Followers of Jesus (Isa) in Islamic Thoughts: A Closer Examination of C-5 ‘High Spectrum’ Contextualization

There has been considerable discussion in recent years concerning various proposals which might help the church to more effectively communicate the gospel to Muslims who continue to be the most resistant groups to the Christian message. The growing emphasis on “insider movements” often linked with “C-5” strategy calls for continued discussion and reflection among mission leaders today. The purpose of this article is to provide a more detailed analysis and assessment of the growing emphasis on encouraging ‘insider movements’ from within the Muslim world. The focal point of this article will be on Muslim followers of Jesus (Isa) who may continue attending the Islamic Mosque and who retain their religious identity as Muslims. How do these followers of Jesus relate to the rest of the global church? Can someone say ‘yes’ to Jesus and ‘no’ to the visible church? Are the Biblical and theological arguments made in support of this movement valid? These are some of the questions which this article seeks to answer.