Union with God in Christ

by Matthew Friedman, A H Mathias Zahniser (Foreword by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498278386
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	10/26/2017
Series:	American Society of Missiology Monograph , #32
Pages:	322
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dr. Matthew Friedman (PhD, Asbury Seminary) is Professor of Intercultural Studies and Global Ministry Director at Kingswood University, and Adjunct Professor at Asbury Seminary.

Table of Contents

Permissions vii

Foreword A. H. Mathias Zahniser ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

1 "Will You Not Discover The Lord In All This?": The Context of Ancient Jewish Mysticism 22

2 "With Unveiled Faces": New Testament Response to Ascension and Vision Mysticism 59

3 "That He Be Surrounded by God's Glory": Christian Interaction with Jewish and Hellenic Mysticism in Late Antiquity 90

4 Union with God and Mission in the Theology of John Wesley 111

5 Sufism: A Brief Overview 145

6 'Ali Ibn 'Uthman Al-Hujwiri and Sharaf Al-Din Maneri 194

7 Conclusion 239

Bibliography 261

General Index 285

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“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

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Publisher