Engaging Muslims & Islam: Lessons for 21st-Century American Evangelicals (Global Faiths)

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, many world events have drawn attention to the intersection of Islam and Christianity. Evangelical views of Islam as a religion and Muslims as adherents of Islam highlight the need to develop a set of theological and missiological principles that answer questions such as: “What theological themes and doctrines aid evangelicals in gaining a theological understanding of Islam and Muslims?” and “What biblical values should guide our understanding of how evangelicals should live among and relate to their Muslim neighbors in the US?” How does one withstand the effect of the virulent comments made by American evangelical leaders who are in the position to influence the evangelical church in America? Islam is but one of the many religions and cultures to which Americans are increasingly exposed. How does one understand them all, and what should individuals and churches do to understand religious others?

Amit A. Bhatia, (PhD, Intercultural Studies) has spent more than 20 years bridging the gap between academia and the church. Throughout seminary he served as a pastor in several different multi-ethnic congregations, and is currently serving as Director of Outreach at his church in Lincolnshire, IL. As a Christian of Hindu background, Amit consistently engages people from other faiths with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Fully committed to training Christians for ministry, Amit currently teaches part-time in the Christian Ministries department at Trinity International University, specializing in courses on missions, world religions and culture.