We live in encouraging times in which Muslims are coming to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. These new believers have grappled with the biggest question of all: “Who is Jesus?”
For Muslims, Jesus is a respected mortal prophet. For Christians, Jesus Christ is Lord, God, and Savior. Many Muslims have discovered this biblical Jesus—or have been found by Him. For the first time in history, the Church has the opportunity and responsibility to disciple significant numbers of Muslim background believers in Christ (MBBs).
Identity development constitutes a key area of discipleship. The concept of “identity” attracts attention through phrases such as “identity crisis,” “identity theft,” and “identity politics.” In this series, I define “identity” as the way people perceive themselves and the groups to which they belong, and how these individuals and groups are perceived by others.
Missiologists, anthropologists, and sociologists have parsed out identity at different levels, such as “core identity,” “collective identity,” and “social identity.” See, for example, Tim Green’s important contribution on the subject.[1] While these concepts are important, they may be a bit complex for MBBs and those discipling them.
A simple way of assisting MBBs with identity development is to help them address five main questions related to identity:
1. Who am I?
2. Who are we?
3. Who are you?
4. Who is he/she?
5. Who are they?
These questions include those asked by MBBs, as well as those asked of MBBs. They can be represented in a graph as follows:
In this series, we will take one question per blog entry.
The Self-Identity Questions:
1. Who am I?
The story goes that in a Sunday School class the teacher asked, “What is gray, has a furry tail, collects nut, and climbs trees?
An eager student yelled out, “Jesus!”
The surprised teacher responded, “Is Jesus gray, with a furry tail? And does He collect nuts and climb trees?”
The student said, “No, but I said ‘Jesus’ because the answer to every question here is ‘Jesus!’”
In Islam, Jesus is neither the focal point, nor the answer to every question. MBBs would not be inclined to look to Jesus for identity, but many now are learning to do so. Having received salvation by faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross, MBBs have become convinced of the true identity of Christ. This actual identity is so far above Christ’s Islamic identity, that this conviction may develop over time rather than as a one-time event.
Believing in the biblical Christ marks a beginning point, but not the end of the journey. There must be connection to that Christ, and it is manifested in the question, “Who am I?”
Questions regarding the development of spiritual identity arise early in the biblical history. Moses, once a prince who later became a shepherd, felt unworthy to accept God’s call to liberate Israel. He asked, self-condescendingly, “Who am I?” as a direct contradiction to God’s command: “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10-11, emphasis added)? So, developing spiritual identity should not be considered easy or seamless.
As an MBB, I am immediately confronted with a paradox. I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. The Bible states, “You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Simultaneously, the “mystery” of salvation includes the reality of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
Herein lies the secret of a “Christo-centric” identity. This is the identity MBBs are seeking, according to researcher Duane A. Miller.[2] “Who am I?” is the question and the answer is: “I am in Christ.” My life “is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).
Initially, the MBB's connection to Christ may be through a revelation, a dream, or an answered prayer, such as a healing. It may be through a witnessing Christian. Nevertheless, the development of a Christo-centric identity must develop past an interaction with Jesus’ acts and Jesus’ servants, to a vital relationship with Jesus himself. Bible study and prayer are essential to connecting with Christ in a growing, vital way.
As we will see going forward, the key and ultimate answer to all identity questions facing MBBs is centered upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the next blog, we will consider the question: Who are we?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
[2] Duane A. Miller, Living among the Breakage: Contextual Theology-Making among Ex-Muslim Christians. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2016.
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