Samuel Zwemer and 9/11

I know, nothing can excuse the horrific events of 9/11/2001.

And yet I have to wonder, what if Christians had not neglected the Muslim world for centuries? What if, instead of the Crusades, we had engaged them more consistently with respect and love?  

Samuel Zwemer is an example of the latter approach, but he was the first visible one to do so since the 13^th century. Back in that time, Raymond Llull, who– although not exemplary in his attitude towards Jews– tried to dissuade the Pope from attempting to use military force to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Zwemer’s life spanned three careers—as a missionary on the Arabian peninsula, as a mission leader in Cairo, and as a professor at Princeton university and publisher of what was then a prestigious journal, Moslem World.

Zwemer and a friend named James Cantine formed the American Arabian Mission during the latter part of the 19^th century. Zwemer and his first wife, Amy, endured incredible hardships on the Arabian peninsula. Their two daughters (ages 4 and 7) died within only eight days of each other in Bahrain. The words written on their tombstones sum up the Zwemers' lives and ministry:  “Worthy is the Lamb to receive riches.”

Ruth Tucker (From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: a Biographical History of Christian Missions) relates how Zwemer, as a single missionary volunteer, visited nearly every church in his denomination west of Ohio to raise support on behalf of Cantine, while Cantine did the same for Zwemer in the churches east of Ohio! (Is that a possible model for mission workers today? Some workers are certainly more adept at raising support—could they offer to do it on behalf of their colleagues?)

Samuel Zwemer

Zwemer was full of energy, never able to stay in bed for more than half an hour at a time! Even though he probably never saw more than a dozen Muslims turn to the Lord in his whole lifetime, his greatest achievement was awakening the church to the needs of the Islamic peoples.  

He is truly and rightly labeled ‘the Apostle to Islam.’  

I think we need more Christians like Samuel Zwemer. And then I don’t know, but I suspect that if that had been the case in preceding centuries, there might be less Muslims like Osama bin Laden?

What do you think?

By the way, check out the Institute of Muslim Studies named after this missionary statesman– it's one of the best!