In Britain, Evangelical Alliance urges Christians to preach among Muslims
British evangelicals urged Christians to stop fearing Islam and begin seeing migrants as a “mission field.”
In the UK, a webinar titled “Islam: Challenges, Questions, and Opportunities for the Gospel” was held, during which religious leaders discussed the sharp growth of the influence of Muslim communities in the country’s social and political life, reports Christian Today.
Speakers included Dr Andy Bannister, director of Solas Centre for Public Christianity and author of Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?, and John Ghanim, a Yemeni-born convert from Islam to Christianity.
Dr Bannister said Islam is becoming increasingly prominent in British public life because of demographic change, growing confidence within Muslim communities and the increasing visibility of Muslim voices in politics and culture.
Dr. Bannister emphasized that at present Christian communities have done a “poor job” of preparing believers for dialogue with Muslims. While many mosques deliberately train their congregants in methods of working with Christians, Christians themselves often fall either into fear or complete indifference.
During the discussion, participants noted the radical difference between the two religions. Dr. Bannister pointed out that Islam views a person only as a “slave” who needs new commandments, whereas Christianity proclaims humanity’s need for a Savior and Redeemer. He called on Britons to abandon “comfortable faith” and return to “radical Christianity,” which requires a willingness to make sacrifices.
A particularly powerful testimony was the story of former Muslim John Ghanim, who after baptism faced persecution, lost his family, and lost access to his children. He urged British Christians to see Muslims not as a threat but as a “mission field.” Ghanim stressed that believers must know Scripture deeply and have firm conviction in order to respond to the challenges of the times, since Islamic activists act far more boldly than today’s Christians.
As the UOJ reported, Christians are no longer a majority in Britain.
