This book by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour (NavPress 2008) adds some very important information to what every Christian needs to know about Islam. Dr. Jabbour debunks a lot of pet theories Western Christians hold about Muslims, Islam, and Muslim-background believers (MBBs). He shares insights on the parables of Jesus from an Arab perspective and asks the question: isn’t Christianity more THEOLOGICALLY (not culturally) aligned with Islam than with Judaism?

Throughout the book, Dr. Jabbour talks about “Ali,” a composite Muslim that fits many of the characteristics and beliefs of Muslims Dr. Jabbour has met and lived with, both here and in the Middle East. He presents several fictional situations that show a positive Christian response vs. a negative Christian response to Muslims; these are all based on real situations he himself has experienced.

The book is very interesting to read, though there were times, particularly in the beginning, when I wondered if it couldn’t have been edited a bit better. I felt at times that there was a little too much jumping around from issue to issue but by the second half of the book, I could hardly put it down.

I realized from Dr. Jabbour that, even though I have studied Islam more than your average American, I am still guilty of laying a lot of cultural western Christian ideas over Muslims and the Middle East that are a hindrance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.