Author Archives: shanedar

As I write today, my mom is awaiting the results of her recent COVID test. She’s one of millions who’ve been tested this week, but her results matter to me more than all the rest. She’s my mom.

I wonder if there’s a similar dynamic lighting up the question of whether or not the God of the Bible and the Allah of Islam are the same person. This matters to us because something very close to our hearts seems to be at stake.

Three things I think:

1. The question gets deep in a hurry. The emotion intrinsic to the debate is equaled by its complexity. As such, I’m hesitant to embrace short, “It’s obvious, you dumb dumb!” sorts of answers.
2. There are places where the question is dealt with kindly and respectfully. I particularly appreciate this short video from Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf and this blog post from the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary.
3. This matters to me because I so want Muslims to live. I believe I’m driven by practicality that says, “If Muslims simply have an incomplete view of the God we all serve, the leap of faith is less.”

While I ultimately want us all, including me, to walk in line with truth, to see things as they really are and live accordingly, I’ll admit I’m biased. I want the leap of faith to be as small as possible so that as many as possible will find life in Jesus.

Tune in next week for the basic arguments against God and Allah being the same entity.

If this question is important to you, if it stirs emotion and nudges you to engage, I’d love to hear from you. Why is this question important and what’s your thinking? Please comment here.

Muslim Connect is always free, however twice a year I reach out and ask faithful readers to donate to keep it thriving. This year I’m specifically raising funds to make a jump into video development. Muslim Connect will remain a text-based, quick read email, but I’d like to reach more people through the use of brief, punchy videos. Please donate here or check out the budget and equipment list here. Thank you.

The name is catchy but has already been taken by a small Nigerian sect in Lagos who seemed to have actually combined the two.

My friends at Peace Catalyst International admit, “we are often accused of compromising our faith. Some people even claim we are teaching “Chrislam,” a syncretistic blending of Christianity and Islam.”   (The FAQ I’m quoting from is brilliant. I encourage you to read the entire piece.)

Truth and Love
They remind us, “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no person comes to the Father but through me’ (John 14:6). Jesus also taught that our eternal destiny depends on how we respond to him (John 3:16). So we believe Jesus’ exclusive truth claims.”

“Jesus also hung out with the ‘wrong’ crowd. He loved the marginalized and was even called the friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). Moreover, he commanded us to love our neighbors and our enemies (Matthew 22:9; Matthew 5:44). Thus Jesus also taught and modeled inclusive love aims.”

They conclude, “One reason we are accused of teaching Chrislam is that people see us living out Jesus’ inclusive love aims and assume we have denied his exclusive truth claims. But the fact is that true followers of Jesus must both declare truth and model love. To deny either truth or love is to deny Jesus.”

As you might guess, if I’m out of balance it’s going to be leaning toward the “inclusive love claims.” How about you?

For the record, if the Pope and Rick Warren are trying to start “Chrislam” (which I don’t think they are), they’re doing a lousy job of it! 

Late last year I asked us to pray for this. Let’s thank God for hearing and answering that prayer. In these days when fresh cries for justice are occurring all around, this is a small step in a good direction.

Of course, the challenge is implementation. The President has 180 days from signing to submit a list of those deemed responsible for human rights violations. Their assets can be frozen along with visas and admission to the US being denied.

There will likely be push back from China. Early published responses from China’s Foreign Ministry urge the, “U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes. . . . Otherwise, China will resolutely take countermeasures, and all the consequences arising therefrom must be fully borne by the United States.”

Two Caveats

One: You may have heard that John Bolton’s just-released book claimsPresident Trump last year agreed with Chinese President Xi on the Uyghur camps. So signing this law is a switch or maybe just politics.

Two: I don’t know about you, but it’s always easier for me to point out error in others. The U.S. has miles to go in our own human rights efforts before we sleep. Again, this may be politics of distraction.

Please thank God with me for this new law and ask that it will serve his purposes and contribute to many Uyghurs finding life for their bodies and souls. And, please God, don’t let it just be politics.

I hope God is giving you grace for the appropriate deep reflection. I know I’ve been troubled by this, trying to figure out how to think, what to feel, what to read or listen to and what to ignore. I’m wondering how God might be calling me to change.

The fall out of the Floyd murder and subsequent protests and riots hit close to home a few days ago when the son of a friend was shot by police in Minneapolis. He’ll lose an eye, but not his life.

And I’ve wondered about Muslims in light of this. Are there common sentiments among diverse Muslim communities? Are there particular forms of racism that many Muslims exhibit? It was, after all, an Arab American Muslims who initially called the police on George. He’s now pledged not to do so outside of violent situations.

Almost always when I’ve written about Muslims and racism, it’s had to do with bias against Muslims. Without doubt, Muslims have been attacked, abused and marginalized for their color and religion.

But many (Most? All?) also wrestle with racism emanating from their own hearts. MuslimARC is an organization whose purpose includes education regarding, “Micro-aggressions that make mosques and Muslim spaces hostiles for members of non-dominant groups,” as well as, “Discriminatory practices relating to leadership, including against non-Arab or non-South Asian imams, board members, and/or professional staff.”

Muhammad taught against racism. Jesus did before him. For all I know so did Buddha and the early Hindu teachers.

In the vast ocean of what I don’t know and have not experienced, these few drops are pretty certain: I dare not be cavalier in regard to the presence of racial sin in my own heart. And I’d be wise to consider what God wants to do in me and with me to counter this societal sin.

Have you ever been to Bangladesh? Me neither. (If you have, then yay for you!) The nearest I’ve been is a brief visit to India’s West Bengal state and the amazing stories of friends.

I’ve also been treated warmly by Bengali migrants in Sicily:

A kind kebab shop owner wept as he shared the love and nostalgia he felt for his native language.

A young Bengali guy, the day before he moved to a new town and job, took an hour to sip tea and talk with my friend and me, even enduring our early, fumbling attempt to share deep things of God through the Creation to Christ story.

A Bengali woman, running a small, late-night convenience store with her twelve year old daughter, cheered and encouraged my co-worker and me at the end of a long, disappointing day.

Recently, to our great delight, my wife and I discovered a Netflix show called Nadiya’s Time to Eat and the brilliant British/Bengali woman behind it, Nadiya Hussain. Since appearing on the Great British Bake Off in 2015, this mom of three has gone on to write cookbooks, host TV shows and even bake a birthday cake for the Queen!

From my vantage point, she’s also serving as a wonderful example of a faithful Muslim Bengali woman in the main flow of British media. She’s winsome, successful and killer smart. (The UK is likely ahead of the US in this regard, but I’d love role models like this in my popular culture.)

But Britain is a long way from Bangladesh and most Bengalis are a long way from even knowing someone who’s following Jesus. According to Joshua Project, among dozens of  Bangladeshi people groups there are few or no Christians. Those groups add up to well over a hundred million people.

Beautiful, kind, designed-by-God people. Who will go live among them?
My friend, and fellow fan of all things Bangla, Jeannie Marie wrote a brilliant book called Across the Street and Around the World. On Sunday, May 31st (and for a few days following) you can get the Kindle version for just a $1.99! I’m going to do it. Will you join me?

Think with me for a minute about the emotion that might accompany these milestones:

Relief at getting back to normal life, getting to eat and drink again when you like. Sadness at the passing of an intense family and spiritual season. Pride at having succeeded in the fast or secret guilt for failing privately while the community assumes you succeeded.

Add to that the sense of loss that comes with being denied the celebration that’s usually the highlight of the year. It’s harsh. A friend in the Middle East told me this morning that their government plans to enforce a strict lockdown, to inhibit the normal visiting that accompanies Eid. (Imagine celebrating Christmas without leaving your home.)

I’d like us, the Muslim Connect tribe, to do two things in light of the end of Ramadan and the semi-empty Eid:

1. Pray. Ask God to fill in the gaps with grace, to pour out joy for sadness, and invite Muslims all over to find the life Jesus came to bring.

2. Share Eid greetings on social media. Like virtual Christmas or birthday cards, wish your Muslim friends, and the global ummah in general, a Happy Eid.

You could make your own greetings, of course. In case it might help out, I’ve made four you can choose from. Simply copy or save one or more of these images and post them on your social media feeds this weekend.

Use the last one only with friends who you think could use a little levity!

Unless this is your first edition of Muslim Connect (In which case, please don’t unsubscribe yet!), you’ll guess that I probably think this is a good idea. Also, that I’m probably teasing a little bit.

You’re right on both counts:

1. Teasing: It’s not just a Quran, but also includes Christian commentary.
2. Good idea: I’m thankful that Gordon Nickel, who I really wish was my friend, authored, “The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam” and that Zondervan published it. We need really smart people, who’ve lived long years with Muslims, to help the rest of us see past our fears and ignorance.

The book was just released two weeks ago, so I haven’t read it. The blurb at Amazon describes it as, “Factual, respectful of Muslims, and insightful on issues about which Muslims and Christians disagree, The Quran with Christian Commentary equips Christians to interact more fruitfully with Muslim believers.” That one sentence makes me want this book really badly!

It also includes an amazing set of expert-written articles including, Son of God in the Quran, Women in the Quran, and Jihad in the Quran.

In a similar vein to The Quran with Christian Commentary, a Muslim friend from Facebook, Safi Kaskas published a translation of the Quran with references to the Bible. Safi is a wise diplomat for followers of Islam and Jesus. His Quran has so many footnotes and references to the Bible, there may be more Bible than Quran in it!

I’m glad God is at work to help Muslims and Christians understand each other. May these books and similar efforts equip us to join in His work. And may Jesus be lifted up all over the place!

Of course, Paul gets automatic first place. He said a long time ago, “This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them.”

Have you recently felt the saving warmth and relief of God’s forgiveness? Maybe it came through a spouse or close friend. Maybe it came straight from Heaven in the strong arm of God wrapped tight around the shoulder of your soul.

One of the dear gifts of our faith is calm assurance that the things we’ve screwed up, however gloriously, are no longer held against us. We are not responsible to pay off with good deeds what we failed to do right in the first place. What a relief.

But what if you don’t feel that relief? It’s not always automatic, is it? If you struggle to feel forgiven, you may have a sense of what many Muslims face during this fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a time for increased prayer, repentance and seeking forgiveness. The Quran says, “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’” (Surah Zumar: 53) Even so many Muslims don’t feel forgiven and fear their final standing before God.

Please pray with me for the next three weeks of Ramadan that Muslims all over will find assurance of God’s forgiveness through the work of Jesus. Download this one-page prayer guide or find amazing videos and prayer direction at PrayerCast.

Jesus would still be born, of course, but the festivities would suffer.

For many Muslims, Ramadan, their annual month of fasting which begins today, is a time of celebration similar to Christmas for Christians. Sure they don’t eat during the day (or drink/smoke/chew or kiss on girls who do. . . or don’t!), but the month is also a rich time of family gathering, eating after dark, and extra efforts to connect with and please God.

Most of Ramadan is worked out in the context of close, celebrated community. But not this year. I’d like you to join me in prayer for Muslims as they fast this month under the cloud of Corona. (Tweet this.)

Many Muslims are spiritually sensitive during Ramadan and earnestly seeking God. This year, that dynamic might be even increased due to the necessarily more private nature of the fast.

I’m concerned for kids this Ramadan. Can you imagine spending all day with your parents who’ve sworn off food, cigarettes and sex? I feel for the kids who will bear the wrath of their parents’ discomfort and deprivation. I know I’m guilty of venting personal frustration on my kids and. And that’s when I’m eating normal meals!

Please download this simple, crazy beautiful, one-page prayer guide for Ramadan. You are encouraged to freely print, share and distribute it as you wish.