The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian [Paperback]

Nabeel T Jabbour (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2008

Go beyond mere tolerance to a passion for Muslims. This book explains how that can be done in ways that are sensitive to Islamic culture and provides suggestions on how to build vital relationships with Muslims.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

“A war is raging for the minds and souls of Muslims today,” writes Nabeel Jabbour. “The eternal welfare of 1.4 billion people is at stake. They are being pulled in two directions—fanaticism on the one hand and moderation and open-mindedness on the other. How we deal with this window of opportunity will determine our relations with Muslims for generations to come.”

At the same time, the Christian church must realize Jesus died for Muslims. In this book, Dr. Jabbour aims to help Western Christians go beyond mere tolerance to a passion for Muslims. He explains how that can be done in ways that are sensitive to Islamic culture, and he presents suggestions on how to build vital relationships with Muslims.

About the Author

Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour was born in Syria and grew up in Lebanon. He lived with his family in Egypt for fifteen years before moving to Colorado Springs, where he works with The Navigators. Dr. Jabbour has a doctorate in Islamics and is a professor and frequent lecturer at seminaries and churches around the world. He is also the author of Unshackled and Growing, The Rumbling Volcano, and The Unseen Reality. For more information, go to www.nabeeljabbour.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (January 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600061958
• ISBN-13: 978-1600061950
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rave Review for Dr. Jabbour's New Book, February 14, 2008

By 

Edward J. Hoskins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian (Paperback)

The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross
Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour
Feb. 14, 2008

Two days ago I picked up Dr. Nabeel Jabbour's book, "The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross" (NavPress). I intended to go through it little by little. I failed. A few minutes later I was drawn to it again and again and again. Last night I finished it. This morning ... I picked it up again.

Dr. Jabbour, an Arab Christian dedicated to knowing Christ and making Him known was raised in the Middle East. He spent the last six decades of his life walking around inside the skin of Muslims. He wanted to see life from their perspective. He lived with them, worked with them, suffered with them, laughed with them, and drank literally hundreds of gallons of tea with them. This book is the culmination of his life experiences.

In "The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross" Dr. Jabbour invites us to journey with him and his friend Ahmad and Ahmad's sister Fatimah. Together they explore Muslims' grievances (both men and women), our own imbalanced prejudices and assumptions, as well as the cause (and solution) of radical Islamic fundamentalism. As we travel the road he unwraps the Gospel and explores the Muslim and Christian worldviews, presenting the person of Jesus in a more sensitive and effective yet Biblical way. The journey ends with hope and doable practical applications.

On every page we smell the gun smoke of Dr. Jabbour's life and ministry. This is not the traditional "Muslim vs. Christian - My way or the Highway" approach. Over the years I have read many books about Islam and Christians relating to Muslims. In my opinion, this is the finest book of that genre I have ever read. If you want an insider's compassionate but objective view to the Islamic culture and practical, field tested solutions then DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!


Edward J Hoskins, MD, PhD
West Lafayette, Indiana

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Lenses, February 14, 2008

By 

Waldron Scott - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian (Paperback)

In this most relevant book Dr. Jabbour, an Arab Christian who served as a missionary in Egypt for many years before being expelled, introduces us to "Ahmad" and his family. Ahmad in turn shares with the reader 15 aspects of the Muslim worldview that bear directly on the effectiveness of Christian mission to Muslims but which most Western Christians badly misunderstand. He does this under three categories: Your Christian Message; You, the Christian Messenger; and Me, the Muslim Receiver. The result is disturbing yet challenging. As missiologist Ralph Winter has said, "Page after page will take your breath away!" Here in North American we are bombarded by Christian sermons, magazine articles, radio and TV programs, not to mention internet blogs, frantically declaiming the imminent clash of civilizations and the fearsome threat of "Islamo-fascism." In the atmosphere thus generated the average layperson comes to look upon Arabs and other Muslims - Iranian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indonesian - as the enemy, and finds it difficult to embrace Jesus' command to "love your enemy; bless them who curse you." Yet that is precisely what we are called to do. The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross, by dismantling stereotypes and building genuine bridges of understanding, creates the possibility of truly effective Christian witness. The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross is invaluable. The book is well edited, easy to read. Beginning with Chapter 5, the author provides a set of questions for reflection and discussion which makes the book especially useful for group study. The author's numerous graphic illustrations enhance the book's value. It has no index, but does include a list of recommended reading. (Waldron Scott, former General Secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance.)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, February 14, 2008

By 

Vergil Schmidt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross: Insights from an Arab Christian (Paperback)

The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross is an insightful treatment of one of Christianity's greatest challenges-Islam. Dr. Jabbour employes a gracious and compassionate approach into a healthy discussion of the real issues that divide Christianity from Islam. After reading this book you will better understand the mind and the heart of a Muslim.