Demolishing Enemy Strongholds, Part Five: Islam

The Islamic religion is today perhaps the largest obstacle and threat to the spread of the Gospel. This belief system first came into existence through Mohammad in the 7^th century, whom the Muslims believe to be God’s prophet. It is said that he had special revelations from an angel of God over a period of twenty-three years. These are the foundation Mohammad used as the basis for Islam. Over time the religion spread, and is now well known over the entire world. With 1.5 billion adherents, it is the second largest religion in the world, only topped by Christianity. The majority of these (eight hundred million) live in Asia.

Muslims hold to the belief that there is only one God, Allah, and therefore deny the Trinity. Jesus in their view is nothing more than a prophet and was not even as great as Mohammad, who is considered the last and most important of the prophets of Allah. His teachings are contained in their holy book, called the Quran (or Koran).

As a general rule, Islam is highly intolerant of other religions. In fact, the Quran often states to destroy those who refuse to convert (e. g., Sura 8:17; Sura 9:5). Christians in Muslim countries often face intense persecution. Out of the ten countries where Christians are persecuted most, eight of these are Muslim. One story brings to light what it is like for Christians in these nations: “An 18 year old Muslim girl found a copy of John’s Gospel and she read it and came to Christ. She was lying on her bed and said that she had this sudden realization, like a knife to her heart, utter conviction that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. She said it was like a light coming right out of the pages of her Bible and she was saved right there lying on her bed. She lay there for a while and 14 minutes later she got up and went out of her bedroom into her living room where her father was sitting reading. Her father was an imam and an important businessman. Everyone knew him. She said, “Dad I have something to tell you. I am a follower of Jesus Christ.” He beat her so hard. Her eyes were popping out. Her face beaten black and blue. Her teeth smashed to bits. She was beaten so badly she almost died. It took 14 minutes for persecution to come to this new believer. 14 minutes.”

As with most of the other major religions of the world, Muslims base their salvation on doing good works. Righteousness must be earned, not accepted as Christians believe. Sadly, many of these have never heard the Gospel. (There are two hundred Muslim people groups, each numbering more than one hundred thousand, which have no Gospel witness of any kind.) This is the path they must tread, for no other has been shown to them. It is critical that we as followers of Christ do all in our power bring them to the Light. Remember our brothers and sister that face opposition and even death in these closed countries.

Reagan Schrock, GOA blog manager

Quotation taken from History Makers, issue 8 (2010), page 10.