The Muslims Are Here

By Dr. Jay Zinn

Check out the internet, radio, or cable news channels. Pick up a magazine or newspaper and, somewhere, every day—in one of these venues — you will find an article or event attached to the mission of Islam.

When I grew up during the 50’s and 60’s, even in my late thirties, I rarely heard about news or events surrounding Islam. There were stories here and there, yes—but nothing like today. Those days of blissful ignorance are gone for me. It is gone for our children, our grandchildren, and our grandchildren’s children, should the Lord tarry much longer before His Return. The Muslims are here and are here to stay.

No one can escape the accumulative and global impact that Islam has had over the last 50 years. It has grown 500 percent, with a current number of followers estimated at 1.57 billion. It is the second fastest-growing religion in the world, behind Christianity, and has become a rising, religious and political force in Europe, Africa, and the republics of Central Asia. Islam is a missionary, mobile, and militant religion whose ultimate goal is to subdue all non-Muslim peoples under its theocratic mission and vision. These are not the words of an alarmist; they are the stated beliefs and mission of Islam— in full public view.

The word “Islam” means submission to God, and the word “Muslim” means one who is submitted to God. Allah is the one, true God, and the Quran is their infallible, holy book that teaches the correct beliefs and practices for life, culture, society, religion, and government. For the devout Muslim, the fundamentals of these beliefs are non-negotiable.

So why do we hear so much more about them today than fifty years ago? First, Muslims have reacted strongly against the corrupting, culture influences of western countries like Europe and the United States. In 1948, Israel’s formation as a state galvanized Muslim nations to fight harder for Palestinian land, rights, and holy places in Jerusalem. Increasing terrorist attacks of bombings have been launched and supported by radical Islamic interests. The increasing wealth of oil in Arab states has served to strengthen the coffers and governments of Islamic nations to counteract Western dominance. The Iranian revolution established the fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran, which, in turn, has funded worldwide movements of Islamic extremists. The dismantling of the Soviet Union in the 90’s opened the doors of Islamic missionaries to advance the Muslim agenda. And, finally, thousands-upon-thousands of Muslims are moving into Europe and the United States and, unlike their “pro-choice” native citizens, they’re having more children than the countries who kill their offspring in the womb. So as the native population of the nations they’re moving into diminishes, the Muslim population advances by having multiple children, raised as Muslims. For the Muslim, abortion, with few exceptions, is unallowable.

In light of all this, Muslims present one of the greatest challenges to Christians today. So instead of ignoring them we must prepare for them. We should understand the basics of Islam. We should know that there are different types of Muslims just like there are different types of Christians, or those who allege to be Christians. We should know about the misunderstandings that Muslims have about Christians; such as their belief that we worship three gods, or that we’re all Crusaders in a warring religion, rather than a religion of love. We must approach Muslims in love, armed with the knowledge of their beliefs and practices so as to be sensitive to their ways and not offend them before we’re able to befriend them. We should be willing to reach out to them in Christian love, have them over, get to know them, see them as people rather than enemies. We should understand that they desire many of the same things that Christians desire, but through a different means that hopefully ends for them in a resurrected life in paradise, and to see justice through judgment on all the wicked and ungodly. The difference between Islam & Christians, however, lies in “the means” to that desired end and their understanding of Jesus versus Muhammed.

Muhammed, a native from a tribal organization in the Arabian peninsula, founded the religion of Islam. He considered himself the last prophet, in a line of five biblical prophets that preceded him (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus). Though he believed that Jesus (Isa) was the prophet before him, he did not believe that Jesus was God come in the flesh. Though he believed in the teachings, miracles, and even the virgin birth of Jesus, he did not believe Jesus was crucified, or rose from the dead. He believed that the Bible had been tampered with and corrupted over time. So the revelations he allegedly received from the angel, Gabriel, were infallible and given to him to correct all the errors. Because of this, it is unacceptable to the Muslim for anyone to challenge their “role-model prophet,” or his writings. It is important to remember that a Muslim believes that their religion is the last and best religion. They believe Islam is the combined fulfillment of both Judaism and Christianity. So to ask a Muslim to become a Christian is like asking a college graduate to go back to kindergarten when they believe they possess the latest and most current revelation.

Before we can reach a Muslim for Christ, it’s important to remember that their faith is tied to a clan and a community. It is a faith that is individual and collective, personal and interpersonal. For some people, like Americans, a conversion to Christianity doesn’t cost as much as a Muslim would sacrifice to become a Christian. So unless they see something in your faith worth dying for, or losing their family over, they won’t change religions. They won’t change because one religion seems better than the other, or that you’ve convinced them that the Bible is greater than the Quran, or that Jesus is greater than Muhammed. Logic, reason, or a superior, intellectual debate will rarely, if ever, get a Muslim to convert to Christianity. Only a “revelation” from God can pull that off. A “God-encounter” is the best and most effective way to convert the heart of a Muslim.

So prepare yourself, Christians. Prepare to approach Muslims through a demonstration of unconditional love, consistent, unwavering friendship, and the supernatural power of God. That’s how Jesus and the apostles in the early church grabbed the hearts and souls of men. So pray—pray for a demonstration of God’s power, and then pray for your Muslim associates and friends to seek out such an encounter with the real “Isa” of the Quran.

• Zacharias: Light in the Shadow of Jihad (Multnomah, 2002)
• Ankerberg/Weldon: Fast Facts on Islam (Harvest House, 2001)
• Ankerberg/Weldon: The Facts on Islam (Harvest House, 1991)
• Braswell: What You Need To Know About Islam & Muslims (Broadman & Holman, 2000)
• Wikepedia (www.wikepedia.org)