For too long, Christians have taken an adversarial role with Muslims. We believe we must prove them wrong, and expose all the untruth and evil in their religion BEFORE we can share Jesus with them.

But consider Paul’s strategy in yet another city, Ephesus. In Acts 19, we read about how he goes there and raises up a core group of 12 believers. He then preaches in the Synagogues (where the Jews persecuted him and ran him out – 19:9), and then among the Gentiles in the Hall of Tyrannus. For two years, he preaches the Gospel to all the peoples in Ephesus.

And many people believe.

This cramps the style of the silversmiths, who make their entire living on forging and selling little silver statues and idols for worship of Artemis, the main God of Ephesus. Now, I’m not an expert on Artemis, but I have been to Ephesus. I went last summer, and got to see some of the silver idols that they have excavated…most of them connected to fertility. The female versions have about 15 breasts all over their abdomens, and the male versions – well, let’s just say they are very well-endowed! I mean, this stuff is gross! Further, there was quite a bit of sexual immorality connected to the worship of Artemis. One way to connect with her was to see a temple prostitute, for instance. So this whole Artemis cult, which was the main thing going in Ephesus while Paul was there, was way over the top.

And yet, we read in Acts 19:37 that the Town Clerk of Ephesus describes Paul and the other believers as men “who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.” What?
That’s right, they have been there for two years preaching Jesus, and have never blasphemed Artemis.

What about us? Is it possible that we should follow this example? That rather than focusing on dissing Muhammed and Islam, we should focus instead on sharing Jesus? Perhaps if we do this, we will get the kind of response Paul got in Ephesus…many believed. So many, that the local idol-trade was suffering.