“I feel a bit sad,” she said. “I’ve been trying to share with Muslim neighbors about my faith. Now they are avoiding talking with me! I’m not sure what to do.” I could hear the frustration and concern in her voice. When you begin to share boldly with those around you, opposition and resistance are sure to come.

How will you respond?

Abundant gospel sowing sounds great and is an important principle of DMMs. It is clear that bold witness is a characteristic of every Disciple Making Movement. There is a price to pay.

Three Responses

As you become more active in sharing your faith, there will be three main responses from those around you. The first is indifference. Some people will show little interest in your message. Uncomfortable with the bold way you share your love for Jesus, they may distance themselves from their relationship with you. You might notice they even avoid you if you talk about your faith too much. This is especially true in Western contexts, but can also be true in the East.

The second response is opposition. You may experience overt attacks, especially from those of other religious persuasions. One movement leader had people burn down his house when he started reaching out to the Muslims in his area. In other contexts, the opposition could be more subtle. Religious leaders may hear you are actively sharing Christ with the members of their mosque or temple. They will often tell their people to not spend time with you. They fear the influence you may have on those who are part of their community. read more