Browsing by Author "Fasaanu Abiodun Peter"

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    Perception of purity in Islam and Christianity and its missiological implication in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2025-05) Fasaanu Abiodun Peter
    Human-beings are social in nature which makes them to interact in one way or the other. God, the Creator created them in His own image. Consequently, human-being are Imago Dei, who are to interact with one another. God has also interacted with human in varying and diverse ways as the Biblical accounts have made us to understand. This paper then seeks to study the understanding of people of different religion persuasion through their perception of purity. The emphasis is to elucidate the perception of purity in both Christianity and Islam in Ijebu-Ode in other to find a more successful way of reaching the Muslims. The qualitative research approach is employed which uses phenomenological research design through interviews and discussions with a focus group. The sample of this study was purposively selected. The participants are eight (8) in number. Four (4) of them are Christians with Sunni Muslim background. The remaining four (4) are typical Christians from the three major groups of Christian in Ijebu-Ode. The Christianity in Ijebu-Ode is grouped into Orthodox, Pentecostal and African Initiated Churches. Moreover, the participants are selected from Seventh-day Adventist Church, Baptist Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Church, and Redeemed Christian Church of God. The participants from Seventh-day Adventist Church and Baptist Church are considered as the orthodox group. The other participants from Cherubim and Seraphim Church, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God are regarded as African Initiated Churches and Pentecostal groups respectively. It was discovered that many Christians in Ijebu-Ode are not aware of the purity perception of their Muslim neighbors. Muslims uphold purity as a way to win God’s favor and so they practice it daily. In contrast, majority of Christians in Ijebu-Ode considered upholding purity practice as specified in the Bible especially the Old Testament as outdated and needless, since Christ has died for their sins. The grace that Christ has made available is regarded as nullification of physical purity practices. This stance of Christians offend the Muslims. Therefore, it has become a herculean task for Christians to reach them with the Gospel of Christ. Meanwhile, the Seventh-day Adventist Church who still uphold purity practice are not known to the Muslims to be different from every other Christian. However, the Seventh-day Adventist Church members engage in purity not as a way to gain God’s favor, nor as a ritual, but simply for some benefits those purity practices offer. The findings of this study presents a mission opportunity to Muslims by Seventh-day Adventist Church. The mission to Muslim by them can be a rewarding endeavor only if they will become “all thing to all people” (1 Cor 9: 19-23) in other to draw them to Christ. In conclusion, upholding purity as recorded in the Bible can reduce the relationship gap between Muslims and Christians as they interact with one another. Consequently a winsome relationship can be established with the Muslims in their daily interactions. Nevertheless, the Muslim worldview about purity must also be addressed as they accept the gospel as it is in Christ.