I am, in effect, a Christian ‘missionary'currently living, and spreading the message of God's love in His Son Jesus Christ, in Malaysia.

I have a number of questions for Dr Hasan Ali and anyone else who is ‘concerned' about Christians doing dakwah (missionary work), but for the moment let me focus on one:

In your view, is knowledge a friend or enemy of the truth? In other words, do genuine seekers of truth want to gain as much knowledge as possible, or do they want to restrict their knowledge as much as possible?

If interacting with the belief system of people from religions other than my own strengthens my own faith, then I am all the better off for having done so.

On the other hand, if interacting with other belief systems weakens my own faith, then perhaps my own faith is faulty and needs to be reexamined.

Given what is at stake (on Judgment Day, if nothing else) I want to make use of all possible means at my disposal to ensure I am on the right path.

As far as 'secretive' or 'deceptive' missionary work goes, any such activity is contrary to the Spirit of Jesus and to the Bible:

'But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.' - 2 Corinthians 4:2

Therefore I would commend and exhort my brothers and sisters in Christ: if our Lord and Savior Jesus has done a wonderful thing for you, then share it with others, and always do so with openness, honesty, straightforwardness, boldness, kindness, generosity, and love in a clear conscience, without any underhanded ways.