As cultural conversations in the US increasingly focus on national identity, more people—both Christian and non-Christian—are recognizing that being American is about more than geography.
A people’s identity matters. And whether acknowledged or not, the story of America cannot be told apart from the privileged position Christianity has held in shaping its culture.
According to Pew in 2017, the US is home to at least 3.45 million Muslims, accounting for about 1.1 percent of the total population. With Ramadan now underway, believers in the West must ask: How should we, as followers of Christ, respond to the growing presence of Muslims in our communities?
Our Calling: Gospel Witness to Our Muslim Neighbors
The American church has a missionary obligation to reach the nations—including those from Islamic backgrounds—now living among us. The Apostle Paul described his ministry in terms of “obligation” (Romans 1:14) and “necessity” (1 Corinthians 9:16). While we don’t share his apostolic calling, the church as a whole shares his stewardship to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have never truly heard it (Romans 10:14–17, 15:20–21).
Islam presents a unique challenge for Christians. Since the seventh century, its core teachings have refuted central biblical doctrines—Christ’s atoning death (Surah 4:157–158), his divine Sonship (Surah 6:101), and the Trinity (Surah 5:73). But that doesn’t mean every Muslim has knowingly rejected the gospel. In reality, most have likely never heard a clear explanation of the good news. Fewer than 15 percent of Muslims worldwide even know a Christian personally.
Muslims, then, should be regarded as a mission field and not merely as cultural opponents. Moreover, the tenor of our witness to Muslims must be one in which we patiently unpeel each layer of contextual confusion which threatens to cloud our message, communicating the biblical gospel in such a way as to be understood.
God’s Sovereignty in Gospel Opportunity
In one sense, we must recognize the hand of God in bringing so many scores of Islamic migrants into evangelistic “striking distance” of evangelical Christians in the US. Of course, all that comes to pass is part of divine providence (Isaiah 46:9-10; Ephesians 1:11)—and this does not mean that there is no societal harm that can be associated with unfettered immigration. Nevertheless, God exercises particular care in superintending the movements of peoples and their access to gospel truth (Acts 17:26-28). Thus, Christians in the US should not be slack in their missionary obligation to those Muslim neighbors whom God has placed in their sphere of influence but should pray and labor towards their salvation.
We can hold fast to our Christian identity and our national distinctness while also personally extending gospel compassion as the Lord would give us opportunity. The question is not whether we will encounter Muslims but whether we will faithfully steward the opportunity God has placed before us. Now is the time to respond.
