Going Deep into the Gospel

 

 

The word Gospel comes from the Greek noun "euangelion" and it literally means "Good News. It was used during biblical times to speak of any type of good news. The New Testament authors speak of "our Gospel" (2 Cor. 3:4), "the Gospel of God" (s Cor. 11:7), and "the Gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:7). They are very specific. Therefore, the Christian message is by definition news or an oral proclamation concerning what God has done for us in His Son, Jesus the Christ.

In summary, God became a man in the person of Jesus, lived the sinless life we should have lived, died an excruciating death on the cross in our place, paying the price for our sins, so that through faith we might enjoy Him forever.

It really is that simple, but I think we could break it down and simplify it even further with just three words. That is, the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Let's take a closer look at each of these.

 

The Deity of Christ

The deity of Christ speaks of His divine nature. No one in humanity is comparable to Him and no other founder of a major world religion made the kind of claims that Jesus did. C. S. Lewis popularized a “Trilemma” argument which entailed Jesus as a liar, lunatic, or Lord. While many may reject His astounding claim as the divine Son of God, the Bible is clear that He is neither deceptive nor foolish. The Gospel of John gives the reader some of the clearest and most compelling revelation concerning Who Jesus is. Addressing the religious Scribes and the Pharisees, He says…

You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore, I say to you that you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

-          John 8:23-24

The first step towards clarifying the Gospel requires an understanding of who God is and who we are as sinful fallen human beings. We have fallen short of the glory of God, and Jesus tells us the solution is to believe that He is I AM. If you look at an English translation of the Bible, the word “He” is typically in italics because it is added by the translators. Contextually, Jesus is says, “I’m from above, I’m not of this world, and unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins. His words should remind us of what God said to Moses.

“I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. God furthermore said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”

-          Exodus 3:14-15

Jesus bridges the gap between the Old and New Testament saying I AM the Great I AM. He is Yahweh in the flesh, and as the name indicates God doesn’t just exist but He is Existence. God doesn’t just love, but He is pure and undefiled Love. As the Psalmist says, “You are Good and you do good” (Ps. 119:68), and Jesus Christ, the God/Man brings great clarity to the goodness of God.

 

The Death of Christ

            When it comes to the death of Christ we should take a moment and reflect on the way in which God demonstrated His love towards us. Once again, the Gospel of John gives us a clear and compelling statement concerning the love of God for the entire world.

            For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

-          John 3:16

“For God so loved the world” is not meant to communicate how much God loved, but the way in which He love, He gave His one and only Son. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isa. 9:6). God the Father gave His Son as a Holy and Righteous sacrifice for us, but whatever the Father does, the Son and the Holy Spirit are always in agreement. They are co-equal and co-eternal persons within the one Trinitarian God. That is one God who has revealed Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What is God? He is One. Who is God? He is three. There is unity and diversity. So it should come as no surprise to us that Jesus willingly lays down His life on the cross.

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

-          John 10:17-18

The Gospel is built on the fact that Jesus has authority over death and hell, and as the God/Man He willingly provided a way for you and I to be reconciled to God in His sacrificial and substitutionary death on the cross. It is here that the love of God and the justice of God united in one historical event.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

-          2 Cor. 5:21

What you and I need is not just the virtue of right behavior because we have sinned against an infinitely righteous and Holy God. Therefore, what we need is His righteousness, and this is exactly what the death of Christ provides for us on the cross. Once again, if we look back to the Holy Spirit inspired words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, we see this is exactly what was predicted.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”

-          Isaiah 53:5-6

This is Good News! However, the story does not end here.

 

The Resurrection of Christ

            The resurrection of Christ is the hinge on which the door of Christianity swings. In fact, the Apostle Paul says if Christ has not been raised from the dead our preaching and even our faith is worthless (1 Cor. 15:14). It was a real historical event confirming the deity of Christ. While His death is indicative of His human nature, the resurrection highlights His divine nature in a tangible or objective way. You and I can look back on this day and examine the historical evidence. Although history cannot provide certainty, it can give us reasons to believe the biblical account of the life, death, and resurrection. The Bible does not expect or call for blind irrational faith. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He repeatedly said He performed this miracle “so that you may believe” (Jn.11:15). He then proceeds to make another astonishing claim.

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even though he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

-          John 11:25-26

However, Christ is not calling for some intellectual belief that He exists, but a relational commitment to Him that begins here and now. The fall of mankind and the problem of sin can be restored through this relational faith in God’s Son. That alone is Good News, but Scripture tells us there’s more. Scripture promises us a glorified body in the likeness of His.

Christ will, “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

-          Phil. 3:21

Peter says something very similar.

“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

-          2 Peter 1:3-4

Is it any wonder that Isaiah, chapter 54 begins with “shout for joy? Break forth into joyful shouting! Cry aloud! Why? Because the eternal Son of God not only creates life, but He freely offers eternal life to everyone. We can be restored relational to God, even becoming like Him, not through human effort, but through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. Now that is Good News! It’s Good News that the world needs to hear.

Five Bible Passages that Should Encourage Christians to Learn Islam

 

Several years ago I was having a conversation with a coworker, and I mentioned how desperately Muslims, worldwide, needed to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. I found her response quite alarming. My colleague was an older lady who professed Christ, was active in a local church, and was not afraid to discuss her convictions at work. It was part of our daily routine to talk about the Bible and how we should apply it to our lives. I had consistently found her faith refreshing and encouraging, but this day was an exception. Once I mentioned Islam, her tone and demeanor suddenly changed. She snapped back with, “Well, I think we should just wait until they all gather together in Mecca, and drop a bomb on the place!” My first thought was one of sarcasm, “Yeah, that’s exactly what Jesus would do!” After quickly considering how to respond, I simply said, “A Gospel bomb maybe,” and went back to work. Unfortunately, this seems to be the mentality of many American Christians today, and it speaks volumes about how far the church has drifted.

I fear some equate following Jesus with attending church, reading the Bible, or listening to a sermon on Sunday morning. Certainly all of these things are important, representing valuable aspects of the Christian faith, but they are not enough. Christianity is not a dead, mechanical, self-centered religion focused on, “What can Christ and His church do for me? Instead, the church should exemplify the love and compassion of her Savior, regardless of someone’s religion, ethnicity, social, or economic status. Muslims are not the enemy. They are people who need to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, and the sobering reality is, God wants to use us to reach them. I realize many in the church today have little to no interest in this mission because their relationship with God is not what it should be. We’ve all been there. So, it’s important to understand my exhortation concerning Islam is not necessarily directed at these people. They don’t need to know about Islam, they need to know Jesus Christ and understand what it means to follow Him. Unless someone has an ongoing “hunger” for the word of God and the conviction to act in obedience, there are bigger and more important problems to attend to. However, followers of Christ should be passionate about reaching Muslims and unbelievers in general. That is what God teaches us through His Word and His Spirit.

 

1.      Numbers: Islam is the second largest religion in the world, after Christianity.

1 Timothy 2:4: God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This chapter begins by instructing believers to approach God on behalf of “all men,” or all people. Even the evil kings and all who are in authority, such as the notorious Roman emperor Nero who was in power at this time. Why? Such an attitude is “good and acceptable” to God. Verse four transitions to what God desires, connecting us to the standard of His pure and undefiled character. We ought to have a heart for all people because God Himself does. We simply cannot have an attitude of apathy towards Islam, the second largest religion in the world today. That’s more than a fifth of the total population with around 1.6 billion Muslims. According to some sources, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today. So, Islam is big and getting bigger, and when that many people have been deceived, Christians should stand up and take notice. We need to understand what they believe, and love them enough to speak the truth about Christ.

Notice how God’s loving nature will not, and really cannot, compromise the truth. This is an important distinction, and one that needs to be understood if we’re going to have meaningful conversations about Islam. A Christian can and should attack the false ideas within Islam, but we absolutely cannot attack Muslims, the people who adhere to this religion. God cares for these men and women, but He stands opposed to the lies and deception keeping them from the knowledge of the truth.

 

2.      Clarity: Christians cannot communicate the Gospel clearly without understanding what Muslims believe.

Colossians 4:5-6: Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. Let you speech always be seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

At this very moment, the American church has an incredible opportunity to reach Muslims with the Gospel. We have spent countless dollars sending missionaries into Islamic countries, separating these men and women from their families and loved ones, and many, if not most, faced numerous difficulties on the mission field. I thank God for the sacrifices they’ve made, but we must realize Islam has come to America. Right now practically any believer can freely interact with Muslims. The problem is, many Muslims are often confused about Christianity, and Christians are often confused about Islam. We need clarity. It’s been said that Islam uses our Christian vocabulary, but not our Christian dictionary. They are confused when it comes to biblical truth. For example, when Christians refer to Jesus as the Son of God, Muslims think we’re talking about God having a sexual encounter with Mary, resulting in the conception of Jesus. They believe this because the Qur’an asks, “How can Allah have a son when he has no wife” (Surah 6:101)? Yet, such an idea is not biblical and no Christian has ever believed such an idea. There’s a similar example when it comes to the doctrine of the Trinity. According to the Qur’an, Christians believe in a Trinity made up of God, Jesus, and Mary (Surah 5:116). Even with all of this confusion, it is common for Muslims to tell Christians, “We believe in Jesus, How come you do not honor our prophet?” So, if we’re going to make the most of this opportunity, we must have the wisdom to respond with great clarity. Such a response requires us to learn and at least have a basic understanding of Islam.

 

3.      Preparation: Muslims are taught to challenge the core doctrines of Christianity.

1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect.

This verse is the classic apologetics passage that most people are familiar with, and I want to point out what often gets ignored. As a Christian, we should be prepared to defend the Christian faith because Christ is Lord of our hearts. I do not think it is a coincidence that Peter begins there. Those who take the time to prepare a defense are simply acting in obedience. God has called us to “always be ready to give a defense or apologia. This is a legal term as used in a first century court of law, and it speaks of rational defense explaining why we have hope in Christ.[1] Jesus taught His followers many things, but when they preached the Gospel in the Book of Acts, they preached Jesus as the divine Son of God, who died on a cross for our sins, and three days later He arose victoriously. At the heart of the Gospel message we find the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Yet Islam denies all three of these, and Muslims are taught to challenge these core doctrines. You could say, Muslims are taught to attack Christianity where it matters the most. They are prepared. I have found that Muslims love to have a conversation about Jesus and the Gospel. It’s usually not difficult to start a conversation with them, but I have also discovered a readiness to defend Islam. While many of their objections are based on a caricature of Christianity, the church should also be prepared and ready to defend the genuine Gospel with gentleness and respect. It’s what Christ has called us to do.

 

4.      Refutation: Many Muslims are so confident that Islam is true, they refuse to take any opposing religious claims seriously.

2 Corinthians 10:5: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

This is the passage dealing with spiritual warfare that practically no one talks about. There are books, devotionals, and yes, even Christian films made about spiritual warfare, but rarely does this verse come up. Verse four speaks of the destruction of fortresses or ideologies. Unbelievers, like Muslims, have constructed a fortress or stronghold of false ideas about God, and Christians should be able to expose such deception for what it is. Muslims have been told their entire lives that Islam is supported by science, mathematics, and history. They’ve been told that the Qur’an has been miraculously preserved and Muhammad was the greatest man who ever lived. They’ve been trained to have complete confidence in their religion. So, when we share the Gospel with Muslims, why should they think we’re telling them the truth about God? Why would they think they need to reject Islam and embrace Christianity? The answer to these questions is found right here in 2 Corinthians, chapter ten. There’s a spiritual battle taking place in the minds of Muslims, and Christians are called to destroy these false beliefs. Sometimes it’s necessary to show unbelievers that the evidence simply does not support their faith. If we can do this, then perhaps it will allow them to actually hear what we have to say about Jesus. However, once again, this requires a basic understanding of what Islam teaches.

 

5.      Illumination: Islam thrives in an atmosphere of Ignorance.

Ephesians 5:11: Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.

            Throughout this chapter we find a stark contrast between believers and unbelievers, light and darkness. Believers are those who walk in the light and therefore, produce fruit that is consistent with the goodness, righteousness, and truth of God. These are not just the attributes of God, but they are also characteristic of who we are as children of the Light. Hence the warning of verse eleven, do not identify with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them. Just as light exposes what may be otherwise hidden by darkness, Christians are to expose spiritual deception and ignorance. In order for someone to believe a lie about God, they must be ignorant of who He truly is. Whenever someone is converts to Islam, you will almost always discover they really didn’t understand the religion. They were in some sense ignorant of genuine Islam. Such an atmosphere of ignorance allows Muslim preachers to say just about anything they want. There is no one to confront or correct them. In fact, it is a favorite tactic of these preachers to adapt their message to the values of their audience. If a Muslim preacher is talking to people who are passionate about women’s rights, he’ll say, “You believe in women’s rights? Muhammad was a champion of women’s rights.” If the preacher is talking to people who are passionate about science, he may attempt to make a connection between the Qur’an and scientific evidence. Since there is a general atmosphere of ignorance, many people will believe what they hear, and many people will convert to Islam. The only way this is going to stop is if the Christian community turns the light of truth on and exposes these false ideas. When a Muslim preacher says, “Muhammad was a champion of women’s rights,” hands need to go up to challenge him and point people to the verses in the Qur’an which expose him. This is what the word of God calls us to do.

            Of course there are additional verses we could discuss and apply to Islam, but I think you get the point by now. Christians should consider (1) the sheer number of people who have been deceived by Islam, (2) How Muslims often don’t understand the Gospel because of what the Qur’an says, (3) Muslims have been trained to challenge Christianity where it matters the most, (4) Many Muslims cannot take the Gospel seriously unless their own beliefs have been challenged, and (5) people are converting to Islam because there’s a general atmosphere of ignorance. All of these are addressed in the Christian scriptures and are good reasons for Christians to learn about Islam. In the words of Timothy C. Tennent, “Why do theological scholars in the West continue to spend countless hours learning about the writings of a few well-known, now deceased, German theologians whose global devotees are actually quite small, and yet completely ignore over one billion living, breathing Muslims who represent one of the most formidable challenges to the Christian gospel today?”[2]

 

I would like to thank David Wood and Acts 17 Apologetics for much of the content in this blog post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/dictionary/viewtopic.cfm?topic=VT0000127

[2] Tennent C. Timothy (2007). Theology in the Context of World. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan. 49

Five Things I Wish Progressive Christians Understood about Islam

    

    The internet can be a great resource for Christians, but it is also filled with half-truths and outright lies. Nowhere is this more evident than in the numerous articles and discussions about Islam. I recently read an article by progressive author Benjamin L. Corey titled “Five Things I Wish Conservative Christians Understood about Muslims.” Corey begins by reprimanding the entire conservative Christian movement for merely having “a lot of opinions about Islam,” and then proceeds to attack Franklin Graham for painting “an entire religion with the broad brush of stereotype.”[1] Not only does he do the very thing of which he accuses Graham, but his lengthy article includes only one reference. Is he merely stating his opinion? While I appreciate his love and compassion for Muslims, what follows is a respectful response to his work, along with appropriate references.

I wish Progressives understood that…

1.      We Can and Should Make the Distinction Between Islam and Muslims.

When conservatives speak out against Islam they are often accused of being unloving towards Muslims. However, there is a tremendous difference between the religion of Islam, and the Muslim who is the adherent to the religion. Muslims are valuable people made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and Christians have been given “a ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). The Apostle Paul tells us “Christ died for all” and we should “recognize no one according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 5:16). People are valuable, regardless of who they are. However, Christians are also told to “destroy arguments set up against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5) and “expose darkness” (Eph. 5:11). We can confront false ideas without attacking the person holding those ideas.

Corey attacks Franklin Graham and quotes him extensively in his article, but Graham is warning about “the teachings of Islam,” not Muslims in general. Nowhere in the quote does Graham even use the term Muslim. Samaritan’s Purse, the organization Graham oversees, reflects the love of God to all people groups, regardless of their religious identity. The Graham family has consistently devoted their time and resources globally and indiscriminately for quite some time. I don’t think I am misrepresenting them in any way to say that they love Muslims and deserve more credit than what Corey’s article gives them. There is no indication in Franklin Graham’s article that he does not love or care for Muslims as a Christian should. He is simply attacking the false belief system called Islam.

 

2.      Muslims Love the Wrong Jesus.

Corey declares, “I don’t know how to make this more clear: you can’t be a good Muslim if you don’t love Jesus.” Such a comment commits the logical fallacy of equivocation. The Jesus of the Bible and the Isa of the Qur’an are radically different. Corey goes on to rightfully point out how “the Qur’an affirms many of the key beliefs orthodox Christians,” but you will never distinguish between the genuine and a fake by only examining similarities. Progressives love to stress all the commonalities between Christianity and Islam, while ignoring crucial differences. At the heart of the Christian Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-8), but Islam rejects the deity of Christ (Surah 5:75) and the historical claims of His death by crucifixion (Surah 4:157). Without the cross, there is no Good News. Scripture says if Christ has not been raised from the dead, “Then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God” (1 Cor. 15:14-15). The Bible is clear, the death of Christ was a real historical event, and those who deny it as such, “your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17), and you are a false witness.

 

3.      Islam is Inherently Violent.

Once again, I point out my assertion concerns Islam, not what Muslims do. Mark Gabriel, Former Muslim and professor at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, rightly says “We cannot look to Christians to learn what Jesus taught, nor can we look to Muslims to determine what Muhammad taught.”[2] Christians and Muslims are capable of misunderstanding and misrepresenting their respective religions. We must look to their founders, Jesus and Muhammad. The Qur’an gives the command to “Fight those who believe not in Allah” (Surah 9:29), and gives no indication that the command is not applicable to Muslims today. In fact, we have over 1400 years of history proving that many Muslims believe this is indeed an ongoing part of their religion. The Qur’an also exalts Muhammad above Jesus as “a beautiful pattern on conduct” (Surah 33:21), and Allah is practically unknowable because “there is nothing like Him” (Surah 42:11). Understandably, Muslims focus more of their attention on Muhammad than they do Allah. They dress like him, grow their beards as he did, even entering a restroom as he would, etc. Most importantly for our discussion here, Muhammad was an extremely violent man who did not tolerate unbelief in Islam. He engaged in offensive Jihad. His biography tells us “When the Apostle raided a people he waited until the morning. If he heard the (Islamic) call to prayer he held back; if he did not hear it he attacked.”[3] According to the Hadith, any Muslim who chooses to “Wage peace,” as many progressives love to say, is “not equal” to those who are committed to waging Jihad.”[4] So, I have just given you three of the most authoritative sources in Sunni Islam, and they all suggest Islam is violent. Please understand, there’s much more to be said concerning the violent nature of this religion.

 

4.      Surah 5:32 is Addressing Israelis not Muslims.

Progressives like Corey often point to Surah 5:32 in an attempt to make Islam look peaceful or non-violent. While this approach does ignore numerous contradictory verses promoting violence against unbelievers, it is the way in which the verse is often quoted that speaks volumes. Corey, like many others, does not quote the entire verse. He doesn’t even give a Qur’anic reference. Why is that? He gives two references in support of his next point. Now, I can only speculate about his motives, but regardless, his words are misleading. The command in 32 is not addressing Muslims, but is “ordained for the children of Israel.” The context is Cain slaying Abel. It make no sense to reference a command given to Israel in order to depict Islam as a peaceful or non-violent religion. If you want to understand what’s being communicated in the text, it may be helpful to at least read both verses.

      (32) “On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people; and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our Apostles with clear signs, yet even after that, many of them continued to commit excess in the land.

(33) The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and heavy punishment is theirs in the hereafter.” – Surah 5:32-33

            Suddenly, the partial quote takes on an entirely different meaning. One that is actually being communicated by the author of the Qur’an. Only now can we begin to ask, what it means to “spread mischief in the land?” Like many other verses within the Islamic text, the precise meaning is not clear at all. This is part of the problem. However, what does appear crystal clear is how “those who wage war against God and His Apostle” can be executed or crucified.

 

5.      Islam Encourages Violent Aggression Against Hypocrites.

Last of all, I wish Progressives understood that it makes no sense to present Muslims as “the victims of terrorism,” in response to the threat of Islam. The Qur’an is filled with instructions to respond violently to those who are not genuine in their faith. Muhammad was commanded to “strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites” (Surah 9:73). He would pass this same command on to his followers saying, “If somebody (A Muslim) discards his religion, kill him” (Sahih al-Bukhari).[5] It should be noted that the word “Sahih” means sound or reliable teaching, and Bukhari is one of the most authoritative Hadiths in Islam. Any Muslim who suspects apostasy, has solid religious grounds to respond in a violent manner. Muhammad was not concerned with people embracing or rejecting Islam because they believed it was reasonable. Hence, the name Islam, which means “Submission.”

 In closing, let me say that I love both Progressives and Muslims. Biblical love demands that we seek what is good for another, and in order to do this we must emphasize what is true. Love and truth are like wings on a plane. One without the other is dangerous. So, if Progressives wish to influence Conservative “Freedom-loving Christians, they must do better with the cold hard facts. Truth by definition is divisive. I agree “We should come along side our Muslim neighbors, we should grieve with them, and support them – because they are under attack,” but only if we take the time to understand the reality of Islam which holds them captive.

Below is the link to Corey’s article.

https://www.benjaminlcorey.com/5-things-wish-conservative-christians-understood-muslims/

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[1] https://www.benjaminlcorey.com/5-things-wish-conservative-christians-understood-muslims/

 

[2] Mark A. Gabriel, PhD (2004), Jesus and Muhammad. Lake Mary, FL: Front Line. vii

[3] Guillaume (1982), The Life of Muhammad. Pakistan, Oxford University Press. 511

[4] Sahi Al-Bukhari (1997), The Book of Jihad, Darussalam. Vol. 4, 2826

[5] https://sunnah.com/search/?q=The+Prophet+said%3A+whoever+discards+his+religion%2C+kill+him

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

 

How should Christians answer this question? Timothy C. Tennent says “the way a question is posed reveals far more than we might suppose.”[1] I would add that the way we answer a question also reveals far more than we might suppose. I believe Christ is unambiguously calling His church to engage the nations with the Gospel, but far too often we have a “knee jerk” response to honest questions. Assumptions are easy. After all, the question appears to demand a “Yes” or ‘No” answer. However, Jesus demonstrated over and over again the need to get behind the question, and understand the questioner. This approach is fundamental to conversation.

Typically, Jesus responded to a question with a question. His methodology encouraged and fostered meaningful conversation. Questions often come in the form of “smokescreens” that do not accurately represent what a person is really struggling with. To give an immediate answer based on assumptions is usually not productive. I suggest we begin by asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Certainly He would ask a few probing questions of His own. This was beneficial in a number of different ways. First of all, questions bring clarity to the conversation. Otherwise, we may be answering a question that was never asked. Secondly, questions, if asked respectfully, let the other person know that we’re listening, and we care about them. Scripture tells us we should be “quick to hear” and “slow to speak” (James 1:19). Lastly, questions have a way of forcing the other person to think for themselves and discover truth on their own. In this way, they are less likely to be offended. This point alone should encourage us to carefully consider how we respond.

Now we can return to our question, “Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?” I would suggest Christians refrain from asking this particular question simply because it’s ambiguous. I realize it is the title I have chosen here, but I’m trying to make a point. In today’s cultural climate, we need to be more precise in what we say. As the world grows increasingly smaller and interconnected, our words can have a devastating impact on the Gospel. There are much better questions to ask. I would like to propose at least three. These can be used as clarifying questions or as our initial questions seeking understanding.

1.      Can Christians Use the Term “Allah” When Referring to the God of the Bible? Historically, the answer is yes! By the time Muhammad comes onto the scene in the seventh century, “Allah was widely used by monotheistic Arabs (hanif’s), Jews, and Christians as the word for God.”[2] In fact, archeologists have discovered several inscriptions in Arabia dating as far back as the fifth century B.C.[3] The real question is, what did they mean when they used the term? Words are just sounds and symbols that represent meaning. One of the oldest biblical manuscript written in Arabic is known as Codex 151, and it contains a large portion of the New Testament. It’s interesting how all but three books begin with the words, “In the name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.”[4] Yet the other three books in this manuscript begin with the words. “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”[5] It seems quite obvious that they used the word Allah in reference to the Trinitarian God of the Bible, just as many Arabic speaking people continue to do today. It is no more wrong to use the term “Allah” in place of the Hebrew Elohim or the Greek Theos, than it is to use the English word “God.” However, I do believe it would be a mistake to use the term in place of the tetragrammaton, YHWH. This is the personal and covenantal name of God for “all generations” (Ex. 3:15).

 

2.      Can the Terms “God” and “Allah” Have the Same Referent? I realize that my answer here may make some Christians uncomfortable, but the answer once again must be affirmative. Stay with me. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all monotheistic religions. That is, they all believe in one God and the language they use in reference to that God, regardless of what it is, must be pointing to the same Divine Being. Christians would say God is the Creator (Gen. 1:1), and Muslims would say Allah is the Creator (Surah 35:1). Many of the words Christians use to describe God are also used by Muslims. Please understand, all I’m saying here is that Christians and Muslims believe they are worshipping the one true God. The terms “God” and “Allah” refer to one and the same subject. However, Christians and Muslims must depart ways when it comes to the predicates used to describe the Creator, and this poses a problem for Islam. The Qur’an declares an ontological (Surah 29:46) and revelational continuity (Surah 5:47) between the two religions, and this is where we must part ways.

 

3.      Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? This is a much better question that quickly gets at the heart of the matter. Here the answer must be a resounding No. The biblical predicates concerning the nature of Jesus Christ are incompatible with Islam. There really is no such thing as Christianity or the Gospel message apart from the Trinity and the deity of Christ. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are coeternal and coequal persons of the Trinity. Islam rejects this teaching and embraces a strictly Unitarian Allah (Surah 112). The Islamic doctrine of Tawheed is the most basic teaching of the religion, and places strict boundaries on the absolute oneness of Allah. Most importantly, the God of the Qur’an claims that Jesus did not die by crucifixion (Surah 4:157). The substitutionary atonement of the Son of God on the cross is an essential element of the Christian message. So, to ask a Muslim if the Father of Jesus is the God of Muhammad comes across loud and clear. No!

 

With questions like these, we can quickly guide the conversations towards more important matters. To the ears of a Muslim, there is no ambiguity in the words, “God the Father.” The contrast with the God of Muhammad is crystal clear. In this way, we can steer the conversation toward the Gospel, “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). As the different cultural groups of the world continue to interact more and more, it is crucial for us as Christians to choose our words and our battle carefully. Arguing about a word that has multiple meanings is usually not productive and it does not bring glory to our Savior. We must discipline ourselves to ask and answer the right questions.

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[1] Tennent, T.C. (2007). Theology in the Context of World Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 27

[2] Ibid. 30

[3] Thomas, Allah in Translations of the Bible. 302

[4] Harvey Staal, ed., Mt. Sinai Arabic Codex 151 (Lovanii in Aedibus E. Peeters: Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium, 1983), Vols. 1-4

[5] ibid