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MBB identity is not based on performance

MBBs need to know that the extent of their obedience and performance, even good works from a pure heart, are not their identity in Christ.

Christians are children of God, and their identity is a gift – given at salvation. What they do is different than who they are. God loves them because they are His. He does invite them to work with Him, but that is not why He loves them.

MBBs, as well as all Christians, should ensure that they are doing the right things for the right reasons. To do so requires hearing the Holy Spirit, knowing God’s character and the new covenant. Learning how to do these three things, as well as many others, is covered in my book, Discipling Muslim Background Believers.

Keywords: MBB discipleship, identity, performance

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Posted on January 24, 2020 by Abu Da'ud

Discipleship, How God Sees Us, MBB Materials, Muslim Background Believer Discipleship

identity, MBB Discipleship, performance

Sharing the gospel with a Muslim skeptic

Muslims are taught that the Bible is not true because it was corrupted. There are some Christians who enter into discussions that are essentially book-versus-book, and they can be very successful. They have usually studied Christian apologetics for years, and have very strong foundations in discussing these matters. They know how to show, through historical evidence, that the Bible is intact as it was spoken and that it is true. They also understand the Koran and Muslim thinking very well.

More often than not, when people without those skills try to do the same thing, a book-versus-book argument occurs and there is no good solution, just a useless argument. When I was a Muslim, I got into many of these, and none of the arguments that the Christians were using made me journey any closer towards Christ because I already knew the gospel and rejected it because I did not believe the Bible. I and many MBBs that I encounter have the feeling that it is better to not specifically reference the chapter and verse of the text that you were referring to if you get into an argument debating the relative merits of the Bible and the Quran. It is often better to paraphrase it and give the Muslim the content of the Bible without specifically referencing it. Then a discussion can occur about the content of the Bible without an unfruitful and often angry argument.

Discipling Muslim Background Believers discusses methodologies to use when encountering Muslims who seem unwilling to consider Christian ideas at all. The methods have successfully been used by others. They include using specific analogies that are culturally effective, as well as reasoning that does not usually trigger book-versus-book arguments that prevent a Muslim hearing the Gospel. Please note that describing the methodologies — which are short when used — would make this post too long.

Keywords: Muslim ministry, objection, method, skeptic

Treating serious pain like a squeaky wheel

All Christians experience pain suffered at the hands of others, especially persecuted believers. MBBs tend to experience very high levels of emotional and even physical pain. How can serious pain be best dealt with?

Some would say to ignore the pain and soldier on. The problem with that is the cause of the pain may be preventing a person from living the way that he or she is called to live. It’s better to treat pain like a squeaky wheel – understand the symptom and treating the cause while soldiering on. It’s better to not ignore the pain. Much like putting oil between two metal surfaces rubbing against each other, find healthy ways to treat the pain so the MBB can function properly.

The greater the pain, the likelihood is the the wound, physical or emotional, is more serious. Sometimes serious pain requires professional help and even a support group. In every case, ask God to heal the MBB both physically and emotionally. The emotional healing will usually take time, sometimes many years, but He does heal.

I’ve talked to many MBBs that were disowned and disinherited. Some were even tortured. Surprisingly, the ones tortured said the deepest pain came from family rejection. Emotional pain can be debilitating to a person’s soul, psyche and personal interactions. However, the MBBs that asked God for emotional healing and were willing to get help, even from professionals, fared much better than those that did not.

It is also useful for the MBB to be in fellowship with other Christians that will love and minister to the MBB. Being part of a local small group or church can be a big part of God’s plan to heal a wounded MBB.

Often, when I hurt the most, rather than allow me to devolve into a cycle of endless self-analysis and self-pity, God would provide opportunities for me to serve other people, regardless of whether they were Christian or not. Afterwards, I was often pleasantly surprised to find that though I had been in my darkest hours, reaching out to help other people had very positive benefits for me. The pain usually abated, and sometimes did not come back with the same intensity. I am not talking about giving love to others in order to get help from God – that’s not real love, which seeks to benefit others for their good. I am talking about serving others with no expectation of return. It worked well for me and may be useful to keep in mind.

After dealing with the pain while soldiering on, have the MBB refocus and continue to live out God’s will for his or her life with greater energy and passion.

Keywords: Christian, discipleship, MBB, dealing with pain

2 Comments

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Abu Da'ud

Discipleship, MBB, Muslim Background Believer Discipleship, Persecution

Christian, dealing with pain, discipleship, MBB

Given Name

My name is Tariq Khan.

Keywords: Given name

Staying focused on Jesus as seasons change

While losing focus on Jesus can happen at Christmas time, this post is more about losing focus at the change of spiritual seasons: bad to good; good to bad; difficult to easy; plenty to little; and so on. Christians tend to do better when they keep Jesus as their focus because He is our source of life and joy.

Most Christians know that He is our source, but get distracted. The key to returning to a good focus is not simply following a checklist, nor is it simply trying to think more about Him. Thinking about Him is not bad. It must, however, be done in the context of a relationship that is living and vital.

All Christians are given a doorway into that relationship in Christ. Many then treat following Jesus as something that they do every now and then — usually at church or sometimes during prayer or even regular quiet times.

What God offers us is so much bigger and better. While He is always with us, He wants us to always know and experience His presence.

He calls us friends. We are not slaves, simply there to perform tasks of obedience. Rather, He calls us to an exciting life of serving and loving others with Him. We live and work in a vital, sustaining relationship with Him. He wants us with Him always, and died to prove it. Because He rose, we are members of His family, perfectly and fully loved.

Distracted? Lost focus? Then remember. Remember that you are part of His family, and He calls you sister or brother. He loves you with an everlasting love, calling you friend — the close kind. So close that He takes up residence in you. Ask Him to keep reminding you of His love, presence and friendship. Also ask Him to continue to reveal greater depths of His love an friendship, and how that revelation affects how you live. Do your part — seeking to know His friendship.

When we know we are truly loved for our benefit, we tend to respond lovingly. This response refocuses us, giving us the ability to properly live out our relationship with our Lord and friend, Jesus Christ.

p.s. Knowing you are in or out of focus often takes monitoring your attitudes, thoughts and actions. Regular short times of reflection can be enough, using even the simple question, “Is my priority of my relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit being lived out in my attitudes, thoughts and actions?”

Keywords: Christian, discipleship, love, friend of God, re-focus

MBB identity is not based on performance

Sharing the gospel with a Muslim skeptic

Treating serious pain like a squeaky wheel

Given Name

Staying focused on Jesus as seasons change

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