Union with God in Christ: Early Christian and Wesleyan Spirituality as an Approach to Islamic Mysticism: 32 (American Society of Missiology Monograph)

A significant number of Muslim communities throughout the world reflect varying degrees of involvement in Islamic mysticism. What bridges are present in this context that will facilitate not only evangelism but also discipleship and community formation? Matthew Friedman guides the reader on a journey examining the response of the early Christian community to the challenges of ancient Jewish and Hellenic mysticism focusing on the central idea of union with God in Christ. Far from finding this to be a leftover from the early Church he discovers that this theme remained crucial into the Reformation particularly in the writing and work of eighteenth-century figures John and Charles Wesley.Join Friedman as he explores resources for discipleship and community building that will be relevant to both scholars and practitioners alike and will be effective for witness within modern contexts of Islamic mysticism worldwide. Matt Friedman has done a superb job of unlocking the inner meanings of Islamic mysticism. He has thoroughly researched early Muslim writers who sought to syncretize Islamic orthodox theology with the more experiential quest of the Sufis from whom love and union with God were the ultimate spiritual attainment. Friedman is not content to simply describe the heart hunger of God-seekers within the Muslim community. As a nearly two-decades-long resident among Muslims Friedman probes into how the Christian message can without compromise be contextualized in such a way as to be compellingly attractive to his Sufi-oriented audience. Without reservation I recommend this groundbreaking book to all who desire to explore new approaches to Muslim evangelism. --Phil Parshall retired Academic and Field Director SIM International Matt Friedman weaves an intriguing tale. He takes the reader along a complex journey through Jewish mysticism the early church Islamic Sufism and Wesleyan theology to help unpack the nature of union with God in Christ. Few scholars could pull off this feat. The fact that Matt does so with sophistication and aplomb reveals a remarkable depth to this book. . . . Union with God in Christ is precisely the kind of integrative scholarly yet sensitive contextual theology needed for communicating Christ across religious boundaries. I highly recommend it! --Gregg A. Okesson Dean E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism Asbury Theological Seminary Friedman is no armchair theorist. He understands where Muslims fearfully struggle. He is a cutting-edge missiologist who has been there on the ground and done what he writes about. Union with God in Christ will enable the reader hungry to assist Muslims to follow Jesus and call on God as Father to do so! --Greg Livingstone Founder Frontiers Matthew Friedman (PhD Asbury Theological Seminary) is Program Director and Professor for Global Ministry at Kingswood University in New Brunswick in eastern Canada as well as Adjunct Professor for Asbury Theological Seminary.