How to use Your Religious Freedom to Share the Gospel with Muslims
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Bold Witness: Sharing the Gospel using your Religious Freedom
The Apostle Paul sent an urgent prayer request to the church in Ephesus while he was sitting in a prison cell:
“Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20
What did he ask them to pray for? That he may declare the mystery of the gospel fearlessly! This is a reality that many Christians living in the West rarely have to consider.
Paul knew that this request could lead to him being persecuted even more, and eventually killed, yet this did not stop him. How much more should we, Christians living in a free country, boldly declare Christ to others?
The Blessings of Religious Freedom and the Dangers of Universalism in America
Freedom of religion is a profound gift in America. The first immigrants who came to this land did so because they wanted to be free to worship God in the way they wanted, rather than how European rulers dictated.
However, having freedom of religion means that various religions, worldviews, and ideologies are present within the same country. Throughout the past few generations and into today, this has grown a culture of “tolerance”, “universalism”, and “relativism” promoted by American culture today.
The ideologies of universalism and relativism tell Americans that all beliefs are equal, simply because people hold to the truths that are true and best “for them.” When this way of thinking is combined with the concept of religious freedom, it results in a culture where Christians are discouraged from sharing the gospel out of fear of offending someone or disrespecting their rights.
But freedom of religion cannot mean that we let others stay trapped in the darkness and away from the true God. We ought to be brave and vocal in witnessing and making “known the mystery of the gospel” of our Lord Jesus Christ. Others should have the opportunity to make their own decision about following Christ because they, too, have the freedom in this country to choose and believe!
The Global Reality: Do Islamic Countries Have Freedom of Religion?
The Western church often loses sight of how the rest of the world lives and operates. A majority of the world’s population is not given the right to “choose” their religion.
Almost two-thirds of humanity - almost 5.4 billion people - live in countries where serious religious freedom violations take place. The 62 countries classified as under persecution or discrimination are home to nearly 64.7 percent of the global population. (Religious Freedom in the World Report)
In Islamic countries, there is no standard of “religious freedom” set forward by Sharia law and the Quran other than this:
Restricted Practice: Muslims are free to practice their faith openly in communities and public spaces. Non-Muslims can only practice their faith inside a government-recognized religious building (mostly churches).
One-Way Evangelism: Muslims are encouraged to proselytize non-Muslims to expand Islam. Conversely, non-Muslims will be punished, imprisoned, or even killed if they share their faith with Muslims.
No Freedom to Convert: Converts to the religion of Islam are protected by the government and community, while those who leave Islam lose all legal protection and rights.
Underground Ministries: Non-Islamic non-profits are forbidden in most Islamic countries, forcing most ministries to work under the umbrella of a legal church or unofficially in secret.
This is common knowledge among both Muslims and Christians who live in those countries; these practices have been taking place for centuries.
Muslims themselves are not given a choice when they are born into Islam. The moment a child is born to Muslim parents, the father whispers the Islamic confession of faith into the baby’s ears. The child is raised to believe that Allah will never forgive them for questioning Islam. In most Islamic countries, the religion is on the ID of each person, and their first and family names reveal the faith they follow.
Reaching Muslims for Christ in a Free Country
Sharing the gospel with Muslims in America is different from how missionaries must operate in Islamic countries. Christians in the US can be much bolder and forward in their faith because we are free to profess Christ as Lord without the threat of death or imprisonment. We are also free to initiate conversations about the Bible and Jesus without the threat of being imprisoned!
In fact, you can use the topic of “freedom of religion” as a conversation-starter point with your Muslim friend:
Highlight the value of this freedom for both you and them.
If they are an immigrant from an Islamic country, odds are they grew up in a Muslim home and had no choice but to be a Muslim. Point out that now, they are in a place where they can safely ask questions and decide for themselves what they believe. (Learn more about inheriting Islam here)
Clarify your own choice. Make sure to point out that you are not a Christian simply because your parents are or because you are American. Share how and why you made an intentional, personal decision to be a follower of Christ.
It may be an eye-opening fact to a Muslim when you say:
“God gives each one of us the free will to choose whether we want to follow Him. He loves us and doesn’t want us to follow Him out of fear. The wonderful thing is that He gives His followers true freedom—freedom that is greater than anything a government could provide.”
As Galatians 5:1 reminds us: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
Conversation Starters: Presenting Freedom in Christ
Many topics could entice a Muslim to be curious about Jesus. Here are some points to get you started in your conversations:
An Abundant Life: Christ said He came to give us life, and give it abundantly (John 10:10).
A Living Savior: Jesus Christ is still alive, and He still works and performs miracles today.
A Heavenly Father: God wants to be your heavenly Father, a personal relationship that can only happen when you know and believe in the One He sent.
Take the Next Step
If you’d like to grow your confidence in sharing the gospel with Muslims and prepare to talk about deeper topics, check out this free online course:
Prayer about religious freedom
Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me to live in a country with religious freedoms. More importantly, thank you for giving me freedom from my sin. Please help me be a bold light and ambassador for you every day! Amen.
