Isa Masih January 1997: Christ or Culture?

Christ or Culture?

To many Muslims, the word ‘Christian’ is synonymous with ‘Western’. Unless we try to correct this misconception, our attempts to evangelise will fall flat. The first step is understanding why Muslims, rightly or wrongly, blame the West (and hence Christianity) for their ills.

Shortly after Muhammad’s death in AD 632, Arabian converts to Islam began to push northward into Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. Soon they conquered North Africa and made significant gains in Europe. Islam quickly became a social, political and religious power. For the next several hundred years, Muslims consolidated their gains. Their art, science and culture were acclaimed.

Crusades

Between AD 1095 and 1450, European nations launched eight Crusades against Muslims. The purpose of those violent military actions in Christ’s name was to wrest the Holy Land from Islamic influence. Thousands of Muslims were slaughtered by ‘pious’ crusaders whose breastplates were painted with brilliant red crosses. The period was one of the darkest in church history.

'Christian rule'

In the 1700’s, Islamic nations began to come under the colonising influence of the West. It is estimated that 90% of all Muslims in the world lived under Western domination for some period of time between 1700 and 1945. In the eyes of Muslims this meant subjugation under Christian rulers! Their integrated system of life allows for little distinction between the ‘West’ and the ‘Christian West’.

Following World War Two, Muslim nations became independent - some through friendly negotiations and others by bloody violence. In most cases Islamic people came out economically depressed.

Contemporary views

How do contemporary Muslims view the West? Many would agree with the following generalisations:

Cultural norms of the West are abhorrent and repulsive.
Sexual promiscuity, drunkenness, divorce, lack of care for the aged, fierce competitiveness and racism are all features of Western Society which Muslims consider wrong. True, some secularised Muslims drink alcohol and are immoral. But these practices are entirely prohibited by Islam.
Christians are spiritually lazy.
Islam regiments religious behaviour into a system of creeds, prayer forms, fasting and pilgrimages. Muslims find it difficult to believe that Christians are serious about their religion when they do so little compared to the rigorous disciplines of their own faith and practice.
Christian missionaries have ulterior motives.
Missionaries are appreciated for their good works of charity, yet Muslims consider such acts to be motivated entirely by the desire to proselytise.

Christian love

Misconceptions like these are difficult to dispel; but prejudices melt when those holding them come to know individuals who don’t fit the stereotype. The only way Muslims will see Christ - separated from the Western cultural accretions heaped upon him by history - is by experiencing genuine Christian love - from us! After the fog of anger and misunderstanding begins to burn off under the influence of warm Christian love, the ensuing light may set the stage for sensitive dialogue; and knowledge of the Christ of history, and of the Bible.

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