NOTE: The content below expresses the views of the individual named as the author and does not necessarily reflect the position of the WRF as a whole.
What Do Americans Think About Islam?
What Do Americans Think About Islam? June 15, 2013 Sam Logan
Brothers and Sisters in the World Reformed Fellowship:
The link below was sent to us by Dr. Kraig Kelly, a WRF member who serves on the Staff at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Kraig has been heavily involved in the WRF work on Islam and is personally committed to the effective presentation of Christ to Muslims.
As Kraig points out, few of us, especially those of us who are pastors, do a very good job reaching for Christ people whom we fear or resent or misunderstand.
This suggests an additional reason why the WRF project on “Christian Ministry in the Context of Islam” is so important.
Be sure to read carefully the material to which this link will take you.
https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/610-what-do-americans-think-about-islam
Sam LoganInternational DirectorThe World Reformed FellowshipThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Comment on this survey by Dr. Matthew Ebenezer Permalink Submitted by Samuel Logan on Fri, 2013-06-28 18:17
The following response to this survey has been received from WRF Board member, Dr. Matthew Ebenezer, who may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Dr. Ebenezer serves the Lord in India.
“The survey of the attitudes of Americans towards Muslims and Islam only throws light on the reality of the fears that grip most Americans, and others too, in the light of recent happenings. I wonder how many of those surveyed have had exposure to the teachings of Islam; and how many have any idea of the historical baggage of the Crusades (a word we should avoid in mass evangelism). I remember seeing a cartoon in which a Crusader Knight on a horse is about to thrust his lance into a Muslim fallen on the ground. The caption read (I am quoting from memory), “Tell me more of that beautiful gospel of Christ, I want to hear it once more.”
It is important to note the fact that there may be two broad categories of Muslims; one, the secular Muslim, and the other, the fundamentalist Muslim. To any educated Muslim (and there are many of them) the Crusades spell a violent period during which Christians, under the banner of the Cross, went to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims. Given this and similar historical events, it is no surprise that there is already animosity between these two religions. The irony is that for educated Muslims the era of the Crusades is a reality that serves as a springboard for historical discussion and that can be viewed objectively; for the fundamentalist Muslim it is a call to take up arms to fight against the infidels (most of us fall into this category by default). I hope what I am saying is correct; there is a generation of progressive Muslims, educated in secular schools and colleges, who have put the historical hostilities behind and are willing to work towards a harmonious future. For them, building a mosque at ground zero (I wonder why it wasn’t a church or chapel) or other high level attempts to reconcile people to Islam are of some importance. To the fundamentalist Muslim, however, none of these types of actions will ever pacify their desire to see the fall of any and every thing to which the adjective ‘Christian’ can even be remotely attached. They too know about the Crusades; however, it is not something to be forgotten, but to be remembered. Both these categories of Muslims are found in many countries.
The way that much of this fear and hostility between Christians and Muslims can break down is when the latter begin to see tangible expressions of genuine Christian love. We need to understand that they are a small minority in most non-Muslim countries. Being part of a minority is not pleasant. Minorities are misunderstood; the statistics to a great extent confirm this fact. Therefore, we should not lose the opportunity that God has given to show His love to our neighbours. Every Muslim you see in the supermarket, in the parking lot, or in your neighbourhood, is God’s way of giving you a missional opportunity. The way that we, followers of Christ, can break down the barriers between Christians and Muslims is when we are able to reach out to them personally, at the grassroots level. How? Taking time to wish them, to talk with them, to help them, and to listen to them. Perhaps then the statistics may change. “