We could use some good news nowadays. The following news links certainly count as the best.
The title parallels this book by David Aikman (2006), but scaled down: Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power.
The same thing is happening today in Iran.
It all begins with a famous and widely known passage called the Great Commission. Here it is:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20, NIV)
It is a fitting end to Matthew’s wonderful and well-planned Gospel. We are to go into the whole world.
As in China, and still ongoing, it seems that Christians have been busy behind the scenes in Iran. These headlines are encouraging:
“Over 60% of mosques in Iran Closed”
“‘50,000 Mosques Closed in Iran’ as Christianity Spreads”
“Researchers Find Christians in Iran Approaching One Million”
“‘They are So Fed Up with Islam’: Iran Seeing Revolt as Christianity ‘Rapidly’ Grows”
“Many Are Escaping Iran, and ‘Hundreds Have Come to Faith in Jesus Christ’ in the Process“
The wonderful reality behind those encouraging headlines is prompted by at least two things: (1) Islam misbehaving (“Islam” stands in for its current and corrupt and oppressive leaders and people’s education about the Quran and Sunnah—original Islam); The more Muslims misbehave, the worse things get for their religion (e.g. the recent attack on civilians in southern Israel). They themselves expose it for what it is. The second condition: (2) Christians obeying the Great Commission, even in a repressive society like Iran. Christianity can offer Muslims a better alternative.
Here’s an easy formula that lays out the process (the arrows mean “leads to”):
Knowledge of oppressive original Islam + Knowledge of today’s oppressive Islam + Knowledge of Jesus → Fall of Islam → Rise of Christianity
The web is the main vehicle for its decline and eventual demise. But people have to man the web and to be bold. And person-to-person outreach is also important. Bold Christians will keep on working behind the scenes, preaching the gospel, and watching mosques close and Christianity spread around Iran and indeed around the globe. They must carry out the Great Commission. Then millions will leave Islam. No, this is not to say that 100% of people will leave it. One million Iranians are still far behind the 87.2 million living in Iran. But a significant percentage will leave.
And no, this will not happen by next week. Yet I have to ask: if the (above) summary formula obtains continuously, what will be left of Islam in a hundred to one hundred and fifty years from now? It will become a hollow shell.
Bad solution: The US government offering Iran billions of dollars is a joke. Muslim leaders who know their Quran and Sunnah surely sneer at Obama and Biden. It’s easy to imagine them chuckling and saying amongst themselves: “Allah is great because these corrupt Western fools send us money! Allah is the best of deceivers!” (That last line comes from Quran 3:54.) Obama and Biden are deceived by the Deceiver, these Mullahs believe.
Best solution: Christians compare Jesus and Muhammad side-by-side and the seeming parallels break down immediately. The strategy: Muslims speak and breathe religion. Please get that. When extra-devout and extra-bold Christians speak and breathe their New Testament Scriptures and a clearer vision of who God truly is as revealed in his Son, the war of ideas will be won. In other words, contrary to popular belief among the intellectual elites, the battle is spiritual, not geopolitical or even historical.
Muslims respond to a religious discussion. It speaks to them. But the discussions will have to be led by informed Christians. We will win if we see the spiritual battle and fight it in that arena. We will make no progress if we don’t. But will Muslim polemicists refuse to debate? Often they do refuse because original Islam is an embarrassment and indefensible.
Serving as proof elsewhere outside of Islam, Christian apologists who oppose Islam on youtube have reported that thousands of Muslims have left Islam for Christianity, in the West. Thousands. Or they left Islam (good) but turned atheist (bad). Why have thousands left? Their videos are hard-hitting and expose Islam and its prophet for what they really are.
What about average Christians? Are they up for it, or will they shrink back? If they do not shrink back, then they must educate themselves on why he was a false prophet because the backlash will be ferocious. (I received a few death threats from 2004-07 and a little beyond.) But truth has a way of winning.
I believe extra-bold Christians will have to lead the charge to protect the bigger society which, ironically, often hates them. So be it!
Are average but extra-bold Christians ready for the spiritual battle? We shall see.
Scriptures for Salvation in Jesus’s Name Alone:
To be saved, all one has to do is to obey the truths in these verses:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:15)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father [God] loves his child [the Son of God] as well. (1 John 5:1)
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. […] 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)
To be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him (= vindicated his Son’s entire life, ministry, and death). And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.
Here is a time-tested acronym to explain faith:
F-A-I-T-H = Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
Now pray this prayer:
Loving, Heavenly Father,
In the name of Jesus, I renounce Islam. I renounce any mixture between Islam and Christ. I repent of my sins. I surrender my life to Jesus. I place my faith and trust in him. I believe that he is the Son of God. I believe God raised him from the dead. I declare him Lord of my life. Cause me to be born again by your Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Spirit to overflowing. Wash and cleanse me from all my sins.
Thank you, Father, for saving me and filling me with your Spirit.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
If you’re a girl in a Muslim country and still live at home, don’t reveal that you have given your life to Jesus. If your father requires you to go to the mosque every Friday, say your prayers to Father God who loves you. Bow in the name of Jesus. Be discreet. Keep your new faith secret. Pray to find an underground church.
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