Islamic StudiesChurch Planting Thoughts

Basic outl ine fromThe Messenger, The Message, The

Community By Roland Muller

CHURCH PLANTING

Part I I

04/22/15 Les 1 Santa Jejej 2

Summary of Arab culture Think as a group Define people as near and far Conformity of those close-by and

brings Honor Social prestige Secure place in society

Arab culture Rivalry in relationships – high benefit

in abil ity to dominate Groups wil l stick together – dishonor

on entire group Conformity is honored – notice the

prayers and meaning of Islam – conformity required

Right & Wrong - Arab Defined by the Qur’an But because many things are not laid

out, what the group says is usually key

Right & Wrong - Arab Shame is not necessarily wrong –

Allah has created both good and evil If there is a wrong, it must be

concealed to avoid shame

Shame Often avoid risks When shame occurs – deny or blame

shift to something/someone else and react violently

Shame Often Arabs are easily offended

and expect special treatment Honor MUST be restored, even at

the cost of one’s l i fe.

Revenge Revenge is sanctioned in the

Qur’an: 6:173 Peace – only in the house of

Islam with Muslims Dhimmi

Honorable acts Hospitality – both guest and host Flattery to guest Often – gift to guest

Honorable acts When people come, insist that

they eat and drink Honor blood relatives, people

near you – especially the eldest son

Honor and education Especially elder son = educational

honor Doctorate – a high honor for the

family It is the degree and not the effort or

knowledge that is important

Honor Marriage raises honor of son, and

especially after the birth of a son Language is very important – Arab

wil l l isten to anyone who speaks well

Honor Poetry is very important as an art

and defense against shame Arab hero – defiant & boastful

Honor Wealthy are honored

They can be hospitable They can be generous Gets respect and covers many sins

Honor Heritage – proud of it

Dishonorable are forgotten Age and wisdom – know old

stories

Honor Physical strength Charisma – may be good

communicators Alliances to strengthen the tribe

Honor Bravery Loyalty – never question elders in

front of outsiders

Honor and violence Honors strength, no compassion for

weakness Violence to obtain honor It is honorable to reach down to help

the helpless – and Jesus showed incredible honor when He reached down to us

Can you honor yourself?? No – but people usually do not honor

someone without a cause Jesus is the only one who can bring us

to God God honors the one who serves Jesus:

Jn. 12:25-26

Summary of Salvation We need to see that God deals with

guilt, fear and shame throughout the Bible

We in the west trace the guilt through the Bible. But we need to see the others too

The Holy Spirit

Convicts of sin, righteousness and guilt Guilt – convicts of sin Shame – exposes. Remember John

3:20 – that we don’t come to the l ight, because it exposes our sin

The Holy Spirit

Guilt is before God Shame is before society God deals with our sin

God’s dealing with sin

Propitiation – an act which satisfies God’s anger at sin. It satisf ies the requirements of the law

Sin of man wrath of God judgment of God

God’s dealing with sin

God’s wrath places people and nations and groups under his judgment

His answer – sacrif ice. Wrath on the sacrif ice

Sin and redemption Redemption cleanses us clearing

our guilt (guilt based cultures) Redemption works through a

mediator to pay for our sins (shame cultures)

Sin and redemption God is offended We cannot pay Jesus paid for us

Reconcil iat ion Reconcil iat ion is restoration of Father-

child relationship Shame is removed and honor restored Fear is gone and we are accepted Again – sacrif ice is required

A paradijm ju Propitiation – God’s wrath – fear Redemption – God’s justice – guilt Reconciliation – God’s honor

Repentance

Acceptance of God’s way for us Turn from sin Turn from our own innocence Turn from our own honor Turn from our own power

God’s dealing with sin Propitiation – God’s wrath – fear Redemption – God’s justice –

guilt Reconcil iation – God’s honor

Repentance Acceptance of God’s way for us

Turn from sin Turn from our own innocence Turn from our own honor Turn from our own power

Christ’s sacrif ice God deals with all aspects on the

cross Satan wil l attempt to undermine the

total victory of the cross in our minds

Honor before whom? We need to seek God’s honor, and

not man’s honor I t is the same as rewards in heaven

are different from earth

The result of the resurrection

I Cor. 15:42-43 So also is the resurrection of the dead It is sown in corruption, it is raised in

incorruption (guilt – innocence) It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in honor

(shame – honor) It is sown in weakness; i t is raised in power

(fear – power)

Three-fold salvation Fear, guilt and shame dealt with

In Eden In the temple offerings & ceremonies By the prophets In Isaiah 53 Calvary Pentecost

Expect confl ict The gospel is going to challenge

every culture in some areas We are sinners It is our culture which we have created

Part III

The community

Community is strong Islam – umma, or community, is

very strong Shame based culture Shame based religion Shame based community

Community is strong Everyone is responsible to care for

others Seekers want to know about

community, its rules, etc.

Difference in approach The Qur’an spells out do’s and don’ts.

If i t is not mentioned, it is probably OK The Bible gives principles which we

need to apply to different situations

Difference in approach Bonding is very important The Qur’an allows bonding and sti l l

ethnic or international r ivalr ies to occur

Bonding At family or tr ibal level – not too

diff icult. But more diff icult with changes in

language, culture, etc. We tend to want people made in

our own image (people l ike us)

Four images of community The kingdom The bride The assembly The body

The kingdom of God The king and subjects – we are to

do the wil l of the king The king gives responsibil i ty to

his subjects

The bride We are in a love relationship with

Jesus We have service in loving

relationships

The ekklesia – the assembly

Scripture reading and teaching Fellowship and edif ication Breaking bread Prayer Music is an important part

The body Each member has gifts The gifts are to build the body We are to carry on the physical

presence of Jesus in the body – He indwells us, and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit

Community We should not expect the

government to care for everything. We should be careful not to have a

business model of the church in action

Bible teaching to others The natural man needs propitia-

tion, a sacrif ice for sins The carnal man needs the

termina-tion of an independent l i fe style

The spiritual man needs the pattern of daily dying to self

Carnal vs. spiritual believers

Carnal believers – concerned about their own comfort, welfare & security.

Focus on getting good things. Alive to physical things

Carnal vs. spiritual believers

Spiritual believers – in tune with God’s desires, and the needs of others.

Focus on leading others to Christ, discipling and serving them

We need to be others-focused

Our false assumption Because we are so individual focused,

we assume that the individual wil l opt for salvation f irst, and then check out the community

Our false assumption But for a community based culture,

they wil l want to see what the community is l ike, and how it functions

Danger New converts may assume that

they can join the community of the expatriate missionary rather than the national church

Working with contacts They wil l want to identify who you are,

and what your role is in society. Do you have marks of godliness?

What are these marks in your target group?

We need to have a correct message contextualized as needed

Is the community valid? Be transparent in relationships,

struggles, ways to relate to God, and how God helps through a Christian community

Do not underestimate the importance of the body of believers to a shame-based society

Is the community valid? We must work so that our church

is open to all types of persons with different types of cultures, including shame-based backgrounds

Islamic communit ies It is diff icult for Muslims to start

their own communities as Christians from scratch

Let them come into the church and see how it works for themselves

Adjustments Muslims may assume that we are very

free with sex because separation is not r igid

Some of our feasts (Christmas, Thanks-giving) are more restricted to families

Often a seeker wil l test the community

Spiritual growth Eventually –the power of the Holy

Spirit must become personal We need transparency,

repentance & forgiveness

Spiritual growth Old sins need to be dealt with

and forsaken Confession is an important

question in a shame-based culture

Spiritual growth He may want to test your hospitality,

your tolerance of other religions, your materialism, and your interest in him as a person, as well as your spirituality

If f inancial challenges come, suggest that the community wil l approach the problem

Changed order

Sometimes it is l ike this: Community Discipleship

Saving faith A transparent community reflecting

Jesus wil l attract unbelievers

Difference in community Islam – not a closed community with all

having rights to leadership. They have many in quasi-Islamic status looking at the group

Thus many look at the west as intolerant in terms of community