<a href="https://biblicalmissiology.org/blog/author/jspan/" target="_self">John Span</a>

John Span

Dr. John Span is a senior lecturer at Mukhanyo Theological College in South Africa. His PhD studies investigated the CAMEL Method of outreach to Muslims. His mentors have challenged him to think theologically, especially in the area of missions to Muslims and he desires to inspire others to do the same. He is a founding member of Biblical Missiology as well as the Southgate Fellowship and blogs regularly at the CRCNA Network.

5 Comments

  1. John Span

    A helpful set of lectures on Islam by Timothy Tennent can be found at the Biblical Training.org website.
    http://www.biblicaltraining.org/introduction-islam/timothy-tennent
    Check it out
    John Span

    Carl: The review was not intended to provoke controversy, but to make an attempt at definition.The lack of clearly defined terms and concepts is a phenomenon that bedevils modern missiology.There are those who are presently coming across as being hybrid exclusivists/inclusivits and pluralists all at the same time. The only way to examine this position, for example, with any fairness is to have clear definitions, or one can go around and around the mountain with a “you said this” but “I meant this when I said this” kind of talk.

    Blessings
    John

  2. Carl Medearis

    What I found interesting in this article is that I didn’t disagree with anything. It says a lot without making any clear or final points with which to engage.

  3. Mark S.

    I have heard of this quote before, and when it is discussed, it seems Graham seems to have regretted it as it has been misunderstood.

    I believe he means that no one is left without an excuse before the throne judgement. That all of nature declares the salvation of the Lord, but specifically Graham has clearly said salvation is through faith in Christ alone.

    So he is not saying that faith in something lesser than Christ saves. He is saying that God can reveal Christ to anyone anywhere through many means.

    I do not believe he is saying that Islam, or false religions are those means.

  4. Salaam Corniche

    Greetings, readers.
    I work as a missionary among an unreached people group. Why am I here when some people are saying that people don’t need to hear the gospel to come to faith in Jesus? I think a Biblical view of world religions will determine whether or not we even think we should be missionaries or announce the Good News.
    I came across this quote by Billy Graham in the 1978 McCall’s Magazine. There he said, “I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost and were going to hell–if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that…I believe that there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God–through nature, for instance–and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying ‘yes’ to God.” I wonder if anyone else has ever read that quote?
    If he actually said it, and it means what I think it does, what does a Biblical missiologist do with it?
    Shalom
    Salaam

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