Thanksgiving, Christ, and Muslim: One of the Things that I’ve Learned from my Muslim Friends
- Posted by D. David Lee
“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:20)
Alhamdulillah (Arabic) / Khoda ra Shokr (Farsi)
I’ve been hearing these words from my Muslim friends for the past 7 years almost every day. They say it all the time.
Both mean “Praise to be God” or are expressions of “Give thanks to God.”
When I greet, talk, eat with them, I hear the phrases thousands of times. When I say the same back to them in their own languages, they respond with surprise, joy, and excitement.
How many times do we Christians give thanks to God? I hope that Thanksgiving is not the only day for us to express our gratitude to God. Compared to the Muslim friends I know, it seems as though my Christian friends, both Korean and English speaking, do not express words of gratitude nearly as much. Interestingly, Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) also use the phrases all the time. Actually, both Arab and Persian people whether they are Muslims or Christians say the words always.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew verb Yadah, meaning of “give thanks or praise” occurs 114 times. The Hebrew noun Todah for “thanksgiving or praise” occurs 32 times. Also, the Greek word Eucharisteó, “give thanks” appears 38 times in the New Testament.
The huge difference of the uses between Muslims and MBBs is that MBBs are using the words in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
Of the many gifts God has given us, the ultimate gift that we should be grateful for is the gift of God Himself, namely Christ. The gift of God is eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 6:23b). We can be grateful always and in all circumstances in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Let’s remember to give thanks at all times for all things to God and in all circumstances in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.5:20; 1 Thess 5:18)!
Let’s share God’s love with our Muslim friends through proclamation of the gospel as we tell them the true meaning of “thanksgiving to God” which they say all the time.
“Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift” (2 Cor 9:15)!
D. David Lee is the founding president of Global Ministries Inc. and currently serving in Madagascar with his faimly. A graduate from Southwestern Seminary, he served at the World Missions Center from 2008 to 2017. He is husband to Jee Su, and father to Shion, Siyoung, & Siyul.