Several years ago, the Presbyterian magazine, Presbyterians
Today, published an article by Mitali Perkins discussing five
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. 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.) What is believed about the Bible?
For Muslims, God's full revelation came in their holy book,
the Qur'an, a code of laws, rules and regulations given by Allah to govern life
and society. 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.
But, Christians believe that God's full revelation came in
Jesus. The Bible's purpose is to lead us into intimate relationship with
God. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible portrays the God of the
universe seeking relationship with us and longing for us to cultivate peace in
our relationships with one another.
Christians, therefore, use Scripture within the context of
relationships ---- we read and interpret the Bible in communion with God
through the Holy Spirit and in communion with one another through the church.
2.) Do Christians worship one God or three?
Many Muslims mistakenly believe that our Trinity includes
God, Jesus and Mary. Others cite the Christian belief in the Trinity as
another example of polytheism. How, then can we talk to one another about
God as a single discrete entity?
However, Christianity, like Islam and Judaism is
monotheistic. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in substance. We
worship a God whose very being is an intimate relationship ---- a relationship so closely knit between Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, that one can conceive of God only as one.
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 can affirm this view of God because
our Scriptures also describe God as a merciful, compassionate master.
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 the 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 is God's
decisive seal of prophethood, 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. Paramount among the good deeds
to 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 Development Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual growth this
spring.
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