For fourteen centuries, a gap of mutual suspicion and hostility has existed between Christians and Muslims, despite attempts to engage theologically, apologetically, polemically, and militarily (such as the Crusades). During the past four decades, increased Islamization in Pakistan has led to blasphemy laws, nationalization of Christian institutions, a state policy of religious and political profiling, and discrimination against followers of Jesus. Historic animosity has resulted in widespread violence and persecution. Amid such an environment, past efforts at reaching Muslims with the gospel have proved ineffective or even detrimental, highlighting a need for a different approach to engaging with Islamic culture. Eric Sarwar's research, experience, and practice have uncovered the valuable and mostly untapped role of the biblical Psalms in fostering peaceful friendship with Muslims. The book of Psalms, called Zabor in Arabic, is a common heritage of divine song that can be used as a point of connection for public witness between Muslims and Christians. Especially in the Pakistani context, Psalms carries vast potential, in terms of both text and musical expression, as a bridge to peacemaking and missional engagement. Yet the book of Psalms has never been a significant part of witness to the Muslim world. Sarwar believes that can change.
Rev. Dr. Eric Sarwar (PhD, Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary) has a three-dimensional ministerial calling: musician, minister, and missiologist. He received his classical music training from his grandfather, Dr. Mohan Lal, in North Indian musicology and grew up immersed in the traditional rhythms and rhymes of Pakistan's music culture. Pursuing his call to ministry, he earned a and later a master's in Islamic history at Karachi University. He completed his MDiv at Gujranwala Theological Seminary. He was ordained in the Karachi Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan and installed at the First Presbyterian Church in Karachi. Along with church planting and inspired intuition, he established Pakistan's first-ever Tehillim School of Church Music and Worship. He acquired advanced leadership training at Haggai Institute in Hawaii. After serving as a pastor and peacemaker in Pakistan for twelve years, he finished a ThM in worship studies at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Chapter 1: Introduction: A New Approach toward Shalom PRELUDE Chapter 2: From Polemics to Peacemaking PROCESSION Chapter 3: Sur-Sangam: Musical Heritage of Pakistan Chapter 4: Islamic Views of Art and Music Chapter 5: Convergent Paths: The Psalms and Islam Chapter 6: Divergent Paths: Where Views Differ Chapter 7: The Punjabi Psalter: The Legacy of a Century-Old Songbook POSTLUDE Chapter 8: Psalms as a Mandate for Musical Mission to the Muslim World
