Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Understanding the World of Islam and Overcoming the Fears That Divide Us

by Carl Medearis

An Acclaimed Guide to Understanding Today's Muslim, Completely Updated

Carl Medearis provides new insights into the top questions people have about Muslims and Islam. With practical information and fascinating stories, he shares culturally sensitive ways for Christians to get to know Muslims on a personal level. In this updated and expanded edition, Medearis shares
- How more and more Muslims live "right next door," and how we can overcome the growing level of misinformation and fear
- The roots of modern-day jihad and how recent developments in the Middle East affect the West
- A new chapter answering tough questions about terrorism, Christian converts, and other key topics

Medearis shows how common ground is the best foundation for hearts turning to Jesus rather than focusing initially on the differences between Islam and Christianity.

Genres: Islam, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Religion, Evangelism, Theology

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Carl Medearis is an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations.

He acts as a catalyst for a number of current movements in the Middle East to promote peace-making, as well as cultural, political and religious dialog leading toward reconciliation. He is the author of the acclaimed book on these issues, Muslims, Christians and Jesus.

Carl, his wife Chris, and three kids lived in Beirut, Lebanon for 12 years. Through their unique and strategic approach around the Arab world, they encouraged university students, business professionals and political leaders to live their lives by the principles and teachings of Jesus in order to change their societies and nations.

Today Carl spends much of his time working with leaders both in the West and in the Arab world with the hope of seeing the Arab Middle East and the West experience full and fruitful relationships through the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Something I hadn't expected, was to learn a few things about Islam such as: they consider Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses as prophets. I knew they consider Jesus (Isa) as a prophet, (and only a prophet), also, that they don't think writing should be put in the Bible, but especially not the Quran.
Oddly, it felt as though the author was riding a tight rope while explaining Islam and trying to put it in the best light. How much of his errors are from trying to put the idealogy in the best light or his ignorance or something else altogether? Such as, explaining that anyone who lives in areas controlled by Islam and doesn't convert is required to pay a zakat, a form of taxation. (page 44)
However, this is not the correct word. Zakat is a form of charity. What he should have said was the jizya. He does then mention (page 46) that Zakat is giving, (not a taxation for non-muslims).

Things that surprised me: muslims don't think Christians pray or fast. (They aren't aware the Bible tells Christians not to be like Pharisees and announce it to the world). But that they are afraid of Christians?!

Pages 66-72 the author lists the surah and aya that mentions Jesus/Isa and the Bible scripture reference verses. I wasn't able to check every aya, because my edition of the Quran doesn't have the same references as the ones the author used, but also a lot of the same ayas are used.

An aspect of the ideology that was left out by the author is that Islam is all inclusive in its life: way to live, politics, religion, etc. The author does mention on page 29 that even secular Islamic states are permeated with religious devotion and/or tradition. Every public figure is a Muslim. He mentions on page 101 political islam as if it is separate from the ideology.

pg 153 he does say that if you're born in a muslim family you are muslim and you cannot just leave. You don't get a choice. If you leave you can be ostracized or worse, killed. (this sounds very much like cult).

The author explained Muslims think the Holy Spirit is Gabriel the angel. And that they take every last writing as superior to the first. (he neglected to say that means the violent surahs supersede the peaceful surahs). The author does touch on the radical muslims that follow the violent surahs, as that is their own interpretation, (as long as they can back it up with other ayas). Unlike the Bible where it is NOT for private interpretation, (2 Peter 1:20)

pg 59 The author admits the Quran is confusing and even contradictory and though most muslims haven't read the Bible, they'll say it's corrupted, but this belief contradicts their holy book.
So why don't they accept Jesus? He doesn't fit their belief system. (example given on page 60)

So, you may be asking why the low rating? Numerous reasons, but a few are: the way he comes off anti-semitic; admitting on page 104 that he my be bias. Why side with Israel and deny the Jews are God's chosen people? Actually asking (pg 104) Does God love one people at the expense of others? (has he read the Old Testament?) It also seems, he forgets that Jesus was Jewish.

If you talk to Muslims he says not to mention certain words or phrases, because that will be offensive to them. I am in agreement of not being offensive on purpose, but Jesus didn't worry about being offensive.

pg 77-78 He uses an example of not saying "Son of God" to Muslims, because if you mistakenly thought God had a son through a sexual relationship with Mary you'd reject it too. However, Surah 19:20 in their Quran says She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" So why would they be offended? It's because of the lack of explaining the Godhead and if Jesus isn't explained is he (the author) really leading Muslims to God?

pg 173 he mentions "real" prayer happens with heads bowed and eyes closed. But doesn't give scripture for this assumption? Opinion? Tradition?

pg 153 he says the origin of the word Christian is "little Christs". I couldn't find that anywhere and according to Strongs Concordance it means followers of Christ. On the same page claims the Bible only mentions Christian two times, but he forgot Acts 26:28.

pg 156 "We are never commanded, exhorted, or encouraged to use the word Christian. It is, after all, a word, weighted with hidden meanings and historical grievances. A much better phrase, one I use myself, is "follower of Jesus." (edit 12.29.2022 i.e. follow Jesus, you follow God)

And yet, that is what Christian means. But because he's mentioned this, why does he use trinity? That is not in the Bible, but Godhead is, three times. (Godhead is not mentioned one time in this book). pg 174, the author doesn't seem to have an understanding of what the Bible says or what the Greek words mean, as is an example of baptism.
And then acts as though we can cherry pick which verses to believe in and calling it doctrine.

(also page 156) It then follows that his personal mission was not to found a new religion called Christianity, but rather to, as he said, "seek and save the lost." So, however we define this, we can agree that his identity, at least in his teaching and his lifestyle, was not "Christian."
It's not up for private interpretation. "however "we" define this"... Is he kidding?! Obviously not.

Interestingly, he doesn't claim a doctrine, but he seems to be very afraid of the word Christian, and because of his verbiage I think I have an idea of what doctrine he follows, but doesn't announce in the book.

Just as the Muslims try to remain Muslim, while accepting Jesus, it seems as though the author is also having an identity crisis to be a Christian without religion. I will end on that agreement though, that the Bible doesn't mention denominations. But I would only recommend this book to people who are very knowledgable of both what the Bible says and of Islam.
(I hope this review doesn't have a lot of typos, I kept having issues with my keyboard) (edited, yes it did and hopefully I fixed most of them 12.29.2022)

[Paige Kleinsasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been evangelistic about this book since the moment I finished the first chapter. Medearis lived in Lebanon & has extensive knowledge & experience working with people from the Muslim world. I learned so much from his experiences & insights. Would recommend this book over and over again to a follower of Jesus who is looking to journey alongside people from a Muslim culture. Will reference this again & again.

[Anthony Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main theme throughout the book:
You will not effectively reach Muslims through debates, apologetics, theology, etc., but through true friendship (first and foremost) and discussions specifically about the person of Jesus.

Really appreciated this stance that Medearis had all throughout this book when it comes to our relationships with Muslims. I even think there is a lot to learn from his thoughts in our witness to anyone, not just Muslims.

[Ramón · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book a lot. Though the author is unapologetically a Christian, he actually has a substantial amount of experience in the Middle East and brings more nuance into understanding the commonalities and differences between these two religions. More importantly to me, he works hard at showing that Jesus does not rest comfortably in any religious tradition, and that the idea of following Jesus forces adherents of both religious traditions to examine their own cultural preconceptions and prejudices about the other.

Carl is a great storyteller, and writes page-turning prose. If you're looking for dense philosophical and/or theological discussions, they are not here. But, if you recognize the power of stories in conveying knowledge, then you will find few books that dig deeper than this. Highly recommended.

[Scott McCoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps well intentioned, but some VERY sketchy ideas. Read with caution.

For personal context, I am an evangelical Christian with one year of experience doing Christian ministry in a Muslim country, and have a handful of friends who were Muslim and became followers of Jesus. This is where I am coming from in this review.

What I liked:

Breaks down negative stereotypes of Islam and Muslims.
Most Muslims are very peaceful people, and believe in an interpretation of Islam that is peaceful. This was emphasized a good deal, and it’s good that it was. Breaking down fears and humanizing these beautiful people who are made in the image of God with inherent dignity is very important. This was done well.

Some good mindset shifts for those sharing Jesus with Muslims.
An emphasis on relationship in ministry to Muslims is very important. Desiring to genuinely love people into the Kingdom, instead of having an ulterior motive to every conversation, was a great point. A high level of relationship and trust is vital to seeing any Muslim begin to discover Christ.

Emphasizes Jesus over Christianity and religion.
The author emphasizes Jesus over Christianity over and over. Bringing the conversation back to who Jesus was, instead of other secondary Christian beliefs and practices, is great advice for ministry to anybody. Jesus comes first, and everything else should follow. “Christianity” can carry baggage, but Jesus is ultimately where the decision is made.

Some serious concerns:

Seemed more concerned with making peace between Christians and Muslims than peace between Muslims and God through Jesus.
The author loved sharing stories of becoming friends with and making peace between Muslims and himself or other Christians. He seemed to think that this in of itself was the goal, and that if we just befriend Muslims, be really fun and nice, and sometime talk about Jesus (when we feel like it), the Holy Spirit may or may not turn some to Christ. His “stories of faith” were never stories of a Muslim deciding that Jesus was worth it all, giving up everything to follow Him, but merely stories of Muslims and Christians working together on something, or a Muslim learning to respect Jesus. He openly rejected the idea of “evangelizing” or trying to “convert Muslims.” I kind of see his point (we shouldn’t have an ulterior motive in loving people), but I would argue that if we are not doing all that we can to help someone follow Jesus, even to the point of death, we ultimately hate them, because we do not care about their eternities. Baggage or not, longing to “convert” someone to Christ is the most loving thing a person can do, if we believe that Christianity is true.

Quick to defend Islam, slow to defend Christianity.
The author continually defended not only Muslims, but Islam itself as something good and beautiful. We should certainly respect Islam in front of our Muslim friends, and approve of any agreement or good that is found in it, but any belief system that speaks lies about who Jesus was and the belief that leads to salvation is ultimately evil. He defends radical Islam as “some interpretations of Islam,” almost brushing over the massive amounts of atrocities done to women and terrorism done in the name of Islam. He seems to think it is either unimportant or unrepresentative. Now, certainly the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful people, probably 99% like he says. But many Muslim converts to Christianity argue (and it would seem to explain why war and oppression are so common for Muslim countries) that orthodox Islam does actually encourage violence and oppression of women.

“Bridging the gap between Muslims and Christians” actually seems to mean still being Muslim but liking and respecting Jesus.
One chapter, near the end, is about “Muslims who follow Jesus.” This chapter was particularly disturbing to me. He seems to argue that a Muslim shouldn’t need to give up his culture to follow Jesus. This, obviously, is very Biblical and true. Every tribe and nation will be before the throne, culture is good and will be preserved in heaven. But keeping one’s religion is VERY different than keeping one’s culture while still following Jesus. He praised a man who claimed to still be a Muslim, but also follows Jesus, and his family has no problem with this. This category of “Muslims who follow Jesus” comes off as a childish hope, and borderline progressive theology. This would also be radically offensive to anyone who has faced severe persecution and ostracization for following Jesus in an Islamic country. Men and women are dying for being abandoned by their families for choosing Jesus. “Muslims who follow Jesus” is almost a mockery of their suffering and the price they have paid for Jesus. Jesus made it quite clear that any who follow Him will be persecuted, misunderstood, outcasted, and must put Him over even their families. The author hopes to avoid this deep price while still keeping Jesus. Sometimes, especially in the Muslim world, that is not an option.

Ultimately, though there is some really solid truth and practical advice in much of what this book says, I am afraid that the author’s desire for peace and friendship with Muslims trumps leading them to Jesus, and provides a very sketchy model of ministry. Scripture is misused multiple times, the ideas presented could ultimately lead to a false belief in one’s salvation (especially as a “Muslim who follows Jesus”) that could have eternal ramifications. Though I do not doubt the author’s faith and love for Jesus, I would not seriously recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn about sharing Jesus with Muslims. There are other books, by authors like Nabeel Qureshi, who take a much more practical and biblical approach to sharing Jesus with Muslims.

[Lauren :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most compelling nonfiction books I’ve read in a while. It was wonderful in its bluntness and it cut through all of the intricacies and debate of cross cultural missions. It focuses on the simplicity of love Jesus and love others. Crazy how everything goes back to that golden rule. It was a good reminder that we are called to authentically love people, and sharing our faith should be a natural outpouring of that rather than a missionary hat that we can put on. I loved the focus on the similarity between the two religions, at our core we both love family, prayer, believe in one God and want to love and serve him. We are all called to hospitality and fasting and caring for those in need. And we both respect the teachings and character of Jesus the Messiah. So why not just have faith conversations and do life together. Anyways it was convicting and encouraging and makes me want to read all the gospels again and just sit at the feet of Jesus. 8.5/10

[Stephen Buerger · Rating 3 out of 5]

He has some good insights, particularly into attitudes and behaviors to adopt and avoid. He truly seems like a man of great love for God and man. However, I'm uncomfortable with the religion vs. relationship dichotomy he seems to push. I honestly feel that it trivializes and perhaps demeans the complicated history of both Islam and Christianity. While I can appreciate his aversion to ascribing to various "-isms," I think his depiction of a pure "relationship with Jesus," seemingly free of any religious, denominational, or historical ties, is overly simplistic and in fact betrays his own "tradition"—the "it's just me, Jesus, and my (Protestant) Bible" tradition.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and practical. Winsome and compelling. Easy to read. Many principles are applicable to all people groups.

[Colby Kleinsasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve got mixed feelings about this book. Mendearis clearly has a lot of experience in this topic and shares encouraging stories throughout this book. He provides some great principles for developing relationships and reaching out to Muslims - especially the heart of loving humility that he advocates we as Christ followers have.

He encourages focusing on Jesus - who he is and what he has done which seems (at least from the stories he shares) to produce fruit of genuine love for Jesus. But this is also my one main critiques about some of the things he explains and describes in this book. The main strategy he prescribes is more or less “dodging the differences or challenging questions and focus on Jesus,” which seems to ignore some of the important things that do separate Christian and Islamic orthodoxy and orthopraxy. It also can leave us with questions about his own theology.

One final note, the author asks some really important theological questions in the book, but doesn’t adequately answer the questions in my opinion. This book is not a robust, theological treatise on the subject matter but rather a guide and encouragement for Christians on how to begin engaging with Muslims, in that aim, Medearis is successful.

[Carol Hallenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this, so I'm still digesting what I've read, and i hope to be for some time. This book is really good. I typically reserve 5 stars for books that are life-changing. Quite simply, Mr. Medearis is reminding us how we ought to be living our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. His approach applies to interactions with all humans, not just Muslims.

Mr. Medearis writes in an easy-going, conversational style that's engaging and relatable. He touches on the origins of Islam as well as relevant cultural insight that i found quite helpful for understanding and relating to my Muslim friends. I very much appreciate his practical primer to avoid offending them.

Throughout the book, Mr. Medearis encourages us to love our Muslim friends as Jesus does and remain open to conversations about the commonalities of our faiths and our shared admiration of the Messiah.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl Medearis powerfully confronts the fears that many have about the Muslim faith and its teachings. Medearis skillfully shows how we as Christians have many bridges with which we can build friendships with our Muslim neighbors. The book is written for the American audience after 9/11, where much fear still reigns. Medearis' many years of ministry in the Middle East shows how little we have to lose, but much to gain by building relationships.

I was surprised when the author said one of the main bridges we have with Muslims is Jesus. Since Jesus is mentioned in the Qur'an Muslims are open to learning more about Jesus. He cites many examples of his own experiences where leaders in Hezbollah are curious and want to know about who Jesus is.

This is a wonderful reference book for those who want to reach out to Muslims and aren't sure where to begin.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offered a great intro to Islamic faith while challenging misconceptions and demonstrating that faith in Jesus doesn't have to divide. I will continue to ponder some parts that I don't agree with, while appreciating the new information and perspective this book provides.

[Guy Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title, "Muslims, Christians, and Jesus" is written at just the right time. This period of current events is fraught with divisiveness. While it does take a faith-based stance on the interaction between two faiths at odds with each other for genuine reasons, the subject matter speaks to finding commonality. It was a breath of fresh air.

The author shares his own first-hand experiences to build bridges and help one understand what the Muslim faith. Rather than fear he finds commonality. It is filled with personal stories and shares how Muslims live and think. Whether you are a person of faith or not this subject matter is well worth your time. I only wish more persons would pick it up, especially those who do not know Muslims other than what talking heads tell them in the media that fill us with anxiety. I walk away feeling much more understanding.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Muslims, Christians and Jesus" should be required reading for any Christian -- or follower of Jesus, as Carl Medearis would say -- with an interest in being a friend to the Muslims in his world.
A native of small-town Nebraska with a God-given love for Arab people, Medearis lived with his wife and children for 12 years in Beirut and then continued to devote his life to breaking down the walls between Muslims and Christians.
This book is a fruit of Medearis' labors, and it's filled with practical advice. (It's fine to bring a Bible to an encounter with Muslims, but it should be "clean" -- it shouldn't have any highlighted passages or notes written in it, and you absolutely should not set it on the floor. Muslims would never treat a holy book in this way, and they will be offended if you do.)
I hesitate to write much about Medearis' message because he presents it so effectively and because it could easily be misunderstood. In trying to briefly describe what he says, I'm concerned that will create misunderstanding.
But I think it boils down to two premises (these aren't his premises but my abridgment of what he has to say):
1. Followers of Jesus should present everything that matters to their Muslim friends.
2. The only thing that matters is Jesus.
This leads to some bits of advice that you might not expect to find in a Christian book. For example:
"If you don't know how to party, get help from someone who does."
"Don't be defensive. You have nothing to defend. God doesn't need help with his reputation, and the Bible can stand on its own."
"Discipleship is the sum of time spent with somebody. Discipleship is not about the sinner's prayer or the end result."
"Always assume that the person you are speaking with has a more holy life than you do."
All of this, even the bit about partying, is taken out of context. I urge you, if you're interested at all, to get this book and get the context.
I think a lot of it applies to evangelism in general, and it's the sort of evangelism I think I could do. I think it's the first book I've ever read that presented a sort of evangelism I think I could do. (Although I'm not certain Medearis ever calls it evangelism.)
The book includes wonderful stories of Medearis' own experiences. Some are funny. (Once, he and his children taught Arabian children a song in their language, but Medearis got a key word wrong. The Arabian children couldn't figure out why they were singing "I've got a mouse, mouse, mouse, mouse down in my heart.") Some are poignant, some are inspiring. Some are all three.
Maybe you want to skip straight ahead to the story under "Thought Three: Be a-religious" starting on Page 156, and then go back to the beginning. It's such a cool story.

[S.J. Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Medearis' book is a quick and easy read for Christians looking for a deeper understanding of Islam. I was amazed at the number of references in the Quran to Jesus. Mohammed had a deep reverence for Jesus Christ and commanded his followers to have the same-- making a great starting point for Christians to introduce Muslim friends to Messiah. Medearis' approach to sharing the gospel is refreshingly "centered set"-- meaning he doesn't start by bludgeoning Muslims with apologetics and doctrines or by trying to convince them to become Christians. Instead, he introduces them to the person of Christ and allows the Holy Spirit room to do what he does so well. A great book for group study. Highly recommend.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was assigned by my church as a part of my team's preparation for a short-term mission trip to a Muslim population. It gave a great introduction to Islam and how Christians can share Jesus with Muslims. Medearis is in the school of thought that uses similarities between the Quran and the Bible to build bridges, using absolute truth found in the Quran to point to Jesus. However, our local host on the trip (who was a Muslim himself) staunchly believed the opposite. As a result, much of what our host advised us to share with Muslims contradicted the teachings of this book. I believe that this book provides an eye-opening starting point for Christians wanting to reach Muslims, but we should all be aware of the specific contexts and needs we work within.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of good stuff in here, it would be an excellent companion to one of my favorite books about sharing Jesus's love (Get Real). Though I initially struggle with a few of Medearis's methods, they have given me a lot to ponder. I think this is an eye-opening read and really positive/encouraging.

For a deeper insider perspective on this topic, I recommend Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

[Mike B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book - helpful in the "art" of engaging with Muslims as a Christian. I don't agree with everything Mr. Medearis has to say, but he demonstrates a great heart for these people and it's a must read if you want to reach out to Muslims around you.

[Tyrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of personal insight, practical tips, and faith, this book gets to the true heart of conversations between Muslims and Christians - Jesus. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to love God and love others, just as Jesus commanded us to do.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, relatively easy read. The author may appeal to a variety of readers, by mixing more propositional and informational sections with narratives that highlight a point he was trying to make. All in all a thought provoking book, that proposes a paradigm and mindset for ministry among Arab Muslims.

It was a good book. The book does a good job covering the basics of Islam, and of reminding Christian readers that we are Followers of Christ, not necessarily of Christianity, and that we should seek to avoid unnecessary barriers to the Gospel message & to Jesus.

He makes a distinction at some point between Islam & Folk Islam. However, I think he ought to have used a third category, “Popular Islam” to describe many of the beliefs he mentioned (or didn’t mention), that “Most Muslims I’ve met believe...”. I think particularly his chapter on Jihad, while maybe true of most individuals today, it does not line up with what is laid out in foundational texts viz. the Qur’an and Sahih Bukhari.

At different points he seems to strongly emphasize “Relationship” Christianity over “Religion” Christianity. His category-less, ‘cold doctrine’-less Christianity, while nice to imagine, is pretty difficult in practice. Even his answer can’t avoid it towards the final chapter, he says something along the lines of lose the religion and religiosity, all you need is Jesus and the 66 books of the Bible (a doctrinely charged statement that Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, & Oriental Orthodox Christians would all resolutely oppose this). So while it is nice to imagine a relational christianity without having to put forth doctrinal beliefs, it’s hard to avoid. The apostolic and early church couldn’t avoid it, it’s silly to think we could now.

I’m not on board with where he takes Contextualization, regarding insider movements. But I do understand more of what he means.

Lastly, this book and the author’s experiences are primarily geared towards his experiences with Arab Muslims, and may not equally applicable to Turkish, South Asian, Sub-Saharan, or Southeast Asian Muslims contexts.

[Jeffrey Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read about relating with Muslims. I really enjoyed and found it helpful. Below are a few takeaways I gleaned:




Get to know the person, not the stereotype.

Very few accept the doctrine of Jesus through debate apologetics.

Most Muslims are happy to talk about faith, and about Jesus Christ specifically. Their beliefs are not the same as ours, but the doors are open for conversation.

Muslims do not recognize human writers with Quran as Christians do with the Bible. They believe the Quran came straight from God.

Many Muslims are offended by the phrase “son of God” because they believe this means God had sexual relations with Mary.

Do not compare how women are treated better in the west than the east but rather talk about what God thinks about women.

The large majority of Muslims just want to love and raise their families. It is a small percentage that want to kill and take over the world.

Always assume your Muslims friend is more dedicated than you are — it’s more about your friend and Jesus, not about your dedication.

There are more refugees today than ever, and ministering to refugees in your area can make an eternal difference.

Muslims do not believe Christians pray because they do not see us praying as they do five times a day. Prayer is a very holy and important practice, so do not be afraid to tell them you want to pray with them or for them.

Muslims believe in Jesus, they just do not believe he is God. You can point them to reading what the Quran says about Jesus, but do not fight them.

Don’t try to be the one who knows all truth. Jesus is truth. You do not need to defend or argue just point them to Jesus.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to most books about evangelism, this book is much more about understanding and appreciating the people you want to reach than arguing them into your corner. I appreciated that a lot. I read this as a counterpoint to a recent book club selection about the Christian/Muslim divide, and I liked this one much better. It gives a grounding in the basic tenents of Islam, some idea of the diversity in beliefs and practices within the Muslim world, and many stories about the experiences the author and others had visiting and getting to know Muslim people all over the world.

The best part of this book was its exhortation to its intended audience of Christians in North America to actually go and talk with a Muslim without an agenda. Get to know them and make friends. Muslims are neighbors and coworkers and members of so many communities in North America that few people have to go far to encounter them. It behooves everyone - but especially those who might have an adversarial idea of them - to discover the common ground they share.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balanced and courageous. In an age where so much is either hyped one-sidedly, or confused by anger and ignorance, this book stands out. The author speaks from hard-won experience trying to understand the worldview, values and keys into the hearts of Muslims. He understands the missed opportunities squandered by Christians who don't know how to stay focused on what we have that is the pivotal point: Jesus. Medearis speaks truth with grace and compassion, so rare. I highly recommend this piece for any who earnestly want to understand the Muslim heart so as to explain better the Maker of all out hearts.
"The message that we carry is Jesus. Not church, not capitalism, not democracy, not doctrine, not the religion of Christianity, not Calvin, not Luther, not Democrat, not Republican." p.33
"We are not here to "build the kingdom", but rather to obey the King."p.35

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muslims, Christians, and Jesus
Understanding the World of Islam and Overcoming the Fears That Divide Us
by Carl Medearis
Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 07 Nov 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Muslims, Christians and Jesus through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

This book encourages us to not be flippant or mean when we are talking to Muslims about Christ. We are encouraged to be both genuine and patient and to speak respectfully. When we tell them about Jesus terms like Jesus the Christ and Messiah are acceptable terms.

The author encourages us not to treat the Muslims faith with disregard. We are reminded too that we should not judge all Muslims by the acts of extremists. We are encouraged to show them Jesus Loves by example.

I give Muslims, Christians and Jesus four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should have paid better attention to the second part of the sub-title. This was a great and relevant book, I was just expecting it to be more of a look at how Christianity and Islam mesh and can come together through Jesus than a how-to for talking to Muslims about Jesus. The former was also covered, I was just looking for something more in-depth. I don't have the fear of Muslims that others do, so that part was less applicable to me, although I am almost embarrassed to admit that it never occurred to me to visit a Mosque or Islamic Center here. It would be such a great educational experience.

[Donna McTaggart]

Love this book. I am a fan of Carl Medearis.
I learned so much about the Islamic faith from Carl's experiences and stories.

Summer of 2022 I did this study with my faith community, LIVE LOVED, in social VR app AltspaceVR. Enjoyed this study so much.

It is a great overview of the Islamic faith. Although Carl did share differences between Christianity and Islam, the focus was on what these faiths share.. Jesus. Carl encourages followers of Jesus witness to Muslims by building relationship, talking about Jesus, praying together and sharing community. Join together in a shared love for Jesus and let the Holy Spirit do the work of bringing them to a place where they find redemption.

[Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish reading although it seemed like a great premise for a book and I was really interested in seeing how the author will approach it. However, unfortunately the author has clearly not done proper research on Islam to write a book about it; ended up confusing many of the “traditions” of Arab countries as a part of what Islam and what Muslims believe in. Just because a number of muslims in a certain country practice an activity that doesn’t automatically make it a part of the actual religion.

[Elisha Bronner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. I loved the genuineness of the author and the way he portrayed building genuine relationships and getting to know and love individuals. Loved the focus on Jesus and using the method of building bridges based on respect and similarities, rather than turning people away because of disrespect and trying to correct differences. Very informative as well, and I learned a lot. Highly recommend!

[Austyn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the events of 9/11 one can expect to have some strong emotion and prejudice towards the Middle East and the Islam faith but their is no room for that in the kingdom of God. This book does a phenomenal job of demolishing the false and negative perspectives that we have built up about Muslims and helps rebuild the beauty of people that we, as Americans have failed to love and welcome.