Muslims Tell … “Why I chose Jesus” – Introduction
Introduction
Over a period of ten years, an extensive questionnaire compiled at Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Mission was filled out by some 600 Muslim-background believers (or those who knew them well). The results provided here are drawn from a representative sample of 120 of those surveys. The respondents are drawn from 39 countries and over 50 ethnic groups. They provide a broad window into the hearts and minds of those who have turned from Islam to Christ.
A sure salvation
It is an issue that touches on a longing concern for much of humanity. The question of one’s eternal destiny haunts many who long for the hope of heaven and the sure knowledge that they have been saved from the penalty of their sins. The Qur’an states that salvation belongs to “those that believe and do deeds of righteousness, those are the inhabitants of Paradise, there they shall dwell forever.” (1) Yet it also states that God forgives whom He wills and chastises whom He wills.
In Indonesia
One Indonesian woman was taught in her Islamic family that the bridge to heaven was as thin as a piece of hair. This tradition is found in the canonical collection of the activities and sayings of Muhammad (the hadith). Even good deeds, she was taught, would not assure her of crossing safely into Paradise. This hair-thin bridge was difficult and dangerous to cross. For her, a key factor in coming to faith in Christ was the realization that she could not save herself. Only the blood of Christ could redeem her.
Confidence in Salvation
A West African woman wanted to know for certain at the point of her conversion that her sins had been forgiven and washed away. When a Persian émigré to the United States was asked if Christ had given him freedom from fear, he said, “Oh yes, I feel forgiven, I have the assurance of forgiveness.” For these and others, what they have found in Christ is an eternal, secure refuge. An Egyptian man stated more broadly and unequivocally that the main attraction of Christianity for a Muslim is the assurance of salvation. A Javanese man said simply, “After I received Jesus, I had confidence concerning the end of my life.”
Center Piece is Jesus
According to the survey the center piece for Muslims was always the same. They have (whether one by one or family by family) been drawn to the God-man Jesus Christ. And for their spiritual direction, they have found one book that stands out above all others: the Bible. And more than any other portion of scripture, these believers are attracted to the Sermon on the Mount. One Javanese man who read the whole Bible echoes the thoughts of many about the Sermon on the Mount, saying, “If the life of a Christian is like that, I wanted to become a Christian.”
CBN News: Former Muslims Share Christ
Many former Muslims are now involved in efforts to convert believers in Islam to Christianity.
I used to argue with an avid athiest on internet. To him religion is nothing but ‘fairy-tales’ inherited from generations. I told him, truth or faith is a matter of believe that you cannot prove in a test tube or by computer lab. I said, not only God that we cannot see, but lot more things that exist, but our naked eyes cannot see. For example we cannot see electricity current (doesn’t it exist?), micro grativity, magnetic fields, electro- magnetics etc. Not to mention angels, soul, ghost or satan, and many more unseens. How about feeling, the machanism of evil things such as voodoo black magic (how it works), effects of telepathy and hypnotization etc. etc Our eyes can even see air unaided; how about dreaming reality, radio frequencies etc. Are not they exist? Anyway he agrees with science principle that at one time, this universe was not existed, some 17 billions years ago. So I asked him where did all matters come from (saind, soil, water, air, star, planets etc) since they were ALL not there 17 yrs ago. He said it was from huge gaseous mixture, more or less. Yeah I said. But gas itself was not there before it first existed. Where did that gaseous particles came from ? We ended our arguments unsettled.
In Christianity, we do believe that there is certain level of faith that allow us to see God in the person of Jesus. In the Old Testament, it was only Moses who was recorded to have spoken to God face to face but in the New Testament, it was made available to many people. After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people. And even today, stories were being reported world wide that people had seen Jesus in Person.
Hi Joan,
Keep it up for Jesus!
The litmus test about people’s testimony of meeting Jesus should be the drastic change in their way of life. I did not have the privilege to meet Jesus in person but I had a very personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. This happened in July 1987. We Christians of all denominations were having Christian Fellowship at one night at UITM Shah Alam. We were praying for our Lecturer in charge of the Christian Fellowship who was under tremendous pressure. We laid hands on her and as we began in earnest prayer, I felt my stomach was really in pain and the pain only went way after we had finished praying.
Few nights later, it was at I am in the morning. I was about to sleep after studying. Suddenly a rousing sound like violent wind entered my room (Acts 2:2). My spirit was lifted up and I saw my physical body lying on the bed and a black figure which looked like a dog came out of my body. After the encounter, I could not sleep any more until morning cos the experience was so thrilling and refreshing and I would not want to part with it. I went to lecture for the day and I never felt sleepy or tired during class.
I began to read the Bible in a very serious mood and read a lot of Christian books. My understanding about the Word had enhanced tremendously to the extent that my fellow Christians commented that I learned very fast about the Bible. I had been a Christian for 20 years but I did not really know Jesus until that memorable morning.
In Christianity, we always test our experience with the Word of God. If it is in accordance with the biblical truth then we should not be confused with the counterfeit of the devil. I was doing an accountancy degree at that time when I first experienced the Holy Spirit in a very personal way. In 1998, I resigned from my Bank job to pursue my theological studies.
Now I am a free lance church worker with special interest on the financial management of the Church. I am a Treasurer of a Church now.
God Bless u all. A Mas
An amazing experience A Mas!
Well, I think there is a link in praying earnestly to God with all of your heart, rather than just going through the motion of prayer with words. I seek to serve the Lord with all of my heart and find that by loving God and my neigbour as myself is the key.
That may seem easy, but it is not, as while we are in these fleshly bodies we constantly have attacks from the enemy. However, there is a way through the power of the Holy Spirit and I think this is what happened to you whenever you felt pain whilst praying for this person.
Please read the book written by Andrew Murray ( in the 1800’s) called , Secrets of Intercession. I find this easy to read book; a gem of truth that many are by passing.
Holy living in the power of the Holy Spirit creates a clean heart and enables us to cry out to God with compassion for those He has laid on our heart to pray for. I have seen so many miracles and answer to prayer and am waiting for God to answer a huge request. Please stand with me in prayer to see the Glory of the Lord in the land of the living. Please cry out to God with all of your heart, for a great revival, beginning within the Church that has become worldy. Pray for women to submit to the word of God and be modest in dress and humbly obey their husbands. Pray for the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.. May God bless each heart that truly seeks to serve Him. Blessings and guidance of Almighty God be upon my Muslim friends.
Al-Ikhlas
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Say (O Muhammad (SAW)): “He is Allâh, (the) One.[] (1) “Allâh-us-Samad (السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات) [Allâh the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. (2) “He begets not, nor was He begotten;[] (3) “And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (4)
bagi saya tentang tajudin itu hanya samata mata dia ingin tahu apa agama yang sebenarnya,mungkin dia masuk ugama islam kerana di berminat tentang islam dan juga dia keluar dari islam kerana dia mahu mengubah kemahuan dia sendiri.
saya harap kau bahagia dengan ugama kau sekarang. semoga tuhan sentiasa mengingati kau yang terbaik, AMEN,
bagi saya tentang tajudin itu hanya samata mata dia ingin tahu apa agama yang sebenarnya,mungkin dia masuk ugama islam kerana di berminat tentang islam dan juga dia keluar dari KERSTIAN kerana dia mahu mengubah kemahuan dia sendiri.
saya harap kau bahagia dengan ugama kau sekarang. semoga tuhan sentiasa mengingati kau yang terbaik, AMEN,