crescent moon shines brighter and brighter, until it becomes a full moon, and then it wanes and dies away. But another full moon soon comes to take its place. Just like this the prophets came, one after the another, each one giving his message, dying, and leaving his place for the next.”
Every nation has had some light from God. Men’s religions are like the light of the moon. But who depends on a lesser light when the sun has risen? Jesus openly declared, “I am the light of the world.” He became our sun of righteousness! Have you ever seen the sun wane or grow smaller? No, it never dies; sunlight is a blessing experienced daily by everyone. Jesus Christ is just like the sun. His teachings are designed for everyone in every country.
Question #5: What do you think of Jesus’ ability to meet our spiritual needs?
He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The prophets all came to point the way to God. Some said, ‘This is God’s true way, do this and don’t do that. Others said, follow my teaching or keep these commandments.’ But only Jesus could say, “‘I am the way. Follow Me.’”
If needed, you can also use this illustration. One day, while visiting a large city, a little boy got lost. He asked a policeman to tell him the way home. The policeman tried to help by explaining: “Go up Grande Avenue, make the second turn to the left, then the third to the right. Cross the bridge, avoid the traffic circle, and take the middle road.” The little boy burst into tears. The policeman had given him the right directions, but the boy was incapable of following them. Just then a strong but kind man from the boy’s home town came along. The boy was so tired, he could no longer walk, so the man actually picked him up and carried him home. The policeman told him the way, but the second man was his way. Only Jesus could say, “I am the way.”
Question #6: What do you think about Jesus’ remarkable knowledge?
Plan to ask this reflective question. Do you know where you will die? At home, or in a foreign country? Do you know how you will die? Will it be through illness, an accident, or simply a natural death? Will you be young or old? Do you know the month and the day? You and I must admit that we do not know the answers to these questions. Only God knows.
However, the Lord Jesus clearly foretold where He would die. He even provided vivid details about His future death in Jerusalem. One day, “He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.’” (Luke 18:31-33 NASB) He also told His disciples when He would die. It would occur on the feast day when everyone would be killing a lamb to celebrate the Passover. He would die as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. He even explained that after three days He would rise again! Each event happened exactly as He predicted. He was not like other men, the prophets did not know the details surrounding their death, and neither do you or I.
Only the Lord Jesus could say, “No one (takes my life) away from Me. But I lay it down on My own initiative. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again” (John 10:18 NASB). He had never sinned and did not deserve to die. He could have gone straight to heaven without dying, but He chose to die for the sake of others. He intentionally gave His life for us, so we could be forgiven. He died as the Good Shepherd, giving His life for His sheep. His knowledge and courage are without equal.
Question #7: What do you think about Jesus’ victory over death?
Be prepared to patiently relate these well-known Biblical facts. After Jesus death, He was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem. Roman soldiers did their best to keep Him in the tomb. They rolled a huge stone across the entrance of the grave and then sealed it. Then they surrounded His grave with armed guards. Although they knew He was dead, they feared because of His prophecy that he would miraculously arise after three days. Angels came, and just as He promised, He arose, showing Himself to His disciples on several occasions and then, finally, to more than 500 people! He rose on the third day fulfilling His prophecy. The resurrection took place to show everyone in the world that God’s saving work on the cross had been completed. The people saw Him, touched Him, and even ate and drank with Him, after His resurrection. He wanted them to fully understand that His statements concerning His death and resurrection had been fulfilled—so He showed them His hands, His feet, and His side!
For ordinary men, death is life’s greatest enemy. The prophets all died and they still remain dead. One day soon, you and I will also die, but the Lord Jesus conquered death! He is alive today! He has the power to save all of us who will come to God through Him. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” (John 14:6 NASB) He desires to make us pure and holy like Himself. He has prepared a place in heaven for everyone who will believe in Him and accept God’s gift of forgiveness. He explained this by saying, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
What prophet is living today after having died? In all the world, Jesus stands alone as our Savior. Is He therefore not totally unique?
Question #8: What do you think about His ascension?
The Scriptures reveal that after Jesus gave His parting words to His faithful followers He was lifted up from the earth and received into a cloud! As they were looking intently into the sky, two angels in white clothing said to them, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11NASB) Because the Lord Jesus humbled Himself on our behalf and accepted an undeserved death out of great love for us, the Scriptures explain that “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11 NASB) When Jesus ascended back to the glory of heaven, that was the answer to His own prayer: “And now, glorify me together with yourself, Father, with the glory which I had with you before the world was.” (John 17:5)
If I were to ask my Jewish friends whom they would like to see occupying the highest place of honor in heaven, they would probably say, “Moses.” If I asked the same question of my Muslim friends, they would probably say, “Muhammad.” If I ask my Christian friends, they would doubtlessly say, “Jesus.” However, God did not choose to consult with Jews, Muslims, Christians, or the followers of any other faith. For His own reasons, in His own time, He elected to exalt the Lord Jesus far beyond anyone in heaven or on earth. He is unique among men of every age and nation. This is God’s sovereign decision, and even the proudest knee will ultimately bow before Him–either in heaven or on earth.
Question #9: What do you think about Jesus’ demands on your life?
The Lord Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me… whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Luke 9:23, 24b NASB) It has never been easy to accept Jesus’ lordship. His first disciples were even called away from their homes, parents, and employment in order to follow Him. For some, there was the humiliation of breaking family traditions and experiencing the loss of valued social status. Today, He calls us to demonstrate our own willingness to do exactly the same.
To acknowledge Him as less than one’s Savior and Master is not to acknowledge Him at all. Jesus explained that, “No one can serve two masters…” (Matt. 6:24) He expects no less from us than He gave for us—and that was everything! To merely accept Him as a teacher, healer, or prophet, is to belittle the importance of His sacred mission. He came to be our Savior! This is why He said, “I have come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10 NASB) The prophets who all needed God’s forgiveness themselves could never be our Savior. It took One who came from above, untainted by sin, to take our place and experience the sever penalty of Almighty God’s judgment our behalf. Because Jesus proved His claim and showed us the love, power, and purity of God as none other, His strong requirement for our commitment is absolutely understandable. His birth, His life, His miracles, His love, His death, His resurrection, His return to heaven, His teachings, and His eternal presence, all call for our deepest personal response. There is no one like Him in heaven or on earth. Should He not be the Savior and Lord of your life?
As you discuss the insights of this chapter with your Study Group, help everyone understand that no matter how clear and truthful a witness may be, in the final analysis a Muslim must choose to respond to the drawing power of God’s Spirit. He is who actually enables sinners to experience the miracle of conversion. As the Scriptures explain, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 12:3b)
As Christ is exalted and uplifted, people of every race and religious background will continue to be drawn to Him. During this process they will come to realize that “religion” is not an adequate means for receiving God’s forgiveness or salvation, but the incomparable Christ truly is!
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
(Matthew 24:14)
About the Original Author
Dr. Charles R. Marsh was a veteran missionary, author, and pioneer in Christian ministry among Muslims. Beginning his work in Algeria in 1925, Marsh and his wife, Pearl, spent decades serving among the Muslim peoples of North Africa, and he later participated in Bible translation and evangelistic training in Chad. This article is adapted and rewritten, with permission, from Marsh’s Share Your Faith with a Muslim, originally published by Moody Press in 1975.
Edited Suggestions For Witnessing to Muslims
By Carl Ellis
For those who sense God’s calling to minister to Muslims, here are some practical suggestions:
- Be yourself.
- Try to understand Islamic doctrine from the perspective of Islam’s history. Recognize the corruption of Christianity which Muhammad encountered which became a part of his motivation to reform man’s worship of the one true God.
- Be a good listener. Don’t simply evaluate a Muslim on the basis of his or her doctrine. Examine the situation that led them to Islam and the goals they are seeking to achieve.
- When his or her motivation and goals are Biblical, affirm them. When they are not, lovingly challenge them. And whenever possible, use words according to his explained definition.
- When dealing with a Muslim’s doctrine, do not use the occasion to show him how much you know about his faith. Instead, deal with him on the basis of what he expresses concerning his beliefs. You’ll discover that he is never totally consistent related to the doctrines which he believes.
- It’s important to prayerfully draw out those you talk with by asking them questions in a genuine spirit of wanting to be informed. Give them a chance to express themselves and make sure they know you understand what they are saying.
You can ask, “Is this what you mean?” Then try to summarize the point being made. If he says, “Yes,” then proceed to evaluate, critique, and if needed challenge.
As in playing tennis, allow him to give you his best shot; then gently lob the ball back to his side of the net. Let him make mistakes, then move in with your own game plan. In other words, do not be bowled over by his argument. Stand firm, with poise and confidence in the Holy Spirit’s provision.
Remember, just as there is insincere religion among professing Christians, there will also be some counterfeits among professing Muslims. Things may not always be as they seem.
If you are familiar with their theology, you can tell they begin to feel the pinch. Usually, they will begin to repeat themselves or make up their theology on the spot.
Don’t take advantage of their vulnerability by lording over them. Rather, seek to communicate subtly and clearly that you are aware of their tenuous position. The very fact that you refuse to pulverize them will communicate more about the validity of the Christian faith than if you had defeated them with your rational arguments.
- Do not use a King James Bible. According to the teachings of some Muslim sects, King James himself translated this version and corrupted it. I recommend the New International Version.
- Avoid all pictures of God, Jesus, and Biblical characters.
- Although in most cases the Muslim community may be a de facto black group, do not discuss issues concerning race. Many Muslims have a humanistic slant and see themselves beyond any color. According to there humanistic thinking, therefore, your being black or white should pose no barriers.
- Never use the word trinity. Because of the Muslim teachings, this word often connotes the worship of three gods and will bog you down with issues of polytheism. From Scripture, we know that God’s oneness of being is never diminished by His tri-personhood. There are many ways to express the Trinity concept. One way, for example, is to use the term Godhead.
- In dealing with Muslims, seek to remove any offense-except the cross. Against love, there is no defense, Islamic or otherwise.
