| | | | Is Allah the same as the God of the bible? This is my first week back at church since my wife and I took some time to relax and refresh. We were able to spend some time with our children, and also spend time in the Great Smokey Mountains. While we enjoyed our time off, we're both ready to get back to the work of the ministry!
During our sabbatical, we watched with horror the events that unfolded in France. Our hearts go out to the families of those who were mercilessly slain in the name of Islam. As I've watched the reaction of these events by the public, the government leaders, and the church, I've wondered; What should the response of the church be? This week I'll be posting a series of articles that deal with the subject of Islam, Islamic violence, and the Christian faith. Today I'm going to tackle the subject:
Is Allah the same God as the God of the bible?
In the name of unity, there are many who present Islam as simply another pathway to God. Is this true? Let's look at what the bible, and the Koran, have to say.
The Trinity
First of all, our God is a Triune God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Look at this passage from the Old Testament:
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Genesis 1:26
The God of the bible is one God, existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The term "Godhead" is mentioned in the Bible three times:
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." Acts 17:29
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Colossians 2:9
Now let's look at a passage from the Qur'an about Allah:
Quran, 5:73 (Yusuf Ali), "They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them."
It is quite clear that Islam rejects the teaching of the triune God. Not only is it rejected, but anyone who believes in the trinity is considered a blasphemer who will receive a 'grievous penalty.' The trinity is not the only Christian tenet that the Koran takes exception to.
Shirk: The Islamic unforgivable sin
The central tenant of our Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and that He rose from the grave. Shirk is the belief that God has a Son, and its the unforgivable sin in Islam. What does the Koran have to say about Jesus Christ?
"O People of the Book [Jews and Christians]! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but Truth. Christ Jesus, the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in Allah and (all) His Messengers. Say not "Trinity!" Desist! It will be better for you: for Allah is One Allah. Glory be to him: [for Exalted is he) above having a son! To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs." (Qur'an chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 171.)
It is not coincidence that the Koran specifically denies Jesus Christ being the Son of God; it's an indicator of the true source of the Islamic faith;
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 2 Cot 11:3-4
Other contrasts: - Jesus is not God in flesh (Surah 4:172; 5:73; 9:30), where in Christianity he is (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9).
- In Christianity Jesus was crucified, but in Islam he was not (Surah 4:158).
- Islam says that the Helper is Muhammed, where the Bible says that the Helper is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
In other words, to say that the God of the bible and Allah are the same is a gross misrepresentation of both the bible, and the Koran. God proclaims:
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. Isaiah 45:5
There are many well-intentioned Christian leaders that make this errant claim. For example, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says in paragraph 841;
"The Church's relationship with the Muslims. 'The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.'"
At first I didn't believe this could actually be true, but I looked it up…see for yourself HERE. The Apostle Paul warned of this type of errant doctrine:
"Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 1 Timothy 4:1
My point? It is a fallacy to believe that the conflicts and violence we are seeing can be solved by somehow melding together Islam with Christianity. The two are incompatible - Allah is NOT the God of the bible, nor does the Koran claim him to be. Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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