Afghan Christian-Muslim Theological Dialogues: A Delicate Discourse - Part 1

One of the most remarkable opportunities I have experienced in recent years has been the initiation of a ministry focused on theological dialogue with Afghans, who are predominantly (99.7%) Muslim and considered unreached, via a Live Show on social media.

These sessions start with a brief teaching from the Word of God. Following the teaching, I invite anyone with questions about the Bible, the person of Jesus, or the Christian faith to engage in a dialogue with me. The response has been astonishing!

I have had hundreds of hours of these conversations with Afghans from a variety of different situations. I have spoken with Afghans who are living in Afghanistan and those who are living, or were even born, in the diaspora. I have had dialogues with Afghan men and women, young and old, traditionalist/conservative and progressive/liberal, Muslims, atheist, and Christians.

But the real question is this: are these conversations necessary? Why should there be Christian-Muslim theological dialogues among Afghans? What purpose does it serve? In the next few articles, I will give multiple reasons why these conversations are important and necessary.

1. Afghan Christian-Muslim Theological Dialogues Promotes Understanding and Relationships

There's a significant amount of misinformation and misunderstanding among Afghans regarding the Christian faith. We frequently encounter questions such as, "Why do you believe in three Gods or that a human (Jesus) can be God?", "Why do you believe in the Bible if it has been abrogated or altered?", "Why do you hate Muslims?", and etc.

These questions reflect deep-seated misconceptions passed down through generations, without ever receiving clear answers. This lack of dialogue and understanding is one facet of what it means to be unreached. The unreached peoples in Afghanistan lack churches, families, friends, or anyone to engage in meaningful conversations to address their genuine questions or disingenuous attacks on the Christian faith. Consequently, these misunderstandings about the Christian faith and and the followers of Jesus can quickly solidify into deeply held beliefs, which can, unfortunately, fuel hostility and hatred.

What I have observed over the past few years is that while these challenging conversations do not always lead to conversions, they frequently end with Afghans having some of their questions answered. They might not agree with every answer, but they depart, having an answer to a few of the misconceptions that once clouded their understanding and judgment.

Another fascinating outcome is how some Afghans enter these theological discussions with significant hostility, but after a series of conversations over time, this hostility often transforms into genuine friendship. For instance, I recently took a few months' break from hosting this Live Show. During this hiatus, a young Afghan man I had engaged with on the show reached out to check on me. He said he had been very worried about me, knowing the considerable risk I take in showing my face on video as I have these dialogues. His concern is a testament to the unexpected friendship that can form through open, respectful conversations.

To summarize, dialogue promotes understanding and friendship. Afghans need their questions answered and they need to see the love of Christ through us. This can only happen in the context of genuine friendships and respectful dialogues. Therefore, these dialogues between Afghan Christians and Muslims are critical in our time as Afghans are enchained once more by a monomaniacal and militant Islamic ideology of the Taliban.