Unshackled & Growing: Muslims and Christians on the Journey to Freedom by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour

This book is written primarily for Muslims who have an interest in Jesus, or Muslims who have become followers of Christ, but the audience isn’t limited to them. It takes you on a journey in the direction of Jesus, ending with very practical appendices.

The structure of the book is phenomenal, and I’d recommend it to any reader. The chapters are short with questions for application, and the variety of topics covered is immense. A new Christian following this book would be more spiritually mature than a lot of believers who have been around the block a few times!

Due to the intended audience it does talk about Islam and quotes phrases in Arabic, which may put off a non-Muslim reader, but this certainly doesn’t detract from the text. On occasion, particularly in the first part of the book, the difference between the Muslim culture and the Muslim faith is not clarified quite as much as I’d like, but for a Muslim audience I think this is actually exactly right.

And quite honestly, there’s an absolute wealth of practical ways to grow in your relationship with God. Every Christian should get a hold of this book and do what it says!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of theirBlogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Turning the other cheek isn’t masochistic

Jesus said: ‘Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ (Matthew 5:39).

Being struck on the right cheek means being given a backhanded slap. Now in Roman times, this was culturally the way a member of the upper class would strike a member of the lower classes.

The fine for a backhanded blow to a peer was 100 times the fine for a blow with the forehand. If the backhand was delivered to an underling, however, there was no fine…[Jesus] was telling his followers, effectively, Confront the person offending you, forcing him to face you as an equal, but do not respond with violence in return. That…was a radical act of defiance.
-Colin Chapman

Christians aren’t meant to be doormats.