Wednesday, September 13, 2017

WEEKLY COMMENTARY: Are Islam and Christianity Really Different?



Several years ago, the Presbyterian magazine, Presbyterians Today, published an article by Mitali Perkins discussing the questions which often arise in conversation with Muslim friends.  This article has been the resource for the following discussion.  Today, as we seek effective dialogue with Muslims, it is helpful to understand some key differences between Islam and Christianity, as well as what we share in common.

Let's start by identifying some shared beliefs.  Christians, Muslims and Jews value prayer, worship, fasting and tithing, but shun the worship of idols.  All three faiths honor and remember Adam, Noah and Moses.  Members of all three faiths believe they are descendants of Abraham, the patriarch of all three religions ---- Jews through the line of Isaac, and Muslims through the line of Ishmael. However, Islam has two main denominations (Sunni and Shia) because of disagreement over the choice of Muhammad's successor).  Christian beliefs also vary somewhat by denomination.

Interestingly,, Christians and Jews are recognized within the Qur'an, the Muslim holy book, as "people of the Book."  Muslims even honor Jesus as a great prophet and believe that he will return to earth.

What are some key differences between Muslims and Christians? 

1.) Do Christians worship one God or three?
Many Muslims mistakenly believe the Christian notion of the Trinity includes God, Jesus and Mary. Others cite the Christian belief in the Trinity as another example of polytheism.  How can we talk to one another about God as a single discrete entity, they ask?

However, Christianity, like Islam and Judaism is monotheistic.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in substance.  We all worship a God whose very being is that of an intimate relationship ---- a relationship so knit between  Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that Christians conceive of God as a single entity.

The Qur'an describes our relationship with God in terms of master and slave, but at the same time describes Allah as merciful and compassionate to humans.  Christians affirm this view of God because our Scriptures also describe God as almighty, but a merciful, compassionate master.

2.) What is believed about the Bible?
For Muslims, God's full revelation came in their holy book, the Qur'an, a complete code of laws, rules and regulations given by Allah to govern all life and social behavior.  As Christians, we too submit ourselves to a holy book.  We believe that the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God with the power to change lives.  However, while the Qur'an's rules dictate all aspects of Muslim life, the Bible's focus is on the nature of God and our relationship to Him.

Christians believe that God's full revelation came in Jesus.  The Bible's purpose, thus, is to lead us into an intimate relationship with God.  From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible portrays the God of the universe as seeking relationship with us and longing for us to cultivate peace in our relationships with one another.

3.) Why do Christians believe that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross?
Jesus (or Isa) holds a high place in Islam as a great Prophet.  The Qur'an also teaches that Isa did miracles, and even calls Jesus the "Word from God" and "Messiah".  But that is where similarities end, because the Muslim holy book claims that Jesus was never killed.  God is sovereign, the Qur'an teaches, and therefore God could not allow Jesus, the great prophet, to die such a violent death.

Because Muslims don't share the Christian belief in original sin, Muslims wonder why we even need the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.  But, from a Christian point of view, Jesus' pain and death on the Cross provide us with the greatest gain in our world.  Jesus' humanity and suffering communicate the extraordinary lengths to which our Creator has gone to lavish extravagant love upon sinful humanity.

4.) Why don't Christians obey the teachings of Muhammad?
Christians believe that Muhammad's teachings contain some truth, but they are not part of our Biblical tradition.  Muslims believe that in his teachings, Muhammad corrected texts in the Bible.

The prevailing view in Islam is that everything Muhammad said and did was inspired.  The Qur'an claims that Muhammad has God's decisive seal of prophet-hood, the last and final messenger to humanity.

But while Muslims venerate and imitate their prophet, they stop short of worshiping him or regarding him as divine.  Here, at least, we find some common ground.

5.) If salvation is a gift of God's grace, why do Christians believe they must do good works
Muslims and Christians share a linear view of history, a belief in Heaven and Hell, and a belief in judgment, individual death and the resurrection of the body.  In Islam, those whose good deeds outweigh their bad will attain salvation.  Those whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds will abide in Hell.  It is love for Allah that motivates the faithful Muslim to keep striving for good, rather than worry about his destiny after death.  Paramount among the good deeds for which Muslims aspire are the Five Pillars of Islam:  Confession of Faith, Prayer,Tithing, Fasting and Pilgrimage.

While Islam calls men and women to submit to God's law, Christianity understands that Jesus has already fulfilled God's law on behalf of the world.  Muslims submit to God's law with the passionate belief that their actions are working to bring in the reign of God.  Christians believe that God's Kingdom has already come.  Christ already accomplished the ultimate reign of God, and therefore we work as hopeful heirs of his promised kingdom.

To Muslims, the Christian emphasis on grace could be seen as a pretext for personal and societal lawlessness.  If God has already forgiven our evil behavior, what is the price for breaking God's law?  History exposes countless examples of people who claimed to follow Jesus and yet were perpetrators of evil.  On the other hand, the Islamic emphasis on submission to God's law could be interpreted as unforgiving legalism from a Christian perspective.  A hopeful outcome of Muslim/Christian conversation, then, would be the movement of a Muslim friend toward grace and a Christian friend toward obedience.
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These thoughts are brought to you by the CPC Adult Spiritual Education Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual growth this Fall.
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