Muslim Conversions to Christ: A Critique of Insider Movements in Islamic Contexts

564 Pages·2018·11.594 MB·English

by  Ayman S. Ibrahim, Ant Greenham (eds.)

G I
b
Muslim Conversions to Christ focuses on the so-called Insider Movement (as promoted by certain re r
a
missiologists). Drawing on international scholars and practitioners in the fields of the history and e
h
n
nature of Islam, the Qur’an, Christian-Muslim relations, biblical theology, and practical missiol- i
h m
Muslim Conversions
ogy, this book presents a solid academic rejoinder to the IM phenomenon. Moreover, it brings a

into the conversation the voices of believers from Muslim backgrounds (BMBs), Middle Eastern m AN
, D
scholars, and missiologists living among Muslims in the Middle East and elsewhere. Readers
E
will understand that Muhammad is not a prophet based on the Bible and that the Qur’an is not D
S to Christ
a scriptural guide for Muslims after their conversion. Rather than acquiesce in IM marketing .
ploys, such readers will be encouraged to stand in solidarity with BMBs who suffer for their faith.
M
u
s
“As Egyptian believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are deeply concerned by the so-called
l
i
Insider Movement approach to evangelism. I am thus pleased to give this timely volume, Muslim m
Conversions to Christ, my highest recommendation.”

C
Sameh Maurice, Senior Pastor of Kasr Dobara Evangelical Church, Cairo, Egypt
o
n
“Few movements in Christian mission are as controversial and as dangerous as the Insider v
Movement, especially as it relates to the evangelization of Muslims. Its two most grievous e
r
sins—its mishandling of Scripture at many points and its insensitive trampling of the insight and s
experience of Muslim Background Believers—result in inflated statistics, spurious conversions, io
and fractured churches. This book is now the best treatment of the subject.” n
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School s

t
o

C
Ayman S. Ibrahim, Ph.D., was born and raised in Egypt. He is currently working on his second h
Ph.D. at the University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, examining conversions to Islam in the earli- r
i
est Muslim period. In addition, he is the Bill and Connie Jenkins Associate Professor of Islamic s
t
Studies at Southern Seminary and director of the Jenkins Center for the Christian Understanding
of Islam.
Ant Greenham earned his Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004. He
continues to teach there in the capacity of Associate Professor of Missions and Islamic Studies.
A CRITIQUE OF INSIDER MOVEMENTS
He received Southeastern’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and published The Questioning
God in 2012.
IN ISLAMIC CONTEXTS
P
E
T
E
RL EDITED BY
A
N
G AYMAN S. IBRAHIM
ANT GREENHAM
AND
Cover image: mustafagull /E+ Collection/Getty Images www.peterlang.com
G I
b
Muslim Conversions to Christ focuses on the so-called Insider Movement (as promoted by certain re r
a
missiologists). Drawing on international scholars and practitioners in the fields of the history and e
h
n
nature of Islam, the Qur’an, Christian-Muslim relations, biblical theology, and practical missiol- i
h m
Muslim Conversions
ogy, this book presents a solid academic rejoinder to the IM phenomenon. Moreover, it brings a

into the conversation the voices of believers from Muslim backgrounds (BMBs), Middle Eastern m AN
, D
scholars, and missiologists living among Muslims in the Middle East and elsewhere. Readers
E
will understand that Muhammad is not a prophet based on the Bible and that the Qur’an is not D
S to Christ
a scriptural guide for Muslims after their conversion. Rather than acquiesce in IM marketing .
ploys, such readers will be encouraged to stand in solidarity with BMBs who suffer for their faith.
M
u
s
“As Egyptian believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are deeply concerned by the so-called
l
i
Insider Movement approach to evangelism. I am thus pleased to give this timely volume, Muslim m
Conversions to Christ, my highest recommendation.”

C
Sameh Maurice, Senior Pastor of Kasr Dobara Evangelical Church, Cairo, Egypt
o
n
“Few movements in Christian mission are as controversial and as dangerous as the Insider v
Movement, especially as it relates to the evangelization of Muslims. Its two most grievous e
r
sins—its mishandling of Scripture at many points and its insensitive trampling of the insight and s
experience of Muslim Background Believers—result in inflated statistics, spurious conversions, io
and fractured churches. This book is now the best treatment of the subject.” n
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School s

t
o

C
Ayman S. Ibrahim, Ph.D., was born and raised in Egypt. He is currently working on his second h
Ph.D. at the University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, examining conversions to Islam in the earli- r
i
est Muslim period. In addition, he is the Bill and Connie Jenkins Associate Professor of Islamic s
t
Studies at Southern Seminary and director of the Jenkins Center for the Christian Understanding
of Islam.
Ant Greenham earned his Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004. He
continues to teach there in the capacity of Associate Professor of Missions and Islamic Studies.
A CRITIQUE OF INSIDER MOVEMENTS
He received Southeastern’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and published The Questioning
God in 2012.
IN ISLAMIC CONTEXTS
P
E
T
E
RL EDITED BY
A
N
G AYMAN S. IBRAHIM
ANT GREENHAM
AND
Cover image: mustafagull /E+ Collection/Getty Images
Muslim Conversions to Christ
Advance Praise for
“This is a much needed book for which I am most thankful. As I look at missions work around
the world, I see constant temptations to dilute the gospel, conversion, and the church in order to
supposedly reach more people for Christ. Even with the best of motives, we are prone to malign
the truth of Christ and minimize the call of Christ in ways that defame the name of Christ. Such
tendencies often seem so subtle, yet they are extremely significant. For this reason, if you are
involved at any level in proclaiming Christ among Muslims, I urge you to read this book.”
David Platt, President, The International Mission Board

“Every Christian is called to take the Great Commission seriously and to be about the business
of making disciples of Jesus Christ. As we seek to reach the nations for Jesus, reaching those
from a Muslim background is challenging work. Knowing how best to present the gospel in
Muslim contexts, and how best to lead those converted to Christ out of Islam and into
Christianity is often harder still. Complicating matters even more are confusing and
compromising approaches to Muslim evangelism that dilute the pure message of the gospel and
minimize the great differences between Christianity and Islam. Nothing more than the message
of the gospel and the eternal souls of men are at stake, and that’s why I’m grateful for Ayman
S. Ibrahim and Ant Greenham and their compelling book, Muslim Conversions to Christ. All
who love their Muslim neighbors and care about fulfilling the Great Commission will find this
book helpful.”
Jason K. Allen, President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & College

“At Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples our mission focuses on equipping the church
to reach Muslims with the full truth about Jesus. We rejoice that God is moving in
unprecedented ways in Muslim contexts. More than ever before, Muslims are accepting Christ
as Savior and Lord! Many converts face discrimination and intense persecution. Insider
Movement (IM) proponents often unnecessarily encourage new converts to retain their Muslim
identity, while unwittingly embracing syncretistic practices. Unbiblical elements of the IM
hinder the bold and clear proclamation of the gospel, and stymie healthy spiritual growth in the
new convert. Muslim Conversions to Christ provides biblical clarity in response to erroneous
practices promoted by the IM. This book is a must-read for all who have a stake in the Great
Commission, including leaders, students and laity.”
Mark Brink, Director, Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples

Muslim Conversions
to Christ
This book is part of the Peter Lang Humanities list.
Every volume is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.

PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
Muslim Conversions
to Christ

A Critique of Insider Movements
in Islamic Contexts

Ayman S. Ibrahim Ant Greenham
EDITED BY AND

PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ibrahim, Ayman S., editor. | Greenham, Ant B., editor.
Title: Muslim conversions to Christ: a critique of Insider Movements in
Islamic contexts / edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant Greenham.
Description: New York: Peter Lang, 2018.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018007317 | ISBN 978-1-4331-5430-0 (hardback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5431-7 (ebook pdf) | ISBN 978-1-4331-5432-4 (epub)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5433-1 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Insider movements. | Christian converts from Islam.
Classification: LCC BR128.I57 M875 2018 | DDC 297.2/467—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018007317
DOI 10.3726/b14187

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

© 2018 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com

All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
To all persecuted Christians from a Muslim background who gave their lives
for their faith, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).