Christians from a Muslim Background in the Middle East

This chapter discusses the issue of the unique challenges faced by Christians from a Muslim background (CMBs) in the Middle East.

CMBs face a wide assortment of challenges as they seek to form and stabilize their convert identities. These challenges are addressed under the headings of challenges related to the state, challenges related to families, and challenges related to the Christian community. CMBs encounter many challenges in forming lasting and meaningful relationships with other Christians and within their own churches. With regard to their Muslim society and family, CMBs try to retain relational connections while rejecting the transcendent, prophetic dimension that is understood to undergird the very existence of said communities. In relation to the pre-existing Christian communities, the CMB is also a liminal figure. In relation to marriage, this is a simple legal reality in many countries—the convert cannot marry into the pre-existing community.