God Loves You My Muslim Friend
Samy Tanagho wrote a book entitled “Good News! God Loves You My Muslim Friend” to minister to Muslims. Samy’s calling is to speak logically and convincingly about the Glad Tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who follow the teachings of Mohammed in the Qu’ran. Samy’s book answers devout Muslims’ sincere questions about Jesus Christ and Christianity. Today God is opening doors of witness to those of the Muslim faith. There are 500,000 Muslims in Orange County and over 1 million in Los Angeles County. Worldwide, one quarter of the world’s population is Muslim.
The attacks on 9/11 were the devil’s ploy to turn our hearts against Muslims. The devil’s diversionary attack was to deceive us into thinking that the battle is against Muslim extremists instead of against the devil himself and spiritual wickedness from on high. In our “politically correct” culture, most Muslims have never had a chance to hear about the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ from the Word of God. For Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
When Muslims ask, “How can Jesus be the son of God?” they are asking a sincere question. They have never been presented the logic of Christianity. Our churches need to be equipped to answer their questions. There are many points of agreement between the Qu’ran and the Bible. Muslims and Christians believe that Abraham was the father of both faiths. Muslims question why a loving God would ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. The purpose of God’s challenge to Abraham to offer his son Isaac was to prove that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his most precious earthly possession. Both faiths emphasize that “Thou must worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.” Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac was an illustration of God’s willing sacrifice of his only begotten son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our own sins. Sincere Muslims will understand this logic. Devout Muslims want to obey God’s will and prove their faithfulness to him.
Cultural thoughts and connections are important, especially when trying to connect with those who were thought to think and relate differently than we do. According to Genesis 16:11, God promised a son to Hagar. According to Genesis 21, God heard Ishmael’s mother Hagar crying. God saved the lives of both Hagar and Ishmael. God promised that he would make Ishmael a great nation. I Chronicles 1:28 lists Ishmael’s genealogies. 1 Chronicles 21:13-17 links Kedar, Ishmael’s grandson to the Arab people. Isaiah 60:7 is a prophesy about Kedar’s flocks. According to this significant prophecy about Ismael and his seed, God will accept Kedar’s flocks and rams as offerings on His altar. In John 8:16 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold (of Israel), I will bring them also. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” According to Jeremiah 49:38-39, the people of Elam (Iranian Muslims) will come back captive to the Lord.
Muslims need to hear the message in their own language. According to Isaiah 19 verses 21 and 25 God said, “blessed is Egypt my people and Assria the work of my hands and Israel my inheritance.” In Acts 2, the Arab people were evangelized in their own language at Pentecost… they were witnesses of the outpouring of the holy spirit at the birthday of the Church of grace. In Revelation 5:9… the promise of God is redemption out of every tribe and every tongue.
God is working to attract Muslims to himself. Muslims are taught to openly display their emotions and God has called us to appeal to their emotions. Their culture and traditions teach them to live and behave passionately and from the heart. Sincere Muslims are seeking for a meaningful relationship with God. However, they have not been taught that God is a God of love. They have not been shown that Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life.
The Quran references the Bible and says that the Bible is the Word of God. The Qu’ran instructs Mohammed (and all Muslims) in Surah 10:94 to treat the Bible as the primary source of enlightenment: “If thou (Muhammed) were in doubt as to what We (God) have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee…” It is clear from this verse that in the event of any doubt about certain revelations in the Qu’ran, Muhammed is instructed to consult with the Christians and Jews who have been reading the Holy Scriptures. Most Muslims are thirsty to hear form God through his Word. The best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend. Our battle is not against Muslims, rather our battle is against the devil himself and the powers of wickedness from on high. “God Loves You My Muslim Friend” is a book available in several languages to introduce Muslims to Christ and to equip Christians to effectively witness to our Muslim friends. This book is available through the web site www.gladnewsministry.com. According to Ephesians 4:11-12 God gave his church apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The fields are white and ready for harvest… our prayer is that we may be called to gather in the harvest of his people in this the fertile field to which he has called us.
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael