Common Witness: A Contemporary Approach to Islam

Abstract

This study has shown that today’s 21st church of Jesus Christ must abandon the notion that Islam is a formidable foe. Rather, Islam must be viewed as a people group for which Christ made atonement. Christ is waiting for the church of today to rise to the challenges and opportunities that Islam currently presents. This thesis has demonstrated that Christ has opened wide the doors of opportunity for inter-faith dialogue. The time is now. This research has sought to gain a pellucid grasp of the historical and contemporary missiological approaches and attitudes toward Islam. Implications for understanding and building bridges which form essential steps toward inter-faith dialogue have been demonstrated through missiological research. The issue of fear and antagonism among Muslims due to the September 11 terrorist activities (which raised the level of awareness of Islamic terrorists on a global scale) was carefully examined. Recommendations were given to demonstrate ways in which Christians can emit a peaceable witness to their Muslim neighbors. Finally, theological perspectives were compared to doctrinal differences in order to assess additional ways to build bridges between Islam and Christianity. Recommendations were presented to demonstrate ways in which Muslims may positively respond to a biblical understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The comparative approach as an engagement tool was examined and proposed as an effective way to introduce the use of the Bible as it relates to a sound biblical faith. Inter-faith dialogue among our Muslim neighbors may be viewed either as an obstacle or an opportunity.

This study has shown that today’s 21st church of Jesus Christ must abandon the notion that Islam is a formidable foe. Rather, Islam must be viewed as a people group for which Christ made atonement. Christ is waiting for the church of today to rise to the challenges and opportunities that Islam currently presents. This thesis has demonstrated that Christ has opened wide the doors of opportunity for inter-faith dialogue. The time is now. This research has sought to gain a pellucid grasp of the historical and contemporary missiological approaches and attitudes toward Islam. Implications for understanding and building bridges which form essential steps toward inter-faith dialogue have been demonstrated through missiological research. The issue of fear and antagonism among Muslims due to the September 11 terrorist activities (which raised the level of awareness of Islamic terrorists on a global scale) was carefully examined. Recommendations were given to demonstrate ways in which Christians can emit a peaceable witness to their Muslim neighbors. Finally, theological perspectives were compared to doctrinal differences in order to assess additional ways to build bridges between Islam and Christianity. Recommendations were presented to demonstrate ways in which Muslims may positively respond to a biblical understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The comparative approach as an engagement tool was examined and proposed as an effective way to introduce the use of the Bible as it relates to a sound biblical faith. Inter-faith dialogue among our Muslim neighbors may be viewed either as an obstacle or an opportunity.