Most people are concerned about the growth of Islam or frightened by the growth of radial Islam and terrorism, but the church is called to have love and compassion for Muslims. Our primary response to global Islam should not be fearful or political, but should be based out of deep love and compassion to share the love of Jesus with every Muslim. Love should provoke us to share with them. The 19 terrorist who flew planes into American building on 9/11 had all been in the United States for several years. Could history have been changed if they had encountered you or another believer who shared the gospel with them?

Most people do not reach Muslims because of fear. That fear often takes three primary forms:

• First we fear suffering. There is a strong fear of violence and suffering when most people consider engaging Muslims.
• Secondly, we fear the questions Muslims will ask. Muslims are typically trained and prepared to talk to Christians and ask very aggressive questions. Most believers do not feel confident enough to answer those questions.
• Thirdly, most believers do not feel like they understand Islam enough to challenge it directly and therefore are afraid to engage Muslims.

Though the issue seems to be Islam, what these fears really expose is that many of us are not really true disciples. True disciples love Jesus wholeheartedly. Because they love Him above all, they do not fear what any man can do to them and that means they refuse to fear Muslims. Instead, as disciples of Jesus, they are a faithful witness of the gospel in all the world. In other words, Islam itself is not the actual reason why we do not reach Muslims, lack of discipleship is, and the ultimate solution to mobilizing the church to reach Muslims is to disciple people to follow Jesus.