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" Soteriological Adoption for Muslim Evangelism: Engaging Muslims with the Trinitarian Love of God "
Allen, J. Morris, III
Lawless, Chuck
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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1052583
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| Doc. No
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TL51700
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| Main Entry
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Allen, J. Morris, III
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| Title & Author
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Soteriological Adoption for Muslim Evangelism: Engaging Muslims with the Trinitarian Love of God\ Allen, J. Morris, IIILawless, Chuck
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| College
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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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| Date
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2019
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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2019
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| Note
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340 p.
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| Abstract
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Evangelists in a Muslim context face a tension about the doctrine of the Trinity. On one hand, the doctrine of the Trinity is crucial to a Christian understanding of God and the gospel message. On the other hand, it stands as one of the foremost theological obstacles to Muslim conversion. This study explores how evangelists can use the soteriological adoption motif to present the gospel to Muslims in a way that allows the Trinity to become the heart of its appeal. This study proposes that evangelists in a Muslim context should mine the doctrine of soteriological adoption for its evangelistic potential because it highlights the Trinitarian love of God. Three main streams of thought flow together in this dissertation: (1) the importance of the Trinity for Muslim evangelism; (2) the importance of soteriological adoption; and (3) the importance of engaging Muslims at an existential level with a “subversive fulfilment” approach, based on Daniel Strange’s Their Rock Is Not Like Our Rock: A Theology of Religions. This dissertation combines these three ideas to argue that the doctrine of soteriological adoption is well-suited for Muslim evangelism because it is a Trinitarian-shaped gospel motif that addresses existential needs of Muslims and subversively confronts Muslim objections to the Trinity by emphasizing relational aspects of the gospel. Chapter 1 introduces the thesis and main argument of this dissertation. Chapter 2 calls attention to the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity for evangelism, and then argues that, despite Muslim repulsion to the doctrine of the Trinity, evangelists must not neglect or downplay it. Chapter 3 argues that the doctrine of adoption, though often neglected, is a key biblical theme that should occupy a prominent place in the doctrine of soteriology. The doctrine of adoption can aid the evangelization of Muslims because it emphasizes relational aspects of the gospel. Chapter 4 suggests that the doctrine of soteriological adoption is an appropriate motif for use in a Muslim context because it contrasts with core Islamic doctrines that preclude any conception of Allah as a heavenly father. Chapter 5 argues that Islam’s limited ability to provide communion with God and assurance of salvation opens an opportunity for evangelists to develop an indirect apologetic that uses Muslim desires and intuitions to undermine their own belief system. Using the doctrine of adoption, evangelists can create plausibility structures for the doctrine of the Trinity and lead Muslims to the gospel as the source of satisfaction for their existential needs. Chapter 6 summarizes the preceding chapters, brings the arguments to a conclusion, and offers ways to implement the suggested approach.
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| Descriptor
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Comparative religion
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Religion
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Theology
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Lawless, Chuck
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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
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