In God We Trust

A “Good News” Strategy Relating to Muslims while Undermining Radical Islam


By Mark Siljander, fm U.S. Congressman
ADeadlyMisunderstanding.com

"The gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." I Thessalonians 1:5

There have been hundreds of well-intended books, articles, emails, and videos condemning Islam, often from Christian authors. They warn us that “radical Islam” is intent on dominating the world, destroying Israel and our Western way of life. While I will not debate their findings, we must realize these tactics operate from a “bad news” spirit of fear. Meanwhile, the Bible tells us not to fear 200 times. Modern-day Jesus-followers can and should be helping each other discover how to more effectively communicate truly Good News!

The actual and historical distance between Christians and Muslims exacerbates the problem. Much is lost when attempting to communicate across cultures. You have much more shared history and understanding with a family member than with a stranger. How vast the potential for misunderstanding between people,  often continents away from each other, each with their own history and worldview.

I am often challenged when I read Jesus’ teaching regarding love of neighbor. The lawyer in Luke 10 wished to justify his actions when he asked Jesus who his neighbor was. Instead, Jesus' story of the merciful Samaritan showed that everyone is my neighbor. The bottom line in loving is to show mercy.

What does this mean for the body of Christ as we discern how to respond to those of Muslim faith?1 Certainly there is much to discuss. I’ve outlined a few points below that I would like to add to this much-needed discussion. Please join me in walking towards a rejuvenated Biblical strategy that embraces the  hope and love proclaimed in the Good News–one that casts out fear.2

Biblical prophecy about Muslims

An unnoticed prophecy in Isaiah 19:23-25 suggests that in the end-times Jews and Muslims will be a “blessing” and believe in the true path ( or way) to God.

In that day (coming of the Messiah)3 there shall be a highway (a spiritual path to God) from Egypt (including Sudan) to Assyria (the entire Middle East)…. Israel shall be the third with Egyptians and with Assyrians, even a blessing in the midst of the land. Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel my heritage.4

This verse should encourage at least a reevaluation of strategy on how Christians should deal with Islam. Prayerfully consider the following action items.

First: Muslims Are Struggling for Peace. Pray for the Lord to shape our attitude toward Islam.

A huge percentage of Muslims cannot read and understand the “official” Arabic version of the Qur’an, leaving many alienated Muslims vulnerable to militant interpretations. Some of these interpretations promote absurdities such as forced implementation of extreme views of Shariah Law, Muslim on Muslim bloodlust in Iraq, violent and twisted understanding of “jihad” and more.

While the radical element is only 7%,5 it is growing and the peaceful majority in Islam yet struggles to counter these violent interpretations of Qur’anic verses. Unfortunately, Christian “bad news” advocates select these same verses, take them out of context like the radicals, and denounce Islam as a whole, instilling fear in Christians.

Would it not be more logical and consistent with the teachings of Jesus to support the peaceful majority? These Muslims are strenuously arguing the so called violent verses in the Qur’an are: 1) not meant for today, but rather, apply to a very specific historical event that occurred when they were written, 1,400
years ago, 2) are metaphorical or 3) are flatly a misinterpretation.

Quite frankly, there are many violent verses throughout the Bible. If they, too, were taken out of their historical and metaphorical context they would sound as violent as the Qur’anic verses that the militants misuse today.

A Time of Reformation

Most religious movements have had their Dark Ages; Christianity’s abhorrent interpretation of Bible verses contributed to the Crusades, Inquisitions, European pogroms against Jews, bloody Catholic/non-Catholic wars, etc. Christianity later entered periods of enlightenment and reassessment. Critical factors have lined up for Islam, as it is now at what author Malcolm Gladwell calls, a “Tipping Point.”

Ali Khan, of Washington University School of Law, reinforces the movement towards reform inside Islam:

Mainstream Muslim scholars and jurists from across the world seem to have reached a near-consensus that, although [the Qur’an and Sunna] cannot be abandoned, [they] must be re-interpreted to establish legal systems that respect [classical…jurisprudence] but also incorporate change.6

As Joel Rosenberg attests, Muslims in huge numbers are dreaming and seeing visions of Jesus, helping forge an unprecedented Messianic spiritual awakening within Islam in the millions.7 This, along with the post-9/11 exasperation of having their religion associated with radicalism, is helping to instigate a reformation of sorts and presents an opportunity for intentional back up from Christians.

Second: Change our Religious Conversion Strategy to the Good News.

Undermining the radical threat is not beyond the reach of Jesus. He said, “When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be afraid…” (Luke 21:9). Getting overly hung up on advancing Western style Christianity through bad news fear detracts from the purity and power of the Good News, simply presented as “the person of Jesus.” Paradoxically, I have found Muslims consistently attracted to Jesus the Anointed One8 but repelled by the Western Christianity they view as laden with broken family structures.9

My friend and former California mega-church pastor Tim Timmons points out,

How unattractive and off message is the present-day negativity. This negative spirit is filled with condemnation, exclusivity and a certain amount of pride…

Perhaps we could use a fresh dose of reevaluating our religious traditions. Jesus challenged his followers to connect and love those they would otherwise ignore. As Christians, we should approach our Muslims neighbors with that same admonition in mind. The Good News strategy should not set out to change cultures or religions, but to first “love your neighbor as yourself,” and let the Spirit do the rest. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). What would this look like in practice?

Third: A few can make a significant difference.

If a small, fanatical, committed minority of Muslims can profoundly influence and control the many; then a small, empowered minority committed to Jesus can also challenge the evil minority. There is historic precedence for profound good being done by a few. The movie Amazing Grace depicts the successful effort of one prominent somebody, William Wilberforce. He did what was considered “impossible”: ridding the British Empire of slavery. The defeat of the “Soviet Empire” by one U.S. president was similarly impossible. Then there are the nobodies that God raises up as somebodies like Mother Teresa; and a carpenter and his twelve common men who initiated the biggest “people movement” in history.

Fourth: Help unleash a "Good News" People Movement.

A 1st century style people movement centered on Jesus can empower those seeking to undermine evil with the power of the Good News.10 While it’s easier to acquiesce to the prevalent flow of fear and negativity, shouldn’t we take the risk and begin praying for a few individuals like Wilberforce? The empowered few meeting “two by two” in small groups, as depicted in Acts 2:42, to pray, eat and fellowship around the groundbreaking teachings of Jesus will release inspiration to bridge the faiths. Reaching out to our Muslim neighbors is proactive love powered by the Spirit of God. This would do more to transform the attitudes of those who consider us enemies than any amount of intellectual or religious browbeating could ever accomplish.

This Good News People Movement strategy is already at work with cells forming in dozens of cities across America and the world. I have witnessed unconditional love in Jesus’ name influence the hearts of “kings,” inspire resolutions in hopeless international political situations, and even help forge Muslim and Christian spiritual renewal movements.

If we change attitudes and support peace-seeking Muslims and their interpretation of the Qur’an, and trust and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit, Muslim militancy can be crushed from within, nurturing an age of reform.

One way to begin is by forming a discussion group, eventually including Muslims for conversations seeking the common ground between the faiths, centered on the Good News, Jesus.11 Your network is also a place to start passing on the Good News of hope. Together, let us find a fresh strategy that helps fulfill the Biblical prophecy that Muslims too are God’s “people,” the “work of His hands.” You can be instrumental in undermining hate, violence and extremism.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first the Jew then the Gentile (Christians & Muslims)." Romans 1:16 (Isaiah 19:23-25)


1 For more information please request the paper “Discovering True Conversion: Surrendering/Discipleship”

2 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is tormenting. He who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

3 See examples for “In that day” meaning the coming of the Messiah: Zachariah 13:5, 14:4, Amos 8:9, Joel 3:18.

4 Also See Gen 17:20, God’s blessings on Ishmael (Hebrew for “God hears”) and his 12 tribes.

5 Groundbreaking six-year Gallup poll ending in 2008, with tens of thousands of interviews in 35 Muslim nations, as well as smaller populations in Europe and the USA with a plus or minus accuracy of 3%. John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, Who Speaks for Islam, What A Billion Muslims Really Think, (Gallup Press, 2008). http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=87860378&m=87860368

6 Ali Khan, “The Second Era of Islamic Creativity,” University of St. Thomas Law Journal 1 (2003), 341
(http://ssrn.com/abstract=935607).

7 Joel Rosenberg, Inside the Revolution, http://www.insidetherevolution.org/itr_trailer.asp (Aug. 31, 2009).

8 See Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

9 Esposito. (See footnote #5)

10 This does not oppose other traditional tactics. Our government must act to ensure the nation’s safety from radical assault. Our daughter is an Airman and we support our country's military efforts, but we “civilians” are called to care for the foreigners in our midst, enemies or otherwise. This is the complementary Biblical approach.

11 For practical steps and better understanding, see A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide by Mark Siljander, http://www.aDeadlyMisunderstanding.com; Muslims, Christians and Jesus by Carl Medearis; Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths by Paul-Gordon Chandler; The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian by Nabeel T Jabbour. Also see excellent resources at http://www.commonpathalliance.org

Mark Siljander is a former Republican U.S. congressman & deputy U.S./U.N. ambassador and author of A Deadly Misunderstanding; A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide (Harper One, 2008).  www.ADeadlyMisunderstanding.com