When we think of missions, we usually think of the great movement of the Church from West to East as she proclaims the Gospel of Christ. We are forcefully reminded, however, that there is a movement today from East to West, a missionary movement of important consequence. I have in mind the missionary activity of Mohammedanism.

The Ahmadiyyah Moslem Mission, located in the Hague, issues a journal called The Review of Religions. The March, 1960, issue of this magazine featured an article bearing the title, “The Salvation of Europe.” I will give the following brief summary of this article:

The writer begins with the observation that Islam was on the defensive in the nineteenth century, a century that saw the glorious history of Islam at its lowest point. During this time, the West with its destructive powers, its materialistic philosophy, and its aggressive Church was without contention master of the field. But today we are witnessing a marvelous revival. The miracle is taking place. The West has lost its grip on the East. Islam is no longer on the defensive, but has taken to the offensive. The Church lost a powerful ally when the Tzar of Russia fell before the Russian Revolution, and now she stands threatened by the Kremlin. The West may be trying to overcome this threat by way of technical development, diplomacy, and assistance to underdeveloped territories. The Church may be working at missions as never before. But in fact, the West is on the wane and the Church is helpless against the tide of communism.

The writer goes on to say that the idea of a God who committed suicide on a cross to save mankind can offer no help. Nor can the West restore its position now that the East and Near-East have escaped from under its foot. Salvation lies in Islam alone. “The promised Messiah predicted that a series of terrible events should occur in the West, leading to a change of thought in the Continent of Europe, which change will benefit Islam.” From this arises the new calling for Islam towards the West. The Moslem world is financially able to carry on its mission. Moslem leaders are in ruling places from Indonesia to Morocco. There is only one hindrance: Islam is still too defensive, it must go all out on the offense. This is the time to let the light shine over Europe and America. “This is a divine decree and therefore must be so.” This article ends: “May God bless those who listen and obey.”

The mission of Islam is only beginning. The first Mosque in this country was built in the Hague in 1955. The activity stems primarily from the movement which I have mentioned. It also speaks of cooperating with others toward a better understanding between Islam and Christianity. But as one reads the missionary appeal of Islam and notes how the faith of Christianity is grotesquely caricatured, he is more impressed with the offensive against Christianity than with any attempt to understand it. The movement wishes first of all to save the West by freeing the West of Christianity. It says that this liberation will occur through divine guidance, spiritual rebirth, and prayer. Europe and America, in any case, are primary objects of the Islam missionary movement.

The West is the goal because the West is spiritually poor. As we observe this movement, we would be ill-advised to spurn it from pride. We have also little reason to smile. There is only one right response to Islam’s new missionary vision. It must be seen in terms of challenge. The important question that it poses is this: does the Church understand that her own calling in Jesus Christ is missions? Is the movement of the Church outward from her own self-conscious existence as a saved community to the darkness, the very darkness from which she was first saved?

The missionary movement of the Church has not always been seen as essential. It has sometimes been thought in history that the Church could be a church and stand still. But the apostles would have thought it impossible to conceive of the Church in any other way than on the move to the outermost parts of the world. A church self-satisfied in her own ecclesiastical cubicle would not have been a church at all in the eyes of the apostles.

Toynbee has written well of the significance of the “challenge” to civilizations. If a civilization accepts the chalenge facing it, it can grow to new power and position. This gives the Church a hint. Does she take the hint of the challenge offered by the missionary activity of the East? Does she understand her calling in the world of today? The events of our day can be apocalyptic events that call the Church to her task, and a consciousness of her calling.

It is clear from the New Testament that missions is not a chapter in the history of the Church, from which she can pass on to other matters. Missions is an eschatological sign of the coming of the Kingdom. The Church’s concern for the world must be her distinguishing feature. The Church is not allowed the luxury of introversion. She is compelled to go out into the world. This does not mean that the Church may lose concern for her own health. Rather, it means that the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ is elemental for the Church’s good health. We may for a moment be impressed by the revitalized missionary spirit of Islam. But we must then directly be summoned to deeper self-examination of our own lives and to eager readiness to dig in and work while it is yet day, and look as we do to the coming of the Kingdom.

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