Demonstrated Compassion One Key to Muslim Conversion

CHICAGO, IL (February 24, 2005) - Personal witness of humble Christian living in the midst of political upheaval and tragedy has been largely responsible for the increased number of Muslims converting to Christianity, said Dudley Woodberry during the Westerdahl lectures he presented at North Park Theological Seminary yesterday.

Woodberry, considered by many to be one of the foremost scholars of Islam, is professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Woodberry's missionary experience has been in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. He also has served as consultant on the Muslim world to President Carter, the U.S. State Department, U.S. AID and other U.S. governmental agencies.

Adapting Charles Dickens' famous opening line in A Tale of Two Cities, Woodberry said, "It is the best of times, it is the worst of times" for evangelism among Muslims. Woodberry noted the anti-Christian activity that has occurred since the Ayatollah Khomeini took control of Iran in 1979 up to the terrorism of "9/11" and continuing with the persecution of Christians today.

Woodberry believes personal witness has helped break through the five major obstacles that have made Islam the most resistant of all the major religions toward evangelism efforts – sociological, political, theological, cultural and historical.

Group solidarity is important in Islam - people who leave the faith are considered to have dishonored the entire family, Woodberry said. Converts are shunned and even killed by family members. Politically, converts often are treated as traitors because Islam is intertwined with the nation's political beliefs.

Muslims also have been familiar with a distorted teaching of Christianity because Islam developed after Christianity. The key to evangelism is often not teaching new truths, but unlearning old beliefs, Woodberry explained. Historically, Islam has had a long history of conflict with Christianity.

Cultural differences run deep, Woodberry said. Muslims tend to view all Westerners and their cultures as being Christian. When Muslims see images from the movies and on the Internet, they believe the worst about Christianity. As Christians humbly share their faith, the long-standing opposition to conversion can be undermined, Woodberry said. Christian responses to disasters such as the recent tsunami have contributed to Muslims seeing Christian compassion at work.

The institution of government-forced religion actually has helped spread the gospel, Woodberry says, because people don't want to experience religion being thrust upon them. More Muslims came to Christians for instruction after Khomeini instituted Islamic law and threw out the United Bible Society than had previously. The Christian faith grew in Afghanistan when many Muslims grew disenchanted with the religious conflict that had broken out in their country after the Soviet Union was expelled.

The increasing migration of people from the countryside to cities also has given missionaries a window of opportunity to reach Muslims, because they are open to change during a time of transition, Woodberry said. Refugees have experienced Christian compassion elsewhere and return to their countries with their new-found faith. Christian compassion also has brought Muslims in contact with a God who is loving as opposed to the god of Islam, who Woodberry describes as more of a "punishing god." In Islam, God only loves those who love him, Woodberry explained, and there is no assurance of salvation, with God saving only whom he wills.

The distribution of The Jesus Film also has had a significant impact on Muslim conversion, Woodberry said. Mel Gibson's The Passion has left Muslims crying and wanting to know more.

Other efforts such as economic development and health care programs also have contributed to the increased evangelistic success, Woodberry said. In addition to writing numerous articles and book chapters, Dudley has edited Muslims and Christians on the Emmaus Road, Where Muslims and Christians Meet: Area Studies (1989) and Missiological Education for the 21st Century: The Book, the Circle, and the Sandals. His recent teaching and lecturing trips have taken him to Korea, Indonesia, Denmark, Norway and Pakistan.

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