Some Christians say, “Islam is a threat to America. Muslims are taking over!” Others respond, “What an incredible opportunity to love our Muslim neighbors, welcome them, and get to know them!”

So who are we to believe? What is actually happening? And how should Christians respond?

In this episode of The Civilizational Divide: Christianity & Islam, we explore the growth of Islam in the United States and wrestle with the tension between truth and love. How can Christians take the realities and challenges surrounding Islam seriously while still loving Muslims, welcoming our neighbors, and living on mission to share the Gospel?

We also examine the historical relationship between Islam, the state, and society—and consider what that history might teach us about Islam's presence in America today.

Finally, we turn to a controversial local case near Charlotte, North Carolina: the proposed mosque and Islamic center near Lake Norman. What does the controversy reveal about the challenges of Islam, religious freedom, community relations, and Christian engagement in contemporary America?

Is the growth of the Muslim population and Islam a threat, an opportunity, or somehow both? And what does faithful Christian engagement look like?