Preaching the Gospel to Muslims: Evangelism Methods

The Theological Imperative to Preach the Gospel

"…preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16). Preaching the gospel is a Christian imperative. Yet in a heterogeneous, diverse, and often secular world, the obligation to share the message of Christ can become more challenging to fulfill than ever before. Engaging non-Christians with the Bible nevertheless remains a core component of faith, as those who have not heard the Word of God have no opportunity to be saved. Paul repeats this essential Christian value throughout his texts, noting again in Romans, "I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish" (Romans 1:14). Preaching the gospel is critical from an eschatological and theological perspective, whether the audience is "foolish" and perhaps unready to accept the truth of Christ, or whether the audience has been raised with another faith such as Islam. While diversity does add to the fabric of human society, helping others by introducing them to the gospel message can encourage dialogue and plant a seed that might blossom to the benefit not only of the individual but of a broader community.

The theological imperative for engaging non-Christians with the Bible continually and conscientiously relates to the wording of Paul's message when he notes the sense of "obligation" to preach. "We are obligated because God provided for our salvation and then somehow entrusted the message to us… Although we cannot repay Christ for all he has done, we can demonstrate our gratitude by serving others with the gospel of Jesus" (Universal Bible Fellowship). From this theological foundation will emerge the various schools of thought as to how Christians can be most effective when communicating the gospel in their daily lives with a diverse audience. The ideal method of preaching the gospel to a Muslim conversation partner is to recognize the value of diversity and the essential fact that Christ's message is fundamentally one of inclusion and plurality. At the same time, Christians risk falling into the trap of ethical relativism when plurality is valued more than the tenets of the gospel. The answer to this potential dilemma is located directly in scripture, which teaches Christians to view non-believers as "lost sheep" who can be delivered unto Christ. Moreover, the mission of the gospel "cannot be reduced to the seeking out of individuals," but must instead aim to "overthrow the structures of teaching and authority that restrict the mercy of God" (Hunt 8). Islam represents one of the world's most formidable structures of teaching and authority that may be restricting the mercy of God.

Common Ground Between Christianity and Islam

Islam has traditionally recognized the "legitimacy of Christianity as a monotheistic religion and Muslims were in theory obliged to tolerate and protect Christian communities in their midst" (Hunt 21). Although both Christians and Muslims consider themselves "peoples of the book" due to their mutual valuation of the Old Testament, the differences between the two religions remain stark. One of the main differences between Christianity and Islam is embedded in their respective names, with Christianity overtly attributing its mission to spreading the message of Christ and His gospel. Islam, on the other hand, "enjoys the unique distinction of having no such association with any particular person or people or country" (Mawdudi, Chapter 1). Islam therefore fundamentally denies the supremacy of Christ, something that contradicts the Christian Bible. Rather than focus on these differences and risk isolating potential Muslim converts or alienating a conversation partner, it would be far more constructive to demonstrate the points of continuity between the two religions. For instance, both believe in the supremacy of God, in submission to God, and in daily prayer and devotion. Through these common points, a Christian can help show that placing faith in Christ is a small but infinitely rewarding extra step.

Establishing common ground between the two faiths helps to build trust and rapport, thereby creating a harmonious communication connection that may eventually inspire the partner to reconsider his or her worldview and theological viewpoints. In "Porous and Buffered Selves," Charles Taylor muses on another common link between Christianity and Islam: the need to remain steadfast in an increasingly secular world.

Works Cited

Geertz, Clifford. "Religion as Cultural System." In The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic. Digital Copy.

Hunt, Robert. The Gospel and the Nations: Christian Mission in a Pluralistic World. 2009.

Malone, Fred A. "Is Christ-Centered Preaching a Biblical Mandate?" Founders Journal, Vol. 65, Summer 2006, pp. 8–17. Retrieved online:

Mawdudi, Sayyid Abul A'la. Towards Understanding Islam. UKIM Dawah Centre, Digital Text.

Rothra, John L. "Review of Seven Common Evangelism Methods." July 2015. Retrieved online:

Taylor, Charles. "The Immanent Frame." In Rethinking Secularism. Oxford University Press. Digital Copy.

Taylor, Charles. "Porous and Buffered Selves." In A Secular Age. Digital Copy.

Universal Bible Fellowship (UBF). "Paul's Obligation to Preach the Gospel." Digital Copy.