Should Christians Attempt to Convert Iraqi Muslims? (article also has a poll to FReep)

about.com ^ | 5/29/03 | Charles Henderson

[ppaul]

A Second Invasion Is Underway

Numerous Christian missionary groups are planning a second "invasion" of Iraq, armed not with smart bombs and rockets, but with humanitarian assistance, preaching and teaching in the name of Christ, in an attempt the "save Iraqi souls." To many Iraqis this smacks of a new Crusade, however well intentioned the 21st Century missionaries may be ... and some are not all that well intentioned. For example, Franklin Graham, who leads one such group that is heading to Iraq has called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion." Jerry Vines, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is sending aid and missionaries, has said the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was "a demon-possessed pedophile."

Reports of such comments are spreading throughout the Middle East. In fact, some evangelicals are so concerned that they have pleaded with Graham and others to stop making such inflammatory statements about Islam. There is genuine concern that such comments may actually place the lives of well intentioned humanitarian workers at risk.

Beliefnet, an interfaith Web site, published a poll among evangelical Christians recently that indicated a hefty majority of those surveyed describe Islam as "a religion of violence," and 81 percent say it is "very important" to convert Muslims.

Others sharply disagree. For example, Walter Brueggemann, a nationally known Christian Bible scholar, theologian and writer, believes that sending Christian missionaries to Iraq smacks of Western imperialism.

"I think it is exactly the wrong time and the wrong place," he recently told the Baptist Press News. "I don't care what they say, what they're after is to impose their faith on that culture. In the best of times, that's insensitive, and in the worst of times it's just absurd."

Is the attempt on the part of Christians to convert the Muslims of Iraq "absurd" as Brueggemann believes, or is it simply carrying out the will and word of Almighty God as Franklin Graham and others insist?

What do you think? Pkease visit our poll and share your views on this topic with others.

Should Christians Attempt to Convert Iraqi Muslims?

[Valin]

Should Christians Attempt to Convert Iraqi Muslims?

Given that Christianity is an evangelical faith the answer should be obvious.

[Darheel]

The penalty for converting to any other faith is death. A fatwa is issued and the guy's dead meat. There will always be conflict and I believe this because there always HAS been conflict, but most Americans know so little about world history and religions that they cannot understand the enemy or his motivations.

I would rather live in a Christian world than any other. Christians have to learn how to take back all that has been stolen over the centuries.

[BenR2]

I voted.

[Cedric]

No.

[ppaul]

ping.

[ppaul]

I salute those who would sacrifice all to try to save some in Iraq.

We all should join you in that salute.
Who knows?
If those Islamic hellholes in the Mideast had been converted, 9/11 might not have been etched into our memories.

[Dimensio]

I cannot agree that Mohammed was a demon posessed pedophile. I lack belief in demons, so I can only agree that he was a pedophile with ruthless and violent amibition.

[restornu]

I cannot agree that Mohammed was a demon posessed pedophile. I lack belief in demons, so I can only agree that he was a pedophile with ruthless and violent amibition.

***

Well the devil is the father of lies and of course he would want you NOT to believe he exist!

John 8
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

[RMrattlesnake]

It is not a matter of should but a matter of must.

[Dimensio]

I'm an atheist, and as such Biblical references won't convince me. Honestly, I'm not sure why I was pinged to the discussion (though I do have my own opinions on this matter), but I decided to chime in in as nonoffensive a fashion as possible.

[plain talk]

There is zero percent probability of that happening. I was talking about a few onesie twosies being converted. There is no solution for "converting" all of the middle east in this generation. Perhaps after many generations. I work with American-muslims who while not agreeing with terrorists, have some strange viewpoints. And they live here! You can forget converting the whole middle east. Not saying we shouldn't try however.

[ppaul]

Honestly, I'm not sure why I was pinged to the discussion

To spice things up, of course!

[DPB101]

Muslims are in every major city in America and Europe trying to convert people to their faith. Christians better try to convert Muslims where ever they find them.

[traditionalist]

Instead of sending in an army of missionaries, why not help native Iraqi Christians evangelize their own countrymen? Any missionary effort in Iraq should be led by the Iarqi Church.

[traditionalist]

I think the best approach is to support the Iraqi Church and do everything in our power to help Iraqis whitness to their own countrymen.

[freedom moose]

Muslims are in every major city in America and Europe trying to convert people to their faith.
I'm sure there are Muslims in every major city but I've never seen any Muslims trying to convert anyone - and there are quite a few where I live. They wouldn't have much success anyway.

[DPB101]

The census doesn't ask about religion so it is difficult to say how many converts to Islam are in America. That the religion is growing here is indisputable however. :

Islam in America

[Commander8]

RMRattlesnake took the words out of my mouth. God commanded us to go therefore and teach all nations in Matthew 28: 19-20. To not send missionaries to Iraq would be disobedience.