Intercede 2019

Islam's Errant Versions of the Holy Spirit
January - February
This article will explore ways Islam diverges from biblical truth about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Understanding these divergences enables Christ-followers to respond compassionately to errant Islamic characterizations of the Holy Spirit, especially the accusation of tri-theism—the Islamic claim that Christians worship three gods.

No god but God, and ...?
March - April
Our hearts yearn for Muslims to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. We must strive to make scriptural truth available in the most culturally sensitive manner possible. However, a clear reading of Scripture emphatically rejects he syncretistic practice that recognizes elements of Muhammad’s prophethood as valid or merely innocuous. Nor does the Scripture provide affirmation for new believers from Muslim backgrounds to continue reciting the Islamic shahada. The Holy Scriptures require abandonment of both ideas.May the good news ring out louder and clearer than ever that Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our loyalty and allegiance.

Muslim Conversion: The Role of Honor and Shame
May-June
The fact is that more and more Muslims are embracing Christ. Their families and friends are observing this process and seeing their loved ones have not gone crazy. Due to these new converts’ willingness to sacrifice their own honor and social desirability, they are lessening the shame of embracing Christ. More and more Muslims are starting to think and feel that embracing Jesus Christ might be a good idea!

"Same God Question": Why Muslims Are Not Moving Toward Christians
July-August
Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? Increasing numbers of Christians and Christian missiologists are now responding in the affirmative, especially as they seek amicable relations with Muslims. This article looks at this age-old question from the Islamic point of view, noting that Muslim scholars have not mirrored their Christian counterparts in moving toward theological reconciliation. Indeed, the foundational teachings and example of Muhammad restrict them from doing so, thus creating a dynamic of “one hand clapping” in interfaith discourse.

It's All About Jesus!
September-October
Regarding Jesus, the typical Muslim will say, “Our holy book affirms his virgin birth, his prophethood, his power to work miracles, and his soon return.” This statement sounds like something every Christian could easily affirm. However, the reality is that in most Islamic contexts the best thing a Muslim could do—embrace Jesus as Savior—is seen by the Islamic community as the worst thing he or she could ever do. The topic of Jesus is one of the most theologically charged conversations you will have with Muslims, and yet it is the most important one.

Origins of African American Islam
November-December
After the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans found themselves in a very difficult situation: their essence had been stripped away through generations of slavery and they were trying to regain a sense of belonging and an identity that separated them from White oppression. Some, like Marcus Garvey of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), advocated a return to the African motherland. Others, having been influenced by Garvey’s desire to uplift African Americans, took a different approach. Two such movements arose in the early decades of the twentieth century, each with a desire to achieve equality, a focus on cultural history, and a need for land as a sign of power.