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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some Good lessons, some less so, October 6, 2010
This review is from: Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (Paperback)
There are several good lessons to be learned in reading Carl Medaris' opus on the Muslim faith as it relates to Christianity. He stresses the importance of respecting others intellectually even when their concept of God differs from yours and the concept that perhaps viewing missionary work as scoring points with conversions might not be the best way to bring Jesus to the Muslim world.
There is, however, an important issue to consider when reading Carl's book. The book goes to great lengths to bring understanding and acceptance of Islam to Christian readers, often to the point of encouraging Christians to attend mosque or to read the Koran("Its a good book", writes Carl. "It mostly agrees with the bible.). In and of itself, these lessons aren't dangerous or even particularly bad; however, reading the book it is entirely unclear whether Carl thinks of Islam as being any less true than or even distinct from Christianity.
All of Carl's examples of sharing his faith with Muslims carry a tone of "Hey, You guys already believe in Jesus. He doesn't clash with what you believe, even in the slightest!". None of his examples, however, show any Muslim ever coming to a distinct faith in Christ. Near the end of the book, he brags about an important man he led to a closer understanding of Christ, and then in the next breath tells us that the man still identifies himself as a muslim, but one that likes Jesus a little bit more than most.
I agree with Carl that many Christians come to Muslims out of a place of anger or arrogance, and that an effort to foster a better understanding of Muslim beliefs and culture is in order. I also agree that time and relationships are extremely important if you want someone to respect what you can tell them about God.
In the end, I think there is value in this book, and that it is a perspective that deserves to be read. However, if bringing Muslims to a distinct faith in Christ is important to you, its important to understand that this book doesn't devote much time to that. The book goes to great length to explain the good in Islam, but Carl never mentions a Muslim who is brought to Christianity in a "born again" sense, and seems to be completely fine with this. Carl has apparently decided that a Muslim need not reject Muhammad or Islam's concept of God to be Christian, and tries in a none-too-subtle to lead his reader to the same conclusion. He justifies this view by explaining that to do so, a Muslim would have to lose the respect of his peers and perhaps be persecuted for his faith.
While to some Christians Carl's views will be perfectly acceptable, to some in the "he came as a sword" camp they will not be. I just thought it important to bring up the distiction.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My First Book Review, October 14, 2008
This review is from: Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (Paperback)
I'm venturing into the world of reviewing because this book is worth it! Carl's insight into evangelism and discipleship as simply pointing people to Jesus and developing real genuine loving friendships has application well beyond Muslim culture. In fact, while I have certainly gained new perspective and understanding into Muslim culture, I primarly read the book for the broader insight that Carl brings and was not disappointed. It is an easy and enjoyable read, with a good mix of stories, insights and facts about Muslim life and belief with tested advice on how to best approach loving them and helping them to see Jesus more clearly (and seeing Him more clearly ourselves in the process!). Enjoy!
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rave reviews for Carl Medearis' Book, October 9, 2008
This review is from: Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships (Paperback)
Two days ago our mail carrier delivered Carl Medearis' book, "Muslim, Christians, and Jesus." I had a few minutes before supper so I opened it thinking I would look at a few paragraphs. I got sucked in! Twenty-four hours later I finished it. It is truly a delightful and hope-filled book.
When I first met Carl three years ago the first thing I noticed was his twinkling-eye smile. His obvious open and genuine love is contagious. I have seen it happen with Muslims and non-Muslims alike. That genuineness is accurately reflected in the book.
In "Muslims, Christians, and Jesus" Carl covers not only the basics of what Muslims believe but he also loads it with personal stories. There is the smell of gun smoke reality on every page. He covers what the Qur'an says about Jesus, women in Islam, answering common questions, and even how Jesus interacted with jihad. Throughout its pages, the centrality of Jesus is paramount.
My favorite story in the book is when Carl roared into an Iraqi village and ... Nope - I don't want to give it away before you read it. Even if there weren't other fabulous material the stories alone are worth the price of admission. Whatever you do, GET IT, READ IT, and PASS IT ON to others! You won't regret it.
Edward J. Hoskins, MD, PhD
Author - A Muslim's Heart
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