Core Issue (1) Uniqueness of Christ

The Lausanne global leadership has identified six core issues that they believe are among the key global challenges of our day.  These next few posts will look at this list from the perspective of making room for the Sons of Ishmael.The first issue:

1. Making the case for Truth in a postmodern, pluralistic world and making the case for the uniqueness of Christ.

The Islamic world is quite homogeneous (the opposite of pluralistic), and Muslims are completely at ease an unashamed to exclude the rest of the world.  Though there are significant variations in culture and practice as the Muslim world spans from Morocco to Indonesia, the theological beliefs vary little in comparison.  There is no pluralism or 'freedom of choice' in what one believes in Islam.  You are either an unbeliever (kufar) or of the house of Islam, there is no other distinction.   I had a conversation recently with a conservative Muslim who quoted a verse in the Qur'an: 'There is no compulsion in Religion.'  Muslims love to quote this verse to try and demonstrate they give others the freedom of choice, but under the surface, you understand that this is only partly true.  There is, according to this verse, no compulsion to become a Muslim (though they highly suggest you do so), but if you are Muslim, or once you have decided to follow Islam, there is no other choice.  Muslims cannot choose, they are not free to think.  Truly in Muslim lands, conversion to Christianity or any other religion is, in the least, a sure way to be ostracized and at worst a death sentence, 

For this reason Islam poses the largest obstacle to the uniqness of Christ, not because of pluralism, but because of homogeny.  Who was the greatest prophet?  When speaking with Muslims, I often ask a series of questions about the things reported about Issa (Jesus) in Islam.  Christ demonstrated and claimed astounding uniquness in the gospels, and even the Qur'an assigns him titles (Messiah, breath of God, spriit from God), tells of miricles, his virgin birth, ascension into heaven, and return someday.  None of these things are told of Mohammad, who's only miracle is purported to be the Qur'an (as they beleive Mohammad was illiterate).  

When discussing Christ with Muslims it is critical to demonstrate passionate allegiance to him as the high and lifted up prophet of all time.  Muslims are blinded by the social pressures and teachings of Islam, to the degree that most of them haven't thought through the details written about Issa in their own holy book, because it would cost too much.  Muslims are notoriously slow in warming up to the uniquness of Christ, but it's all to do with societal pressure and the monumental crisis of identity.  Put yourself in their shoes, if following Christ admitting that everything you've been taught from childhood was a lie, and possible death, how many of us would worship Christ?  Despite all of this, the truth today is there are more Muslims that have chosen to follow Issa, the greatest prophet, than at any other time in history.  God is making room in the Outer Court, let's join him.