Don't curse the darkness, Light a Candle: The challenge of islam within the cultural diversity of Europe

This article considers how the Christian Church in Europe should respond to the challenge of the presence of Muslims in Europe. The basic stance is that this challenge should be addressed in the light of theological reflection on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. Reitsma points out that Islam ‐ like Christianity ‐ is very diverse and far from static. God intended the Christian community as the people created in his image, the restored community of creation and the viceroy of the creator. It is argued that cultural (and religious) diversity are given with the creation and as such a good thing. The truth claims of Islam and Christianity are different, because even though Islam can be recognised as an Abrahamic religion, its fundamental differences in outlook concerning the nature of God and of salvation cannot be ignored. Yet Christians are called to show Muslims the love of God rather than hatred. Under the grace of Christ and through the power of the Spirit it is possible to live in peace and harmony as a multicultural and multi-ethnic society.