Know Your Bible

VOL. 14 November 8, 2015 NO. 34

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IS ISLAM COMPATIBLE WITH CHRISTIANITY? 4

When Muslims are confronted with the differences between Jehovah God of the Bible and their god, Allah, they say this is not so. They argue that the God of the Bible is the same god, Allah, of Islam. They try to prove it by misreading what the word of God actually teaches. They refer to Jesus, while hanging on the cross, crying out the words of Ps.22:1, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me” Matt.27:46. Some of the Jews thought He was calling out to Elijah, and the Muslims abuse the passage by saying Jesus was calling out to Allah. The Jews were wrong and so are the Muslims. Matthew explains what Jesus actually said in the passage itself. He writes that the Hebrew words, “Eli, Eli,” in the Aramaic language are, “My God, My God …”

If that is not enough some Muslims use the flimsy argument that “Allah” is found in the word “Allelu-jah” (hallelujah). In reality the word “allelujah” means “praise Jehovah,” and certainly does not fit Islam’s concept of Allah, as a god to be feared, not be praised. In Islam, Allah is portrayed as an arbitrary, capricious god. A fierce, relentless Oriental despot, who has no love for mankind. One who is whimsical and unpredictable, who acts without rhyme or reason, governed by irrational impulses, forgiving and punishing as he chooses. This is certainly not a god to be praised, but one to be feared.

Having written the above things about the differences between Jehovah God and Allah of Islam, I want to point out one more false doctrine, perhaps the most prominent difference between Jehovah God and Allah.

According to the Islam holy book, The Koran, Surah 112:1-4, Allah is the only one who possesses deity. This strict form of monotheism (belief in one God), called the doctrine of tawhid, Surah 4:171, denies the idea of three individuals making up who we know as God. That is to say, to the Muslim, there is no God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. There is only God and He does not exists in three beings. To call Allah Father is blasphemous. To the muslim mind, to call God Father is like saying Allah had sex with your mother. The Muslim find It equally repulsive to call Jesus the Son of God Surah 119:88-92.

What does the Bible teach about Jehovah God? Is there only one God, or does He exist in three persons? The Bible teaches a triune God, sometimes referred to as the Trinity. The Muslim sees this as an impossibility, thinking 1+1+1=3. But, note I wrote, triune, not triplex. Triune is more like 1x1x1=1 as in Matt.28:19. The Bible describes this concept of a triune God, using the term, “Godhead,” or its equivalent in Acts 17:29; Rom.1:20; Col.2:9. The word “God” in the Bible is plural, and includes all three persons in the Godhead (hood), the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Note Gen.1:26; 3:22; Isa.6:8 where the plural “us” is used. W.E. Vines defines the word “God” as the divine essence of Godhood, the personality of God.

There certainly is a distinct relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each one is separate from the other. Yet all three are called God. We have God the Father Jn.20:17 who is distinct from Jesus the Son Jn.3:16; 8:16. Yet the Son is called God Jn.1:1; Heb.1:8 and He is separate from the Holy Spirit Jn.14:26; Acts 10:38. But the Holy Spirit is also called God Acts 5:3-4, yet distinct from the Father Jn.14:26; and the Son Acts 10:38. All three exist as God, and possess all the qualities that make up God, yet each exists as a separate entity, one from the others while working together as one, not only in creation and purpose, but also in the salvation of mankind. This concept of God is repugnant to the Muslim mind, yet it is what the Bible teaches. The Bible doctrine of God is not compatible to Islam.

With the above in mind, let me press on to another tenant of Islam that makes in incompatible with Christianity. That is the deity of Christ. Muslims maintain they believe in Jesus Christ, but not as God’s final prophet. To them Muhammad was the last prophet sent by God and the greatest. In my way of thinking this is one of the most dangerous aspects of Islam. The deity of Christ is the foundation for the whole of Christianity. This is evidenced by what occurred when Jesus asked His disciples; “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered for all by saying “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus then replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” Matt.16:15-18. We understand the rock to be the statement Peter made “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Muslims know this is the foundation (bed rock) upon which Christianity rests so they attack the deity of Christ, not with a frontal attack, (a complete denial of Jesus Christ) but through compromise. They know it cannot be denied that Jesus lived, so they simply try to make Him into “a messenger” of God. They deny He possessed the nature of deity while on earth, and never made the claim to be “The Son Of God,” that He was simply “a servant and apostle of God” in the same sense as other prophets who lived before Him such as Moses. But none of them, Abraham, Moses, David, were as great as the prophet Muhammad. He is an “antichrist” as we shall see in the next lesson.

—Tommy Thornhill

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PERPETUAL BABES IN CHRIST

It is heartbreaking to see a child who is undeveloped physically or mentally. But what is worse is to see Christians growing older but not growing in faith. Why is it worse? Because it is a condition of choice; it is a self-imposed condition. This was a problem in the church at Corinth that compounded (if not caused) many other problems. Paul calls such Christians "babes in Christ." He says, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able" (1 Cor. 3:2). Being "babes in Christ" is not the problem, STAYING babes in Christ is.

Perpetual babes are the result of neglect. Spiritual growth is no accident. It requires spiritual nourishment and is no less important than the physical. God says we are to "desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). Growing in knowledge is essential to growing in faith (Rom. 10:17). Those who continue to neglect opportunities to know and grow hurt themselves and hinder their usefulness in the Lord's work. But that's not all:

A lack of knowledge also makes perpetual babes easy prey for Satan. God's Word in man's heart provides a much needed defense against sin. The Psalmist says, "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee" (Psa. 119:11). In addition, God's Word provides the armor we need to stand against the wiles of the devil, Eph. 6:10ff. Peter pictures Satan as a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour, then tells us to withstand him "stedfast in your faith" (1 Pet. 5:8,9). Obviously, those weak in the flesh will be most vulnerable.

Finally, the perpetual babe in Christ will always be hindered in teaching others the gospel he has not learned himself. God says we are to be ready to give answer to those asking us a reason for our hope, 1 Pet. 3:15. Can we? Have we grown as we should? If not, why not start now?

—Dan Shipley

via Gospel Power, Vol. 12, No. 40, Oct. 2, 2005

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