Editorial

Islam is on the move on British campuses. There are now over 90 Muslim student groups affiliated to FOSIS (the UK Federation of Student Islamic Societies), but less moderate groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir and Al-Muhajiroun pose much more of a challenge, especially when they operate under a variety of names.

Sadly many British Christians view Islam not as a challenge, but as a threat. The different cultural values and prejudicial fear fuelled by ‘fatwas’ and ‘fundamentalists’ mean that the two communities seldom meet. In fact we have far more in common with Muslims than with the average atheist Caucasian. Not only do they believe in God; but also in revelation, prophets, Scriptures, angels and the day of judgment! Islam respects Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus as God’s prophets. But there the similarity ends. We are dealing with a people who deny the divinity of Christ, think the Bible has been corrupted and changed and do not understand the cross. They disbelieve what we regard as ‘of first importance’: that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. (1 Cor 15:3,4).

Despite these difficulties, there is increasing evidence that Islam’s time may have come. Stories of Muslims being converted to Christ, often through supernatural dreams and visions, are filtering back from all around the world. Islam is the world’s largest remaining mission field - one in five of the worlds five billion population - and yet currently there is only one Christian missionary for every 500,000 Muslims. Now God is opening up new avenues for the Gospel. Countries that have been closed to traditional paths of missionary work are opening wide, thanks to ethnic minorities living and studying in the UK. Muslims have come to us; they live in our country and speak our language. Many will return to influential positions in their own nations. Will they also return with the gospel?

The harvest fields are ready but the labourers are few. Presently, only a handful of Christian students are properly equipped to take up the challenge. To reach Muslims for Christ, we need to know Islam, know the Bible and know our God. How are we preparing? Are we ready to ‘give an account of the hope that (we) have.. with gentleness and respect’ to every Muslim who asks? Let’s be challenged to get trained, get praying and get going. You’ll find plenty within to move you in that direction.

Peter Saunders

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