How Should Muslim Identity be Determined?

Abstract

The Muslim world remains the greatest missiological challenge for the global church. Many missiologists are presently wrestling with the issue of identity development for new believers in Christ from Muslim background. The insider movement initiative prescribes their permanent retention of Muslim identity. Controversy has arisen since the global Muslim community has hitherto been unwilling to confer Muslim identity upon Christ-worshippers. This article considers whether Muslim identity should be self-determined or reciprocally determined. The article concludes by stating the perils of an autonomous, self-determined Muslim identity, then offers recommendations for healthy, Christo-centric identity development among new believers who are from a Muslim background.