Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

It is somewhat popular to think that Christians and Muslims invoke the same God. After all, even Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah" because that is the Arabic word for "God".

Yet, for most non-Arabs, the title, "Allah", is specifically associated with the Muslim god. Similarly, the ancient Canaanites bowed the knee to a false god whom they called Baal; which means "lord" or "master". That name was always used in reference to the false god of the Canaanites (1 Kings 18:16-40); and by the time of Christ, the Hebrews were referring to the devil as Baalzebub or Beelzebub, a derivative which means "lord of  flies" or "god of dung" (Luke 11:14-23). This is consistent with Scriptural teaching that false gods are demons (Deuteronomy 32:17, Psalm 106:37, 1 Corinthians 10:19-21).

But there's much more to it than mere linguistics. The teachings of these two religions about God are so vastly at odds that they are just not about the same God. Suppose someone claims to be friends with, say, Phil Robertson. But their Phil Robertson works for Peta, is an atheist, and a communist from New York City; that person is clearly not talking about the controversial Duck Commander from Louisiana. Now the God who is revered by born-again Christians, and the one invoked by Muslims, are just as significantly different; more, even. 

The error of saying that Muslims and Christians worship the same God is most clearly evident in the drastically variant teachings, between the two religions, concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Islam denies the supremacy and deity of Jesus of Nazareth. It teaches that when He returns He will be a servant of Muhammad, and that He will abolish Christianity. It teaches that another one who is greater than both Jesus and Muhammad is yet to come.

Christianity affirms that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Son of God; equal with the Father - that He is God. He is supreme over all creation. The entirety of the cosmos was created through Him, and for Him. And He will return in glory to judge every soul and every spirit, and establish His Kingdom on Earth (John 1:1-3; John 10:25-30; Colossians 1:13-20, Revelation 11:15).

Islam denies that Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross. Christianity affirms that He did die; and that His death was the payment for our sin. The Christian gospel is that salvation from sin and condemnation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ the Nazarene (Romans 5:1-2) because of His death on the cross for our sin (Colossians 1:13-14 & 19; 1 John 4:10). 

That means that you don't have to meet the requirements of the Law of Moses, or any similar system of religious regulations, in order to be reconciled with God - because in your fallen, sinful state of being, you can't meet God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23-24). But Christ paid your penalty - death (Romans 6:23) and rose to life again (which Islam also denies, of course) so that all who simply trust in Him will be reconciled to God and also be raised to everlasting life. And He, by His own power, will make His own righteousness grow in the hearts of His people. (Romans 3:20-21, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13,1 John 3:2). And His righteousness is not a cold, dead, rigid body of rules and regulations; but an abundant, vibrant spiritual life that manifests itself through love (Matthew 35-40, John 10:10, Galatians 5:1-6, 1 John 4:8).

Islam, like many false teachers and heretical churches, puts forth "a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all." (Galatians 1:6) a gospel of law instead of grace; precisely the opposite of the Christian gospel (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

Islam, then, is a different gospel with a different Jesus ( 2 Corinthians 11:4). That is to say that it is a falsehood, which keeps people from knowing the truth. It keeps them from knowing the true God, and the sacrifice of love which He made to take away our sin and reconcile us to Himself.

And so God curses everyone who preaches any gospel other than the gospel of salvation from sin, and peace with God, by grace, through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. (Galatians 1:8-9).

Christians Do Not Have To Prove the Truth of God

Sometimes when I have presented biblical truth, atheists and other non Christians charge me that I must prove my position and that "quotes from the Bible prove nothing". This is often because I was not trying to "prove" the Bible. Christians do not have to prove the existence of God, or the validity of the the Bible. The proof of God's existence is everywhere, accessible and observable to everyone. The orderly laws which govern the universe (including the cells - organs - systems of the human body) are proof of God's existence and design.

The proof of humanity's fallen nature, and need for a Savior is also plain to see in the the deeds of all people. The fact that millions of unborn children are brutally murdered and unceremoniously discarded and many people think that's ok, is proof of human depravity. War, racism, rioting and all kinds of lovelessness and violence are proof of humanity's sinfulness, and need for a Savior.

In light of these things, the word of God, the Bible, speaks for itself and needs no proving. It will ring true to everyone who has been taught by God and is receptive to His truth. All human beings are created by, and in the image of God who is love. All human beings have become corrupt with sin. Jesus Christ the Son of God came and taught about the kingdom of God and warned us to repent so that we may enter into the kingdom and not be condemned. He gave His own life on the cross for our sin, and rose on the third day. Those who trust in Him will receive pardon for their sin, and be reconciled to the heavenly Father.

Three Things of Which the Wicked Are Ignorant

Atheists, such as Richard Dawkins, accuse God of being a megalomaniac. And they argue that if the works of God were attributed to any human ruler, such a ruler would be deemed to be a cruel despot. But there are three things of which such atheists are ignorant.

First of all, a megalomaniac suffers from the delusion that he or she is great, and glorious, and grand. But God is not a mere human ruler. He is the Creator and Owner of the universe. God really is great, and glorious, and grand; worthy of all praise, all worship, all reverence, all love, and all obedience. And it really is an atrocity for any person to withhold any of those things from Him. 

And that brings me to the second thing of which the wicked are ignorant - the depravity of humanity. God's judgement and wrath are justified. Humanity is a fallen, corrupted creature; full of sin. And the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). It is our sinful nature which sets us against God. And it is our disobedience and enmity toward God that creates all conflict, all strife, and all sorrow. And there is no one righteous. 

Even the best of us is infected with the disease of sin (Romans 3:10-18, 3:26, Ecclesiastes 7:20). And there are even those who do evil (disobey God) in the name of God. If humanity were in harmony with God, there would be no wars, no thefts, no lying, no greed, no clashing of egos, no rape, no slavery, no racism, no domestic violence, no terrorism, no child abuse, no discord, no broken families, no adultery, no sexual immorality of any kind, no abortion, no blasphemy, no evil done in the name of God or anyone else. The lion would lie down with the lamb. Everyone would love God, and love each other (Matthew 22:37-40). Families would stick togther. Everyone would have enough food, and everything they need. There would be no death, and no sorrow, and no reason for the wrath of God to be poured out. 

Loving God would come naturally to everyone. No one would be hostile toward God our heavenly Father. No one would have been hostile toward Jesus the Christ. No one would be hostile toward those who trust and obey Jesus, because everyone would trust and obey Jesus. And that trust and obedience would just come naturally, without struggle. God is love; and the redeemed obey Him because they love Him. "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

And this is the third thing of which the wicked are ignorant - the love of God. Even the best of us might grumble and complain when God disciplines them. And the wicked might curse God aloud for His righteous judgement. But the truth is that God is very merciful, and kind. 

When the Creator and Owner of the universe took on human form and lived in our world, in Israel, over two thousand years ago, He lived a meek, humble, lowly life. He lived as though He owned nothing, despite the fact that the universe and all life belongs to Him. He healed the sick. He gave sight to the blind; strength and agility to the cripple. He raised the dead to life. And He delivered the gospel (good news) of salvation which He would provide through His own death and resurrection.

Of the Heart of Humanity

Many are those who say that you should follow your heart. But God spoke through His prophet, saying, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). Later, Jesus Christ elaborated by saying, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matthew 15:18-19).

Of course the heart to which they refer is not the physical organ that pumps blood through your body, but your inward desires, thoughts, and feelings. It is closely related to the mind, which is something more than the physical brain inside your head. These things, the heart and mind to which we refer, are spiritual, non-physical components of the human being.

And human hearts are corrupt with sin because of the fall, when sin and death came into the world through the disobedience of Adam (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12). When sin (disobeying God) feels sooo right, that is because the heart is sooo wrong. Solomon wrote that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12). 

Being a follower of Jesus Christ means surrendering our hearts and minds, our consciences, to our Heavenly Father through Him. His Holy Spirit, who speaks to us through the Scriptures, also comes to live within us. He leads and guides us. He teaches us and molds us into His perfect images as we place our trust in Him and obey Him. By this life-process of sanctification, we will become just like our Lord, Savior, and Friend, Jesus Christ.

In their song, "Blind", Third Day says:

"My heart I could not trust

'Cause it lies to me too much

And my mind just couldn't 

Understand it all

How could I have been 

So blind to not see You?

The more I look the more I find

You've led me to the truth"

Indeed, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; enslaving us to sin. But Jesus Christ is the truth that sets us free, and the Way for us to live (John 8:31-34, John 14:6). His word, the Scriptures, are truth, proceeding from Him (John 17:17). We must yield to Him as our Compass. Don't follow your heart. Follow Jesus instead. And He will give you a new heart that is in harmony with Him.

All The Same

Though God has created each individual with their own unique characteristics, nevertheless we all share much in common. We are all created by God, in the image of God, for God. And just as we all need food, water, and air in to live; so we all need God. Even those who deny and hate God do not live without Him. They can't. No one can. That is because all life comes from God. He is the eternal first Cause and Source of life. As the Scripture says, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4). Speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece; the apostle Paul said, 

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Therefore, since we are to offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:26-28; emphasis added). 

So we see the diversity of humanity in the words "every nation", "on all the face of the earth". And we see that all the different people have been predetermined to live in their own times and dwellings. But we also see what binds us all together. We are all "one blood" made by God, to know Him personally. And He is near to each of us. It is in Him that each and every one of us lives and have our being. 

But we also have this in common; we are all fallen, and share a corrupted human nature which we have all inherited from our first ancestor, Adam (Romans 5:12). And this corrupted human nature has broken the perfect relationship that humanity enjoyed with God in the beginning. By this nature, human beings are in a state of rebellion against, enmity with, and estrangement from God. 

But God, in His love, has never stopped reaching out to us. He revealed Himself through His prophets, despite their being sinners like all the rest of us. Their history and writings are recorded in the Old Testament. And they foretold the coming of a Messiah, a Savior who would take our sins on Himself and make reconciliation with Him available to humanity (Genesis 3:14-15, 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 22, Psalm 89, Isaiah 11:1-10, Isaiah 49:1-13, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 61:1-3, Daniel 9:25-26, Micah 5:2; and more). 

And so, the Creator of the universe, the Creator and owner of every human being, became a human being Himself, and came into the world to reveal Himself  personally to humanity (John 1:1-14). The message of Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere. It is the gospel (good news) of God's love for a world that hates Him, and His offer of forgiveness and reconciliation to Him. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, an angel appeared to some shepherds and said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11; emphasis added).  

For all our differences, we really are all the same. We are all made by God, in His image. We are all fallen sinners in need of salvation. And our Savior is God the Son, Jesus Christ. His salvation is available to everyone. All one has to do is accept it. 

Peace Is A Game, And I'm Not Playing.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Jesus Christ; Matthew 10:34).

Churches sometimes try to go out of the way to please people and attract members. Their idea is to make the non-Christian world like them in hopes of peaceful relations in which everyone feels all nice and good. But those who faithfully walk with Jesus Christ are often met with hostility. And it only makes sense that it would be like that. The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah would be despised and rejected; so it stands to reason that whoever follows Him will be despised and rejected too (Isaiah 53:3). 

Faith in Jesus Christ reconciles sinners to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). And it produces peace among those who trust in Christ and follow His teachings (Ephesians 2). It is not, however, going to produce peace between the redeemed who have faith in Christ, and the unrepentant who do not. In fact, if one places his or her faith in Christ and follows Him, He guarantees that that person will be hated by the world, which is in discordance with God.

Jesus said to His disciples, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19). He said "Woe to you when everyone speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." (Luke 6: 26). And, conversely, He said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12). 

He said, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22). To be at peace with God is to be at odds with the world which hates God, and vice versa. Just as to be sensitive to the world is to be insensitive to God, and vice versa. As the Scripture says, "...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4).  

It's not that God, or His people hate the world. Indeed, God's word says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17). The problem is that the world hates God, and therefore hates anyone who is at peace with God. 

Jesus Christ is God the Son. He has existed from eternity past with the Father. The world hated Him because it is in rebellion against God. That is why they crucified Him. That is why the world loves sin, and even tries to distort God's word to justify whatever kind of wickedness in which they are living. That is why Cain murdered his brother, Abel (1 John 3:12). That is why people of the world think it should be o.k. to murder unborn children. And that is why the wicked continue to hate anyone who trusts in Christ and stands faithfully on His word. I think of Meriam Ibrihim and many other Christians down through the ages.

Jesus Christ did not come to bring peace to the world. Well, He did; but He didn't. He came to make reconciliation and peace with God available to all who believe in Him and repent (turn away from sin, and turn to God). And His word says to us, "Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:13). Our business is to please God, not people (Galatians 1:10).

God Is Not A Drug

It has been said that religion, or belief in God, is an "opiate for the masses", a "drug to kill the pain" of living. When giving up cigarettes, I used to pray and ask God to be my nicotine. But He never did be my nicotine (yes, I know that's not proper grammar, it's ok). God is not a drug. A drug is something that a person is not designed to need, but on which the person develops a chemical or mental reliance. 

This developed dependence is a defect. It is contrary to the way that God made human beings to live. As such, it is a type of bondage. Anything that hinders us from living the life for which God made us; that hindrance is bondage. True freedom is the uninhibited ability to live the life for which our heavenly Father created us. That is why Jesus Christ said that whoever sins is a slave of sin, but that whoever is faithful to Him will be set free by the truth (John 8:31-36). Just as the Old Testament prophecy about Christ said;

"The Spirit of  the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

(Isaiah 61:1).

When Jesus first began to teach and to preach in the Galilean synagogues, He read this portion of Scripture aloud and told the congregation that the prophecy was just fulfilled as they listened (Luke 4:16-21). And as the Scriptures also say, "Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage."; (Galatians 5:1) "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17).

God is not a drug. To live as He created us in His image to live - by faith, loving and being loved by Him and each other - is not a bondage from which to be delivered. But His good and faithful presence in our lives, and His revelation of Himself to us through His word, is sustenance to our souls; just as food and drink is sustenance to our flesh. As Jesus, quoting from the Torah, said  "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" (Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). 

God is not a drug. He is our heavenly Father. He is the spiritual sustenance that is necessary to our souls. His love is not bondage, but freedom. God is love (1 John 4:8). And He made us in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27) for the purpose of love (Matthew 22:37-40). This is the reason that we, as human beings even have a concept of love. It is built into the core of our being, by God who created us.

God is not a drug to which to say "No". It is in Him that all of us are able to live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). No one has ever lived or done anything without God. Many have used their God-given gifts to disobey Him by doing evil, but in due time He will pronounce His righteous judgment and carry it out against the wicked. In the meantime, He patiently waits, allowing time for sinners to repent and be reconciled to Him by grace, through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.