articles

From fear to faith

“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others”
Matthew 5:14, 16

“Make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love…” Francis of Assisi

“It is true Muslims don’t deserve the good news of the Gospel…
but neither do Christians.”
Brother Andrew

It’s a long time since I had my first encounter with the Persecuted Church in the Muslim World. I have been humbled more times than I can number by their surrendered lives, and they are a constant reminder to me of what a 21st-century crosscarrier actually looks like.

What you meet in their experience is Christianity in the raw. Fragile, vulnerable, under threat and yet totally reliant upon God, determined to be obedient to His Word no matter what the
cost. The New Testament was written by persecuted Christians for persecuted Christians; it was written in the context of persecution. So it was in this context that Matthew wrote the words of Jesus (as translated by Eugene Peterson):

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.” (Matthew 5:14–16)

With that in mind, there are those who do not want to respond to Muslims with grace because of the fear that all Muslims want to take political power and abolish democracy and religious liberty.
Others believe that a grace response is about appeasing rather than challenging Muslims: this is not my meaning at all. Brother Andrew has said, “We will never win the encounter with Islam
through discussions or sermons. We have to go and show them how Jesus can change people.” And he provocatively emphasises the truth about grace: none of us – Muslim or Christian – deserve the Gospel.

Francis of Assisi balanced political realism with a gracious attitude towards Muslims. He travelled around the Middle East as an apostle of grace at a time when Europeans distrusted Muslims. My driving passion is that Western Christians should understand the divine strategy that God is working out right before our very eyes and become the answers to St. Francis’ Prayer.

On 29 October 2005 in Indonesia, three schoolgirls were attacked on their way to school by Muslim extremists, who decapitated them in a wanton act of terrorism and threat towards the Church and individual Christians. Mrs Poliwo was the mother of 17-year-old Alfita. This is her testimony:

“I was able to do as God commanded and forgive these killers. My anger was strong. But God’s love was stronger.”

She had experienced the deepest of wrongs; I suspect all of us felt wronged on 7/7. But if Mrs Poliwo can forgive, how much more should we allow ourselves to both love and reach out in compassion to Muslims in our country?

Jesus said, “Love your neighbour.” That’s the basis for this simple acrostic: I Sincerely Love All Muslims. It’s time for action, not words!

Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors