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Women examine Voices Behind the Veil
Sep 24, 2003
TAMMI REED LEDBETTER
Southern Baptist Texan

DALLAS, Texas (FBW)–Christians in the West can no longer pretend that Muslims live on the other side of the world or that what they believe doesn’t affect them, states June Hunt, nationally-syndicated radio host of Hope for the Heart, in the foreword to Voices Behind the Veil, a new release from Kregel Publications. Since most Christians feel ill—equipped to witness to followers of Islam, she argues for learning more about the Muslim mindset in order to speak to their minds and their hearts.

Hunt observes that many Islamic nations enforce legal and cultural standards based on prejudice against women that is reflected in fewer legal rights than those enjoyed by men. Such disparity extends to some countries allowing the legal right of a man to beat his wife based on Qur’an teaching. "The Lord may be putting into your path a Muslim woman who is seeking something different, yet she doesn’t know what she seeks," Hunt writes. It’s not enough for her to watch how a Christian woman lives in order to be drawn to Christ, she adds. Christian women have the recipe that needs to be shared with Muslim friends so that they, too, can have the "Bread of Life," she says, calling Voices Behind the Veil a "must-read."

Editor Ergun Caner believes Christians have neglected their duty to reach Muslims. "Thousands of missionaries have surrendered their freedoms, comforts, and even security to share the precious gospel around the world," he admits with gratitude. "But the task is unrelenting and daunting with huge fields white unto harvest and most laborers are back in the barn, at ease in Zion."

Since most cross-gender conversation is discouraged in the Islamic world, Caner envisioned a book written by Christian women to train Christian women to reach Muslim women. Himself the author of several books focusing on apologetics and evangelism regarding Muslims, Caner admits that male theologians have a decided tendency to be pedantic, laborious, and rationalistic.

"To reach Islamic women, one needs wisdom that is biblical, empathetic, and sympathetic," he argues. He turns to authors, mothers, speakers, theologians, housewives, and pastor’s wives, as well as four missionaries, two of whom serve in predominately Islamic countries. Muslim converts to Christianity are included in two chapters.

Muslim women "come to our shores, live in our neighborhoods, work in our offices, eat in our restaurants, and shop in our malls," Caner observes. "When we were unwilling to go as His ambassadors into the uttermost parts of the world, God brought the uttermost parts of the world to us. Now the onus is on us to learn how to most effectively reach Muslim women with the mercy, grace, forgiveness, and atonement of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God."

Florida contributor, Lea Eppling, a member of Tropical Farms Baptist Church in Stewart, wrote a chapter entitled, "Cherished Commodity: Daughters in Islam." She said her goal for this chapter was "was to move women’s hearts with compassion for Muslim girls" and prompt them to action.

"We cannot truly engage someone with the love of Christ if we simply feel compassion for them," said Eppling. "Too many times we look and walk the other way when someone different than ourselves comes near."

In order to accomplish her goal, Eppling said she attempted to give the reader a "glimpse" into the life of girls raised in various Islamic societies.

Contributors Rachel L. Hardy, Ruqaya Naser and Emily Hunter McGowin provide readers a quick overview of Muhammed, his 13 wives, his revelations, which make up the Qur’an and the collection of his sayings and reminiscences called the Hadith. In a section called Islamic theology 101, readers learn of Islam’s five pillars as well as how Muslims’ regard for Jesus affects their openness to the Gospel.

For a more expended version of this review, go to www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com.

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