Timothy Harris

very early in our ministry to Muslims, I wrongly responded to somebody who said something similar, and we touched on this in a very early episode, but just to touch on it briefly again, I remember I had another Palestinian man who was an international student, and I was in his apartment, and this was really early when we started out in ministry. We were as they say, super green behind the ears.

very early in our ministry to Muslims, I wrongly responded to somebody who said something similar, and we touched on this in a very early episode, but just to touch on it briefly again, I remember I had another Palestinian man who was an international student, and I was in his apartment, and this was really early when we started out in ministry. We were as they say, super green behind the ears.

We were rookies and just learning. And I remember that this man and I were sharing with each other one night, and we were sitting close enough on a couch where he poked his finger right in my chest, and he said, Tim, I swear to you that I love Jesus more than you do. I was, like, shocked. I was like, in my head, I'm thinking, what are you talking about, man? You don't know Jesus.

We were rookies and just learning. And I remember that this man and I were sharing with each other one night, and we were sitting close enough on a couch where he poked his finger right in my chest, and he said, Tim, I swear to you that I love Jesus more than you do. I was, like, shocked. I was like, in my head, I'm thinking, what are you talking about, man? You don't know Jesus.

How can you say you love him more than I do? And what came out of my mouth was something that wasn't great. I just said, I said back to him, I swear to you, you don't love Jesus more than I do because you have the wrong Jesus. Yeah. Okay, now Brandon, let me just share with your listeners what I'd say now. I hope. I'd probably say now something like this. You know, my friend, wow, that's amazing.

How can you say you love him more than I do? And what came out of my mouth was something that wasn't great. I just said, I said back to him, I swear to you, you don't love Jesus more than I do because you have the wrong Jesus. Yeah. Okay, now Brandon, let me just share with your listeners what I'd say now. I hope. I'd probably say now something like this. You know, my friend, wow, that's amazing.

You say you love Jesus. Well, I love Jesus too. So why don't we just talk about Jesus? And that, you know, that you're not defensive. You're not trying to win. You're diffusing what could potentially be, you know, some fireworks and some debate that won't be helpful. And so I want to encourage your listeners.

You say you love Jesus. Well, I love Jesus too. So why don't we just talk about Jesus? And that, you know, that you're not defensive. You're not trying to win. You're diffusing what could potentially be, you know, some fireworks and some debate that won't be helpful. And so I want to encourage your listeners.

I mean, I think sometimes we as believers, we think we have to win all the time when we're talking to a Muslim or any unbeliever. I've got to win. If I don't win, they won't understand the gospel. Well, what happens is you might win an argument but lose the person. And really, sometimes winning is more about us than it is about the Lord.

I mean, I think sometimes we as believers, we think we have to win all the time when we're talking to a Muslim or any unbeliever. I've got to win. If I don't win, they won't understand the gospel. Well, what happens is you might win an argument but lose the person. And really, sometimes winning is more about us than it is about the Lord.

We like to think it's about the Lord and the gospel, but sometimes it's our egos.

We like to think it's about the Lord and the gospel, but sometimes it's our egos.

Yeah, our pride.

Yeah, our pride.

Yeah, our pride. And so, yeah, I think, I mean, what does the Bible tell us? A gentle answer. You know, turns away the wrath of man, the anger of man in Proverbs. So sometimes when a Muslim says something shocking to you that you might be easily offended by instead, you know, just diffuse it with kindness and a gentle, loving heart.

Yeah, our pride. And so, yeah, I think, I mean, what does the Bible tell us? A gentle answer. You know, turns away the wrath of man, the anger of man in Proverbs. So sometimes when a Muslim says something shocking to you that you might be easily offended by instead, you know, just diffuse it with kindness and a gentle, loving heart.

Hmm. I like that. So given that, what you just said, do you think that this can teach us about the urgency with which we share the gospel?

Hmm. I like that. So given that, what you just said, do you think that this can teach us about the urgency with which we share the gospel?

Well, I love that word you just used. I mean, I'll just say that I struggle sometimes as it relates to the balance of being led by the Holy Spirit and the whole concept of urgency. Because if we let the concept of urgency, that is, The idea that Muslims or any unbeliever, that we've got to get to them right now.

Well, I love that word you just used. I mean, I'll just say that I struggle sometimes as it relates to the balance of being led by the Holy Spirit and the whole concept of urgency. Because if we let the concept of urgency, that is, The idea that Muslims or any unbeliever, that we've got to get to them right now.