Three LCM missionaries, Brother Silas, Jayne Kinghorn and Tim Spring address some common hang-ups around speaking to Muslims about Jesus.

"I've no idea where to begin"

TIM

The most important thing is simply to connect with and build a relationship with your Muslim neighbour, using any point of mutual interest such as sport or your families. As you get to know your Muslim neighbour, natural opportunities will arise where you can begin to talk about Jesus. It is really good to pray for this to happen.

JAYNE

Just chatting about the weather is a start. Connect at any level. Showing a genuine interest in your Muslim neighbour will afford you so many more opportunities. Also consider hospitality; take a dish of food to them – you don’t need a special reason, it’s just being neighbourly.

"I know nothing about Islam"

TIM

Learn on the job. Ask lots of questions about Islam, and especially about their own personal beliefs and practice. It will build your relationship with them. It will also help you understand their problems with believing the gospel – so you can target your presentation of the gospel. There are good books and short courses, online or in person, to teach us the basics about Islam.

SILAS

That’s a very good starting point. If you don’t know, ask a Muslim about Islam. What does Islam teach about who God is? What does it say about who Jesus is, and why he came? Not only will you hear interesting information about how this Muslim perceives Islam, but opportunities to talk about your beliefs will soon present themselves!

"I would need to learn about cultural sensitivity first"

JAYNE

I often put my foot in it, but just apologise if you commit a cultural faux pas. Generally, people are quite forgiving in this respect. It’s easy to look up basic ‘dos and don’ts’ when conversing with a Muslim.

SILAS

Cultural sensitivity is important, but not as important as preaching the gospel. So get into a gospel conversation first, without worrying about the possibility about being culturally insensitive. Once you are doing this consistently then, by all means, learn how to avoid cultural insensitivity – but without ever compromising on the Gospel message.

"I am not good at winning arguments"

TIM

It’s not about winning an argument but about making and keeping a friend. If you don’t know how to answer, then honestly explain that you don’t know and perhaps say you’ll think about it and get back to your friend later.

SILAS

The argument does not need to be won on the spot, so don’t get tense and defensive. Just ask the Muslim you’re talking with to explain their objections to the Christian faith. Then calmly acknowledge their objection is an important point, that you’ll go away and think about it, and then come back to them with an answer.

JAYNE

Think of it as a discussion rather than an argument. It doesn’t seem so challenging, in the negative sense. All you are doing is presenting accurate, logical, historical information that cannot be refuted.

"It feels insensitive and confrontational to tell people their beliefs are wrong"

SILAS

Paul told the pagans in Lystra that their worship of him and Barnabas was ‘worthless things’, and Paul told the sophisticated Athenians that their worship was ‘ignorance’. So there’s definitely nothing wrong with guiding others to the conclusion that their worship is wrong. Just be careful that you do it out of love for them, and out of zeal for God to receive the honour and worship that he alone deserves.

JAYNE

As believers we need to embrace the probability of causing offense with the gospel. See 1 Corinthians 1:18. Offending someone with the gospel won’t destroy them. But not hearing the gospel and having no opportunity to repent will destroy a person.

"I need to know my own faith better"

TIM

One of the best ways to get to know our faith better is to engage in debate with unbelievers. Dialoguing with Muslims gives us a whole new understanding of John 1:1–18 and of Jesus as the Word of God.

SILAS

We all need to know our own faith better. Even Christians who have been witnessing to Muslims for many years find they have a great need to know their faith better. However, you’ll only start asking certain big questions about your faith once you’ve started faith conversations with Muslims. They will ask you questions you have never previously thought about. So if you really want to know your own faith better, talk to Muslims about it!

"It could be dangerous"

TIM

It could be…but the vast majority of Muslims in the UK are very ordinary human beings struggling through life much as we are. Many are disgusted with the terrorists and Islamic State, some to the point where they even consider leaving Islam. There are some lovely people among them. You may well make some special friends.

JAYNE

Most Muslims I know are no different to your average law-abiding neighbour. Second and third generation British Muslims are very westernised in their outlook on life, but hold to traditions and beliefs for family and culture’s sake. I was surprised how approachable my Muslim neighbours are – often more friendly than those from other faith groups.

"I'd probably make a mess of it and put them off hearing the Gospel forever"

SILAS

If you make a mess of explaining the Gospel, no problem – simply try again next time! No Muslim will be put off hearing the gospel just because your presentation wasn’t all that clear. If the gospel message itself puts them off, this is normal. Expect this. The thing most likely to put a Muslim off is a wrong attitude– so we need to be careful about that.

TIM

But for you they may never hear the gospel at all! And we have a great God who overrules our mistakes. Also, if they are really being drawn by the Holy Spirit, we won’t be able to put them off!