Right Reverend Dr. Bill Musk

Living among the Breakage

World Religions

“How do you discern theology-in-the-making, especially among Christian believers from a Muslim background? Miller suggests that the activity together of such a Christian group may yield some insight. He looks at a specific instance of church planting, but sadly concludes that the theology-making there is going nowhere because of a static state of patronage that is being perpetuated among the leadership. Elsewhere Miller looks at conversion and persecution narratives deriving from Christian believers from a Muslim background, discerning within them what he calls 'liberation' and 'wisdom' theologies. Such narratives are widespread. Within a specific, Iranian-originated fellowship, Miller finds an intentional emphasis on 'Persian-ness' with a corresponding hostility to what is perceived as Arabo-Islamic contaminations. Out of his research Miller finds some common theological themes: dissatisfaction with the theory of penal substitution (maybe deriving from an Islamic perspective on the responsibility/accountability of the individual to God); messiness around matters of 'church' (including the importance of baptism, the lack of welcome/family feel in immature churches, and the paucity of strong leadership); and the re-formation of identity in experiences of rapid cultural change, minority status as 'Christian,' persecution, etc.). Overall, Miller iterates a suggestion that theology-making among Christian believers from a Muslim background needs to find focus in an understanding/emphasis on God's power (the essential face of a 'Monad' god) as finding envelopment within and best expression through God's love (the essence of 'Trinity'). Miller's search is for precious expressions of Christian hope among the breakage of often poor, struggling communities of believers. It is amazing what he does find there!”