Winning Muslim converts to Christianity With the Quran

[SF-TX]

Father Zakarias Botros also uses the Quran to convert Muslims to Christianity:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...d.php?t=20823&

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...d.php?t=23646&

Use the Quran to share Christ with Muslim, veteran missionary suggests
By George Henson, Staff Writer
Published: December 31, 2009

ANGLETON—Winning Muslim converts to Christianity is difficult, but veteran missionary Kevin Greeson knows a way—start with the Quran.

Greeson, who has served 16 years with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board working to start Christian movements among Muslims in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, stressed the importance of spreading the good news of Christ with Muslims.

“The best way to fight terrorism is to share the gospel. And I believe that not because I want to fight terrorism, but because there are lost people,” he explained.

Debating religious tenets with Muslims is a waste of time, Greeson added. Muslims are taught to memorize the Quran in Arabic, not analyze it, he said.
Missionary Kevin Greeson suggests that evangelical witness to Muslims should start with the Quran.

“Even in Pakistan, where they speak Urdu, boys memorize the Quran in Arabic. They are not allowed to ask what anything means. They are told the words are too holy for them. Just memorize,” Greeson said.

Still, Christians must attempt to share the gospel with Muslims, Greeson insisted. But his goal focuses less on individual conversions and more on starting spiritual movements that will result in thousands of Muslims becoming followers of Christ.

“Our generation can’t afford to be satisfied or happy with winning one lost person to Christ. There are so many lost people, we can’t be happy with that,” he said.

And the tide is turning, Greeson said. “Almost every missionary serving now is seeing fruit among Muslims. Something is cooking out there. Something big is happening.”

Many thousands of Muslims are converting to Christianity on the Arab Peninsula and in Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia, he said.

“Don’t think it’s limited to the other side of the world,” Gresson cautioned. “It can happen here. It’s got to happen here.”

But making it happen depends on finding a few key Muslims who can become the catalyst for a spiritual movement, he stressed.

“With a Muslim, you are always an outsider. Find that insider. You can’t get to all his relatives. You are an outsider. He has access,” he continued.

Greeson offered another word of caution. “When you find a person of peace, don’t make him join your church, comb his hair different and make him like you. Disciple him, but don’t make him go through an eight-month discipleship program. Messy people start movements. Don’t try to clean them up.”

Greeson’s first two years working with Muslims largely was unsuccessful, he admits. “Everything was thrown back at me.” They didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God or that he died and rose again. They did not accept the Bible as authoritative, so quoting Scripture was useless. Greeson had to learn how to communicate with Muslims in ways that would not cause them immediately to shut down the conversation.

“Salaam-Alaikum” or “peace be to you” is a greeting that often lowers defenses, he suggested. Greeson then follows that up with the invitation: “Let’s read the Quran together about Jesus.”

Greeson discovered a Christian movement in a village where there were many conversions from Islam, and he asked about the catalyst for the transformation. The approach Greeson now teaches— “The Camel Method”—stems from that encounter.

The name of the method comes from an Arabic saying: Every good Muslim knows 99 names for Allah, but only the camel knows the 100th name. “We tell them we know the 100th name. It’s Jesus,” Greeson explained.

The Camel Method uses the Quran to establish three main points: ’Isa, or Jesus, is holy; ’Isa has power over death; and ’Isa knows the way to heaven.

Using selected verses from the Quran, the Camel Method doesn’t teach or lecture, but asks questions.

The 45th verse of Imran addresses Jesus as Masih ’Isa. “Ask them what does Masih ’Isa mean? Muslims know the meanings of their names. Names are important to them, but most won’t know this one,” Greeson said. “Then you can tell them that it means messiah or anointed one.”

Next, ask if any other of the 124,000 prophets the Muslims revere was given that designation, he instructed. None were. This demonstrates the uniqueness of Christ.

In the 47th verse of Imran, Mary the mother of Jesus testifies she never had been touched by a man. Ask if any other prophet was born without a father, and Muslims typically will answer, “Adam.” Let them tell the story of the Garden of Eden until the point where Adam is forced to leave paradise because of his sin.

Note all of Adam’s and Eve’s descendents likewise have been sinful, but Jesus wasn’t included in that line.

The 49th verse of Imran says ’Isa, or Jesus, has can “bring dead to life.”

“At this point, I say, ‘My greatest fear is death, and I’m grateful there is one who has power over it,” Greeson suggested.

Verse 54 of Imran says God has a plan, and verse 55 describes that plan. It says that Allah will cause ’Isa to die and then will exalt him. It goes on to say that those who deny the truth that ’Isa proclaims will be far below those who follow his truth.

Greeson suggests asking if any of the 124,000 can help a person get to heaven.

“I’ve never gotten any answer other than ’Isa,” he said.

At that time, a Muslim is prepared to hear the plan of salvation using verses 54 and 55—Korbani Plan of Salvation.

“Korbani” means sacrifice. The Quran points out a blood sacrifice is needed to cover sins, and Muslims go through a ritual every year where they slaughter an animal to cover their sins. That gives an opening to talk about Christ’s sacrifice, Greeson said.

Let them know Allah’s plan was for one perfect person to be sacrificed who would take all sin for all time.

Next, a Christian witness can talk about accepting Christ’s sacrifice. Greeson said to ask if a judge let a guilty man go if that would be justice, which will bring a negative answer, because a judge has to give punishment for wrongs.

“But ’Isa came and said, I have clean hands, put their judgment on me. That was God’s plan,” Greeson explains.

He acknowledged that the process takes time, and many fall away due to pressures from their society. But, he said, Christians must be diligent in telling the good news to Muslims because God already is preparing hearts to hear the gospel.

http://www.baptiststandard.com/index...0557&Itemid=53

Hats off to this guy and I wish him all the success in the world, but it seems to me it would be wise to start converting them right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. Supposedly there is a pretty damned huge muslim population in Michigan trying to enforce sharia law right now. *Shrug

[craigepo]

IMHO, that Baptist missionary has the exact recipe for winning. Bombs and bullets are necessary, but we must win the battle of ideas.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by craigepo

IMHO, that Baptist missionary has the exact recipe for winning. Bombs and bullets are necessary, but we must win the battle of ideas.

If you have interest in some further background I would recommend the book : Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present, by Michael B. Oren


http://professionalsoldiers.com/foru...+Faith+Fantasy

[testedone]

Having spent A LOT of time witnessing to Muslims in California, Michigan and Illinois I disagree with using the Quran to witness to them. The article states



Debating religious tenets with Muslims is a waste of time, Greeson added

Which is true, I come from a Calvinistic background and believe in the inerrancy of scripture and the sovereignty of God in salvation (I am not a hyper-calvinist)

As it states in Romans 1:16 The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, convincing arguments may make them see some problems but in my experience the Muslim will not recognize a problem in their book even if it jumps out of them...

They need to hear the Gospel and we need to pray that God would save them... That is witnessing to Muslims

Greeson’s first two years working with Muslims largely was unsuccessful, he admits. “Everything was thrown back at me.” They didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God or that he died and rose again. They did not accept the Bible as authoritative, so quoting Scripture was useless. Greeson had to learn how to communicate with Muslims in ways that would not cause them immediately to shut down the conversation.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
(1Cor 2:14 ESV)

Without the spirit of God opening their eyes...well, it's academic..

What Greeson was doing above is fine, but we call it apologetics it is not the same as witnessing our sharing the Gospel..I know some may argue but.. Both have there place..but we must keep in mind one is a academic debate (apologia) the other is Witnessing (bearing witness to Christ).

Many times both work together and many times need to be...but the Gospel needs to be preeminent

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
(1Cor 1:17 ESV)

[Richard]

We can always sell them indulgences - I'm sure the theologically approved guide to doing that is lying around here somewhere - we'll just dust it off - and Gawd knows we certainly need the $$$.

Richard's jaded $.02

[Defend]

Having studied missiology and it's implications within sociology along with some personal experience on this matter, I would like to give my $.02.

First off, on the general subject of converting Muslims, it is absolutely necessary as an augmentation of the physical battle we are in. We have this war because Islam cannot peacefully coexist with Christianity - this is why the entire history of Islam is marked with wars and struggles against the Christian world.

Being unabashedly Christian, I would also argue that for all followers of Christ active witnessing is not only "good" but mandated in scripture. All through the old testament there is constant reference to the reason the Israelites were blessed. In the Abramic covenant, there is a purpose given. "You will be blessed so that you can be a blessing to all peoples" (see Gen 12:1-3). If you read through the old testament with a goal of seeing where the Bible talks about that stated purpose, it is constantly obvious. I could go on about this for hours. The new testament, including the teachings of Christ in the four gospels, is equally clear. Cross cultural evangelism needs to take place whether it is in Detroit, San Diego, Baghdad, or Kabul.

Regarding use of the Qur'an as a witnessing tool, I have friends working "in the window" who hold to both theories. However, I believe that the Qur'an is an effective tool. Muhammed was evil, and the Qur'an represents his teachings. However, our God is an awesome God and preserved some truth in the midst of the lie.

Here's an example. The Qur'an gives legitimacy to the Torah and the Gospels (see this site)From this foundation you can work backwords. However, it isn't always the best method. I personally haven't used it when I'm discussing religion with Muslims simply because I don't know it well enough to use it in conversation. Instead I use common ground (such as sin and punishment) to challenge their worldview, at which point they are open to discussing an alternate worldview. I am guaranteed a spot in Heaven because of the sacrifice Issa made when he was executed to cover my sins. Because of this I love and have a personal relationship with الله. In my case I can also point to a specific place and time when I came to that realization, and explain how it has transformed my life since then.

It is amazing how many ways God works to bring people into relationship with him - in the Muslim world we see examples of divine revelation through dreams, logic leading to spiritual seeking and subsequent discovery of the truth (often times through nothing more than reading the Bible), and through contact with believers.

-out