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Staying Unentangled
Sep 02 | Pastor J.D. | 7 Comments |
Being an effective witness to Christ often has as much to do with what you don’t say as what you do say.
I made a decision a few years ago to sit out of a number of discussions, not because I didn’t have an opinion, and not even because these issues weren’t worth discussing, but simply because being outspoken in certain discussions would probably keep me from being able to effectively participate in more important ones.
For example, Recently I was in a public dialogue with a popular Islamic imam. I really struggled with wanting to launch an all-out assault on Islam’s past and the true nature of the Koran. Who knows… I may have raised some great points that he could not have answered, or he may have given a very convincing rebuttal. But what kept running through my mind is that reaching Muslims would not start with lambasting them but befriending them, and befriending them starts with listening to them.
That means letting them speak on their own terms. If they want to affirm peace and the freedom of religion, I should let that stand. Regardless, it’s true for them at the moment and what they want to affirm. Perhaps someone else could show that this is inconsistent with the Koran and Islam’s past history, but in that moment that is irrelevant. The relationship I am entering is not with Islam’s past but with the individual Muslim. He wants to be peaceable; he wants to be seen as peaceable. I’ll accept that because all relationships begin with trust.
So what I chose to do that evening, and what I want always to do, is enter into a conversation where I can try to show them that Jesus is the only able Savior. They may be deluded as to their past history and the true nature of Islam, or perhaps they understand it much better than I do. Either way, the best posture, I believe, is listening, humility, trust and then a clear presentation of the Gospel.
This I know for sure. People will only listen to you when they feel like you have listened to them. Listening to them means understanding them on their own terms.
7 Responses to “Staying Unentangled”
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Brother J.D.,
Just a note about your recent book ‘Breaking the Islam Code’,which I purchased yesterday. Of the many volumes I have read re reaching Muslims with the gospel of Jesus Christ, this is the best! In the first 37 pages I knew that this was the book I needed to read.
Yours in Christ,
don h
like i said, great book!
This is a great and difficult position to hold. In my pride, I want to prove I’m right and they (whomever) are wrong. That may “win” an argument but it neither wins friends nor converts. Great post.
JD, man this is a great post. Part of my problem in wanting to open my mouth before opening my ears is the desire to get the truth on the table, but even if I haven’t torn the person down, unless I listen why would they listen? Thanks for the thoughts.
Hey JD…interesting post. The imam may well have been holding back very similar thoughts and feelings. Christianity’s past isn’t exactly a bed of roses…nor is the Bible free of violence (some of which was condoned by the “peaceful” God that Christians worship today). The silver lining is that you both see your faiths as religions of peace in the here and now. However, I’d be willing to bet his ultimate goal is converting others as well.
Great post.
Great post! I absolutely agree with your position. I serve at a church in Utah, and in dealing with LDS, coming straight at them with all of my clever arguments, does nothing but start an argument.
It’s not hiding from the truth or confrontation, but making sure the relationship is upheld.