Today’s topic: “The Most Pessimistic Religion in the World” by Jerry Riendeau on the Gospel Coalition website, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pessimistic-religion/.
It often requires unique, even spiritual, keys to effectively unlock doors of the soul that otherwise seem shut and impenetrable to the gospel. In the case of Mr. Riendeau’s outreach to Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan, he found a way to overcome a common Muslim misunderstanding that adherents of both Islam and Christianity are basically trying to please God by their efforts in order to gain entrance into heaven. Believers would call this a works-based religion which evangelical Christians reject, but it is the basis of all other religions in the world. He tells the Muslims that Christians are too pessimistic to believe they can earn their way into heaven, because in their theology all of mankind fell in the Garden and are under God’s condemnation, which makes it impossible to please Him by human effort—man is too sinful. Muslims usually respond by asking how do Christians think they will get to heaven? This leads to the use of the keys needed to unlock several doors of misconception held by Muslims: That Jesus was just another prophet of God to point men to God, to instruct them in the right way to please Him, and that He didn’t really die on the cross because that would be unsuitable for a prophet of God. Why would a holy man of God need to die for his people if they attained heaven by obedience and good works? That would be a ridiculous notion. Herein lies the importance of the teaching in our gospel that all mankind is lost and perishing, destined for hell, and can in no way earn favor with God. This unlocks the doors to explain how God Himself had to provide the way to heaven through the vicarious atonement of His only Son, Jesus, who was more than just a prophet, but a virgin-born incarnation of God amongst His people. This truth suddenly becomes completely sensible to them and brings the realization that God is actually gracious and merciful. The doors are open for them to receive and believe the gospel for their salvation!
Mr. Riendeau lays this out in illustrating a dialog with a Muslim where these concepts are employed and brought to bear. This approach might just as well work with others besides Muslims who think in terms of earning their way to heaven.
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