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Chrislam: How Missionaries Are Promoting an Islamized Gospel
Are there missionaries who promote converts from Islam remaining in Islam? Is Islam the primary identity for a new believer and how does this identity interface with one's deliverance from a false religion? Which rituals and phenomena of Islam may be given new meaning by converts? Is the Gospel of Jesus being Islamized by Western missionaries? This anthology of twenty-five essays approaches the various questions of the "insider movements" that are being raised within the mission community. Offering not only a critique of the problematic issues of IM and it's proponents, Chrislam also provides a necessary corrective in the areas of theology, exegesis, translation, missiology and a theology of religions. The authors include converts from Islam, practicing missionaries, pastors, missiologists, Bible translators, professors of Islamic studies, biblical studies, and systematic theology. This multi-faceted approach to a serious problem in missions is a much needed manual for the church as she thinks through the ramifications of supporting "insiders" and the proponents of IM.
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First published October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2013
I have mixed reactions to this book.
As a polemic against Insider Movements and hyper-contextualization, it deserves a strong commendation. The various authors present strong arguments showing that the IM is on very thin ice theologically and missiologically, and point out difficulties in the present and for the future. This is definitely worth reading for any practitioner working with Muslims, but probably too deep for all but the most interested layman. I found that the book challenged my thinking, and I wished I had read it twenty years ago.
As an investigation into levels of contextualization that may be appropriate and helpful, this book doesn't help much and may even be unhelpful. The focus is strictly on the Insider Movement characteristics, and as such does not shed much light into what would be useful contextualization. For that, you will need to find a different book. The authors also fail, at points, to adequately appreciate the spiritual and conceptual journey of conversion, and confuse the threshold of understanding needed for walking in Christ's way with the level of understanding targeted in discipleship. To be fair, I will also say the IM proponents hurt their case by failing to emphasize their goals, strategies and achievements in discipleship.
This book's negative evaluation of Insider Movement theology and practices also tends to cast all efforts at contextualization in a negative light. Good contextualized approaches have opened the door for many to understand the gospel. While this book doesn't need to be a comprehensive and balanced treatment of the broader topic, it would be improved by a few positive comments in the introduction and scattered throughout.
Somewhat hypocritically--and perhaps unconsciously--the authors portray historical Christianity as unsyncretistic, without acknowledging the accommodation/transformation of pagan practices and terminology in earlier eras. An admission of this would enhance the tone of the writing.
As a polemic against Insider Movements and hyper-contextualization, it deserves a strong commendation. The various authors present strong arguments showing that the IM is on very thin ice theologically and missiologically, and point out difficulties in the present and for the future. This is definitely worth reading for any practitioner working with Muslims, but probably too deep for all but the most interested layman. I found that the book challenged my thinking, and I wished I had read it twenty years ago.
As an investigation into levels of contextualization that may be appropriate and helpful, this book doesn't help much and may even be unhelpful. The focus is strictly on the Insider Movement characteristics, and as such does not shed much light into what would be useful contextualization. For that, you will need to find a different book. The authors also fail, at points, to adequately appreciate the spiritual and conceptual journey of conversion, and confuse the threshold of understanding needed for walking in Christ's way with the level of understanding targeted in discipleship. To be fair, I will also say the IM proponents hurt their case by failing to emphasize their goals, strategies and achievements in discipleship.
This book's negative evaluation of Insider Movement theology and practices also tends to cast all efforts at contextualization in a negative light. Good contextualized approaches have opened the door for many to understand the gospel. While this book doesn't need to be a comprehensive and balanced treatment of the broader topic, it would be improved by a few positive comments in the introduction and scattered throughout.
Somewhat hypocritically--and perhaps unconsciously--the authors portray historical Christianity as unsyncretistic, without acknowledging the accommodation/transformation of pagan practices and terminology in earlier eras. An admission of this would enhance the tone of the writing.
March 5, 2013
As I read this book, I found myself agreeing with 90% of what the authors of the articles said, but when I would look back, they were just saying what was wrong with parts of Insider Movement, but in reality were not offering any suggestions. Our way is right and that is final. Insider Movements are not as effective as reported and should not be embraced, but the arrogance that some of the writers wrote with was not very brotherly.
Also, found some of the articles misleading because they only offered their view of something. In their critique of the CAMEL method, they seem to present the CAMEL method as an evangelistic tools that people use to lead people to Christ. The person who wrote this has said that that is not what it is for, but as a bridge and as soon as the bridge is crossed, you burn it. Their critique of his misunderstanding of the ayat's from the Qur'an are legitimate, but they misrepresented the purpose of the CAMEL method.
This is a book that people who plan to work among Muslims in America or overseas should read to know where they stand before they begin their ministry.
Also, found some of the articles misleading because they only offered their view of something. In their critique of the CAMEL method, they seem to present the CAMEL method as an evangelistic tools that people use to lead people to Christ. The person who wrote this has said that that is not what it is for, but as a bridge and as soon as the bridge is crossed, you burn it. Their critique of his misunderstanding of the ayat's from the Qur'an are legitimate, but they misrepresented the purpose of the CAMEL method.
This is a book that people who plan to work among Muslims in America or overseas should read to know where they stand before they begin their ministry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2012
Can a Muslim become a Christian and still remain a Muslim in every way?
This book is a series of essays that deal with the current missions movement to effectually 'combine' Christianity and Islam. While not limited exclusively to adherents of the C5 model, that is a good frame of reference for what the authors are challenging. The basic gist is that a Muslim can add a stronger emphasis on Jesus (Isa) but continue to consider themselves a Muslim and continue their life just as it was before: attending mosque, following the pillars, maintain the validity and sacredness of the Koran, etc.
This is an excellent book for anyone that is interested in missions and evangelism with Islamic peoples. There are no straw men; the beginning of the book is written and approved by people that promote what is called "insider movements". There are a variety of authors from different backgrounds and in different types on ministry.
This book is a series of essays that deal with the current missions movement to effectually 'combine' Christianity and Islam. While not limited exclusively to adherents of the C5 model, that is a good frame of reference for what the authors are challenging. The basic gist is that a Muslim can add a stronger emphasis on Jesus (Isa) but continue to consider themselves a Muslim and continue their life just as it was before: attending mosque, following the pillars, maintain the validity and sacredness of the Koran, etc.
This is an excellent book for anyone that is interested in missions and evangelism with Islamic peoples. There are no straw men; the beginning of the book is written and approved by people that promote what is called "insider movements". There are a variety of authors from different backgrounds and in different types on ministry.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews