I had just finished up a good day of witnessing and decided to pick up a pizza on the way home. Two people walked in a bit after I did, and I decided to pay for their pizza. The lady was really surprised. She had a big smile and said, “It is nice to know there are some good people still left in this world.”
I always think that’s an interesting statement whenever I hear it. Eight billion people on earth, and she thinks there are only a “few” good people? The question would be this: Why would someone think that? One reason might be that when the news is littered with murders, rapes, politics, and sports, maybe we don’t think there are enough good people to put on a broadcast. Or maybe it is because the media is controlling the narrative, as they like to do. What if the news ran a story about a grandmother who is raising her grandchildren because their parents are wayward or maybe a story about a mother who helps kids in her neighborhood with their homework? How about spotlighting a car repair shop that does repairs for single mothers pro bono?
But what does “good” really mean? Am I a good guy because I bought this lady and her brother a pizza? How can I be a Christian “good” guy if I don’t also give them the gospel?
As we got to talking, she was a Muslim and her brother was a Christian! They had the same mother but different fathers and were actually born in different countries! We all sat down and had a fascinating conversation.
One thing she said was, “We are all children of God.” You hear this statement a lot if you do enough witnessing. When I let her know that this statement was incorrect, she was taken aback. I explained that, while we are all created by God and made in the image of God, only a Christian is called “a child of God.”
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
She had never heard this before and was really intrigued by it.
She also said, “We all believe in the same God—Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all monotheistic religions and all believe in the same God.” Ever heard that one before? Very common statement.
So this is how I handled it:
I asked her, “Who do you think Jesus is?” She said, “The Son of God.” Well, one thing was becoming obviously clear: she was not a very strong Muslim! I think I knew more about Islam than she did! But that’s okay; we can educate people as we witness to them and walk them to the cross.
We went back and forth, in a good way, and I let her know that the Koran states, right about 17 times (I think that is correct but go ahead and check me on that number), that Allah had no Son. She wasn’t aware of that.
Then, the conversation was easy from there. I verbally put John 3:16 out there for both of them.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I was listening to a Dave Hunt message, and he suggested replacing “God” with “Allah” to see if it is really the same God. So, I verbally restated John 3:16 and substituted Allah for God: “For Allah so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” They both caught it! It couldn’t be the same God since Allah had no Son. Simple.
Then I just walked them through sin, the cross, and the resurrection. I really keyed in on the resurrection, since Islam doesn’t believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus the Son of God. Then I wrapped it up by talking about the perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus.
As I gave them some materials, I showed her The Second Greatest Lie booklet. I typically open it and flip through the pages of the various religions to show them what the booklet is about. But I always stop on their religion. They are intrigued whenever I do that, which happened with some Jewish folks recently. But Saran remarked, “I love studying other religions.” Perfect booklet for her.
Plant seeds, plant seeds, plant seeds. Pray. That is what we followers of Jesus do.
Well, that’s a wrap. Please pray for Saran and her brother. And some of you older people might get my “wrap” joke!
Until the nets are full,
P.S. One friend of the ministry is bold—very bold. He walks right into abortion clinics, Mormon ward houses, and Muslim mosques to reach those lost people for Christ. Tim had this to say about his encounter at a mosque:
“Please pray that God will open the eyes of the head honcho at this mosque.
I gave him and his assistant a copy of your awesome booklet, The Second Greatest Lie Ever Told.
Please pray that he and his assistant will read it and get saved.
Later on, I’ll send you his address so you can write him.”
— Tim
People in all kinds of religions need truth. Many of them are meandering through life and thinking they have the answers for eternity, when they don’t. But they might never know the truth if someone doesn’t challenge their beliefs.
https://markcahill.org/product-category/specials/
P.P.S. Eternity can come at you quick. Are you getting people ready for that day?
