What’s the most compelling evidence I will not make minimum height at a pole vaulting contest this weekend? The fact that I’ve never pole vaulted!
If you’ve not spoken to a Muslim in a long time or ever, odds are good the first time you try there will be some awkwardness. Few of us relish awkward situations. Ergo, you’re probably not going to talk to a Muslim.
The trouble with that is that we need to talk to Muslims! By we, I mean everyone who follows Jesus would benefit from a good conversation with a normal Muslim. We just would.
So how do you get that going? Check last week’s Muslim Connect for three foundational ideas. This week we’re going to look at one idea and two scenarios.
Use Context to Start a Conversation: Start talking based on what’s going on around you. It’s that simple. There’s a reason we always talk about the weather!
Scenario One: You’re at your kid’s soccer game and you think the person next to you is Muslim. Ask, “Which one is your kid? Mine is [say their name.]” If they say their kid’s name is Brianna, maybe you’re mistaken about their Islamic identity! Otherwise, follow that up with a compliment, “They’re giving it a good effort.” “They just had a good pass.” Or if needed, “Wow, their uniform is really clean!”
Follow these questions with ones about the rest of their family, where they live and where they’re from. Some people disagree about “where are you from” questions, but my experience is that most people like to talk about this. Go into it gingerly and you might find it does open some beautiful doors.
Scenario Two: As I’m writing, devastating news of Charlie Kirk’s murder and the shooting of three students at a Colorado high school fill the news. For a limited time, that’s context more than sufficient to engage in conversation with a Muslim, especially if you live in America. I imagine this, “Wow, crazy times here, eh?” Affirmative response. “Are you a Muslim?” Affirmative response. “How does Islam guide your response to these things?”
To engage in either of these scenarios will involve the bending of standard American social rules. We tend to keep to ourselves. Many Muslim cultures are characterized by a higher degree of interpersonal interaction. Let’s give it a try.