These Unbaptized Muslims

General Custer was known as an Indian fighter. He died fighting. The story is told that he and his men found themselves surrounded by a large number of Indians. One of his men said, “General Custer, look at all those Indians we can kill!”

Though that attitude didn’t serve him well at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, it is the same attitude that David had when he face Goliath. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

If not for the fact that David won his fight against Goliath, we would say, “That’s awfully foolish of him,” just as we would say it would be foolish for General Custer to be thinking about how many Indians he could kill when he was out numbered. But hasn’t our God called us to foolishness? “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (1 Cor. 1:27).

We’re facing our own Goliath right now in the form of Islam. To hear a lot of my friends talk, Islam is the scariest thing there ever was. We dare not let Muslim refugees into our country because they might be terrorists, plotting to blow something up. Even if they aren’t, they might be trying to force Sharia law on us. And if a kid puts a clock in a box and takes it to school, he’s to be feared.

So, let me ask you, Who are these unbaptized Muslims that they should defy the armies of the living God? If God is God, then we have no business being afraid of these guys. Why are we making decisions based on our fear? That’s what the children of Israel did. They left Egypt and looked over into the promised land, only to decide that they weren’t willing to face the giants. The Bible gives us story after story in which people were afraid instead of putting their trust in the Lord and things going badly. I don't recall one time when God blessed the spirit of fear rather than faith.

The Lord has called us to make disciples, beginning at home and going throughout the world. Not only has he told us to go, he has promised our success. We won’t reach everyone, but we will be witnesses throughout the world. He never promised the Muslims that they would be successful, and yet many people act as if he did. They fear that if Muslims come into our country that they will persuade our people to become Muslim. Should we not rather see this as an opportunity to preach the gospel to these Muslims? You can be sure that there is little opportunity for these people to hear the gospel in the countries they are fleeing. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for us to send a missionary into the areas occupied by ISIS? Just the mention of the gospel might be enough to get you killed.

Even though our freedoms are taking a hit right now, in the United States, we have freedom to share the gospel. Every Muslim that ISIS chases to our shores may be a threat, but they are also a potential convert. So, let me put it this way: If I were a government official charged with preventing terrorism, I would just as soon say that no Muslims are allowed. Of course, the Constitution wouldn’t allow me to say that, but it would make my job easier. But as a Christian, I want to say, send them by the boat load. Send them to my city. Send them to my doorstep. Send them and we’ll preach the gospel to them. Send them, so God can use us to turn these unbaptized Muslims into baptized Christian missionaries.