January 2008 Ordained Servant

From the Editor. Since September 11, 2001, Americans have discovered that we can no longer ignore Islam as a political force or as a religion. The confusion of those two realms is inherent in Islam, and, sadly, is found with some Christians as well. For Christians, the danger in the confusion is to consider Muslims our enemies, when we should be seeking their salvation. Some Muslims are indeed our political enemies whom we have a duty to defend ourselves against as citizens; but, as the church, all Muslims should be the objects of our evangelistic concern. Only when we carefully distinguish between the spiritual and temporal kingdoms is such concern really possible. As enemies of God, Muslims must be told of the reconciling love of God in Jesus Christ.

Bryan Estelle addresses the question of how American Reformed churches should be engaging their Muslim neighbors. Don Poundstone reviews two important books by distinguished Islamic scholar Bernard Lewis. In the interest of directing you to the best resources for encountering Islam, I round out this month's offering with a review of two books by Reformed evangelist to Islam Anees Zaka.

On a related subject, Richard Gamble reviews two books dealing with the relationship of the church to American civil order and culture.

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high quality editorials, articles, and book reviews we will endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic Presbyterianism.