Pray for Kyrgyzstan--Ramadan 2024

A scholar explains to us why Muslims react so strongly to our calling Jesus the “Son of God”: 

In some languages and people groups kinship terminology is only used for biological relationships, not for social or covenant relationships. If people are called ‘sons of the king’ or the king is called ‘their father’, it means but one thing to them—the king had carnal relations with their mothers. In many cases, such languages attribute no implication of continuing care to these kinship terms; they simply assert a biological relationship….

Judging from the testimony of the Qur’an, when ancient Christians translated these Hebrew expressions literally into Arabic, they gave the impression that they claimed to be God’s [physical] offspring (5:18), that Jesus was the result of God’s relationship with a female companion (6:101), that Jesus and Mary were both gods alongside God (5:73, 116), and that the prophets of old were his offspring as well (21:26; 9:30). This view is condemned in the Qur’an as so insulting to the majesty of God as to almost cause the heavens to burst, the earth to split, and the mountains to collapse (19:88-92). Against this the Qur’an affirms that both Mary and Jesus ate food (5:75), meaning they were humans, not gods; that God has no consort or child (72:3; 6:101), God neither begets nor is begotten (112); and that anyone who calls Jesus ‘offspring of God’ is a kâfir, meaning an infidel condemned to hell forever (9:30)….

Muslims everywhere have been taught that Christians believe this blasphemous biological sonship of God, and their teachers commonly cite this to “prove” Christianity and the Bible are corrupt and full of errors. So when Muslims encounter the phrase ‘God’s son’ in literal translations of the Bible, they not only misunderstand it, they are filled with abhorrence and conclude the Bible is blasphemous and must be avoided. _{(Rick Brown, ‘The “Son of God”:  Understanding the Messianic Titles of Jesus’ 17, no. 1 (Spring 2000): 41.}

We who call Jesus the “Son of God” do not believe that God has sexually fathered a son, nor that he procreates sexually, nor that he has any sexual desires, nor that he has had sexual relations with any woman or goddess. However, many of us are uninformed as to the varied usage and aspects of meaning of “son of God” (huios theou) as it appears in the New Testament.

_{Photo by James on Unsplash}

Another scholar summarizes these for us.

1.  A synonym of Christ or Messiah. (Matthew 16:16, 26:63, Mark 14:61, Luke 4:41, 22:70, John 11:27, 20:31, Acts 9:20-22, Romans 1:4,8,9, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:19, Galatians 1:12,16, 2:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 3:6, 1 John 1:3, 2:22, 3:23, 2 John 9).
2. One who has a unique relationship with God (John 3:16,18, Acts 13:30-33, Romans 1:4, 8:32, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 1:5, 5:8, 1 John 4:9, 2 John 3).
3. One who is inseparable from God
4. One who has the character/attributes/nature of God (John 19:7) 
5. One who is in submission to God (1 Corinthians 15:28, Hebrews 1: 5)

_{Jeffrey Hayes, Back to the Books!: How Much Do the Bible and the Qur’an Actually Agree?, Third (Independently published, 2022), 285–88.}

Exalting HIs Name

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

You are the God of light, and we know you can bring light to this area of darkness in the understanding of Muslims.

Praying for the Harvest

• Please let light shine out of the darkness of this area of misunderstanding in Muslim thought.
• Please give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as Muslims understand who Christ really is as the Son of God.

Praying for the Church

Pray that followers of Christ in Kyrgyzstan will carefully study and understand the various meanings and usage of “son of God” when it is used of Jesus and accurately convey the appropriate meanings of this term to Muslims around them.

Worship and Waiting

This time can be an opportunity to sit still, turn on a worship song or ask the Lord if there’s anything else he’d like you to pray today.

Praying by Name

Pray that if you friends have a misunderstanding of what the Bible means by the term “Son of God,” God would give them an opportunity for clarity and understanding.

Closing Prayer

Father, this title and identity of your Son is so wonderful and complex and glorious, and yet it is with fear and trembling that we communicate with Muslims about it, for fear of disgracing you. Please let the rich and glorious meanings of Christ as “Son of God” be revealed through intentional conversation and study and may the glory of Christ shine in and through this title so as to discredit false interpretations that may come to the minds of Muslims. May greater understanding of this title remove barriers to encountering and following Christ. That you would be glorified, Amen.

_{(Thanks to M for their contribution to today’s prayer fuel)}

Unreached People Group of the Day (Visit Joshua Project for more info on Crimean Tatar in Kyrgyzstan)

Father, please send out laborers, open hearts and begin a movement to Christ among the Crimean Tatar in Kyrgyzstan.