Why are Christians less likely to share their faith than Muslims?

Don’t let fear hold you back from sharing your faith, says Andy Bannister. God is at work in the world today, and he wants to involve you in his mission 

A recent poll caused much excitement when it revealed that Christians are less confident in talking about their faith than Muslims. The survey for the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life reported that 38 per cent of Christians prefer not to share their faith versus just 29 per cent of Muslims. 

The results didn’t entirely surprise me. I regularly travel throughout the UK, teaching Christians practical tools for sharing their faith. Time after time, I’m told that fear is what holds people back. And I understand that: when I worked in the NHS, I was likewise nervous about evangelism. 

Equally, that Muslims are more confident did not surprise me. From my first encounters with Muslims, when I used to go to Speakers’ Corner at Hyde Park each weekend, I’ve been impressed by how eager my Muslim friends are to talk about their beliefs. If you have Muslim neighbours or colleagues and you ask them about their faith, they’re keen to tell you.