Hope in the Midst of Horror

Almost every day the news media brings into our homes images of suffering involving the Islamic world—whether Iraq, the Gaza strip, Afghanistan, or many other places. It is hard to watch, especially since nearly half of the Muslims in the world are children, but perhaps a few thoughts to enhance our perspective:

One important thing to remember is that the actions of radicalized Muslims are causing many to look outside of Islam for help. The result, as David Garrison has documented in his newest work, A Wind in the House of Islam, is that many Muslims are willing to consider the claims of Christ. And they are not thinking about a 'Western' Jesus. Following Jesus is no longer just a ‘Western’ concept in the mind of many. He is beginning to become 'their own'--back to the Middle Eastern context in which God revealed Himself.

This can be seen, for example, in the fact that many Muslims are having dreams and visions of Jesus, as Tom Doyle shows in his book, Dreams and Visions.  Jesus is personally calling many Muslims to Himself. Not all who have a dream or vision of the Lord respond positively, but many do. 

Along with that, we are reminded that Jesus is infinitely attractive, because in His suffering and death He made sense of our horribly dysfunctional world. In Jesus, God made plain that He is not aloof from us, but shares our pain with us. No religion or ideology can give the answers to these profound questions, nor be with us in suffering—only Jesus can and does! 

Let’s pray that many more Muslims come to know the ultimate beauty and glory of Christ!