The story of God, his creation, and humanity began in and will end in the Middle East.

The Garden of Eden; the first sin; the first civilization; God’s destruction of the world by a flood, and salvation of righteous Noah and his family; the division of people into ethnological entities called nations to dispel the rebellious unity of Babylon; God’s choosing of Abraham through whom all the families of the world would be blessed; the fall and exile of the physical nation of Israel to Assyria and Babylon; the coming of the Son of God, the Son of man, the son of David, the Savior of all humanity; his death, resurrection, and promised return to Jerusalem; the establishment of the new Jerusalem.

Current Situation in the Middle East and Islamic World

After the rapid growth of the early church, the rate of increase began to wane as professional clergy took the place of an active involvement of Christians in all areas of life. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity led to an empire of people who did not need real repentance and faith in Jesus to be “Christian”.

Mohamed was born into an Arabia filled with Christians, Jews, and poly-theists and carved out his new religion using terminology and practices familiar to each of these. Promising allegiance to the one true God, he united a number of the local Arab tribes into a sizable and fierce fighting force which took over the Arabian city of Mecca and made it their capital city. As they spread their new movement, they had one message: “Submit to Allah, and Mohamed his prophet, and to us, or die.

After the death of Mohamed, conflict over who should be the next “Caliph” or leader of Islam, led to the death of his son-in-law Ali, and later his two sons Hussein and Hassan. This was the beginning of the Shia-Sunny division of Islam. The Ottoman Turks were pressured into Islam, and later took over the Islamic Middle East for around 500 years. They allowed the Jews and Christians to live in relative freedom if they submitted to Islam rule.

The weakening Ottoman empire at the beginning of the 20th century sided with Germany in the Great War or WW1. Great Britain, and France, and their allies forced the Ottoman empire to give up their claim over all Middle Eastern territory, leading to the establishment the nation states, of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and others. During this process, the Muslim Middle East came to disdain European, and later American imperialism in the region.

Spiritual Challenges

Cultural barriers to the gospel

Nationality (Western Christians vs Islam)

Fighting brothers (against each other) are unified against a common enemy (Christianity, Judaism, Communism, other)

Extremist doctrine “... Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Muhammed Mahdi Akef.3. • “[Jihad must be waged against] the Muslim's real enemies, not only Israel but also the United States.

Work with close cultures (example Nancy - Egyptian, Siham - Yezidi)

Take advantage of positive views (Korean fans, Western bridge)

Spiritual barriers

Ishmael (Hagar)/Isaac – hatred, jealousy

Signs, wonders, miracles, healings, deliverances (Farouk, Turkey)

Focus in the gospel, discipleship (Jesus’ hostile environment)

Emotional barriers

Fear instead of love

Love is our character as believers – “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1Jo 4:7-8)

Love conquers fear – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…” (1Jo 4:18a)

We love because we have become God’s children – “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (Joh 1:12)

Fear of death – “Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.” (Heb 2:14-15)

Fear of suffering – “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev 2:10)

Lack of Godly fear – “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” (Job 4:6)

Theological barriers

Wrong view of Israel

The remnant and the restoration – “As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors” (Rom 11:28)

Praying for Israel, and all nations to be saved – “For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.” (Zec 2:8)

Jesus will bring a universal restoration of Israel – “And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob." (Rom 11:28)

Everywhere to Everywhere

All God’s people (universal church) on mission

Priority to the least reached – “According to Joshua Project, there are approximately 17,446 unique people groups in the world with 7,391 of them considered unreached (over 42% of the world's population)! The vast majority (85%) of these least reached groups exist in the 10/40 window and less than 3% of missionary work is done among these people.”

The middle men/women

Mosul

Evangelism and Church Planting

Christianity began in Jerusalem and then spread to the whole Middle East. It has never been the majority religion of any large areas. It is estimated that: “Christians now make up approximately 5% of the Middle Eastern population, down from 13% in the early 20th century.” The majority of Christians have left Middle Eastern nations because of persecution.

The Christian groups can be broadly spoken of as the Church of the East, including Eastern Orthodox, Assyria (Aramaic speaking), Chaldean Catholic, Maronites, Armenian Orthodox and a small number of evangelicals.

Christ church at Jerusalem’s Jaffa gate is said to be the first protestant church in the Middle East, established in 1833.

The traditional churches in the Middle East are generally not active in evangelism.

Most protestant, and evangelical churches are attempting to reach Muslims and other non-Christians with the gospel, but they are often restricted in doing this.

“A 2015 study estimated that there were 483,500 Christians in the Middle East who were previously Muslim, mostly Protestant.”

“A million Muslims have accepted Christ in Iran as tens of thousands of mosques in the Islamic country have closed, according to reports on the ground and multiple ministries in the region.” (Conversion to Christianity, Wikpedia)

Outside Iran, the church has not grown rapidly.

The key is vision for indigenous Christians. Not copying Western or other churches, but building a truly local expression of the Christian faith.

Conclusion

Prepare to go…go…partner with those going.

“Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Mat 9:37)