There have been two main views regarding Islam since the September 11 attacks in America.
View 1 - The first group believes that Allah and the God of the Bible are one and the same and that Islam is basically a good religion. This side views the September 11 attacks as an action by fundamentalists working outside the peaceful spirit of Islam.
View 2 - The second group argues that while many Muslims may be non-violent moderates, Islam is a dangerous religion - one that supports the murder or forced conversion of anybody outside the Muslim faith and one that is bent on the conversion or destruction of all non-Islamic nations, especially America and Israel.
Regardless of which group one falls in, there is a basic fact that Christians must remember: Muslims are dying without Christ because Islam denies the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a payment for sins and the way to eternal life. The millions of Muslims around the world are people for whom Christ died, yet most do not know that Good News. Whether moderate or fundamentalist, Muslims all need to hear the message that God so loved the world that He gave His Son to die. It is not God's desire that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Muslims see the Trinity as a threat to monotheism. Islam teaches that Jesus was born of a virgin, but it denies that he was the Son of God. It teaches that Jesus Christ was a great prophet but that he never died on the cross. Muslims believe they will have to be judged based on their own good works according to the strict laws of the Koran, and even then can have no guarantee of heaven (unless they die in jihad).
Many Muslims have no clue that God loves them and wants them to know Him personally. A large number are intimidated by their religious leaders and feel no freedom to search for God outside of the heavy hand of Islam. While those committing murder in the name of Islam must be stopped, individual Muslims still need to know the love and forgiveness that can be found in Christ alone. We in the Christian community need to love Muslims with Christ's love and show them who God is through the power of His Spirit working in us. If members of the Muslim community count us their enemies, Christians must pray for them.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." -Matthew 5:44
We are providing the links below for further study on Islam and how to minister to Muslims. May God show you His heart in every situation!
