SEEK 27 – Islam

I’m not claiming to be a prophet – but I find it incredible just how many of the subjects we cover in SEEK are the current subjects in our society….this weeks especially.   I wrote  these two articles on Islam in the UK –

Islamism in Britain Part 1: Is there a problem? CT

Islamism in Britain Part 2 – Is There an Answer? CT

And then this happened this week….

This is Kings Cross station in London.   It demonstrates just how far down the road the UK has gone.  There is no way that any UK government institution would post a biblical quote on a public noticeboard….but such is the fear of being accused of being Islamaphobic, our leaders are falling overthemselves to bow down to Isalm…

Anyway here is the question I was asked….

SEEK 27 – Islam

 Question: Is Islam a pathway to God? God (of the Christians) and Allah are the same, right?

 Bible Reading: John 14:1-14

Text: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6)

 This is a question that I am often asked. At a superficial level to the vast majority of people in the Western world it appears obvious that all religions are just different pathways to the same God, and that to claim otherwise is to show the kind of arrogance that leads to hatred, intolerance and religious wars.

There is a great book by my friend Andy Bannister which answers this important question in more depth and is a great read. In it he cites the Anglican vicar and journalist Giles Fraser ‘Christians should remind themselves that Muslims are our brothers and sisters with whom we share a faith in the living God.’ And President Joe Biden, a professing Catholic, ‘I wish we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith . . . [What people] don’t realize is that we all come from the same root here in terms of our fundamental, basic beliefs.’

Well, I wish we were taught more about Islam in our schools. I used to teach religious education in a school in Scotland – amongst other things I taught about Islam. Why? How could I as a Christian minister teach about Islam? Because I think it is important for us to understand the second largest religion in the world. It is not good to be ignorant of such an important worldview. It is possible to teach about something without endorsing it.

I found reading the Qur’an very enlightening – and listening to Muslim apologists like Ahmed Deedat helped me to understand that there is a fundamental difference between the Christian and the Islamic view of God. Once I was involved in a debate with a Muslim friend, when a member of the audience furiously challenged me: “How dare you say we believe in different Gods?! That is an outrageous and intolerant thing to say”. Before I could respond my Islamic opponent asked to speak. “I know what I believe, I know what my brother David believes, but I have no idea what you believe!”. After the same meeting a woman in a burka came up to me and we had the most fascinating conversation: “David, do you really believe that there is one God, that he is sovereign, the creator of all things, and that there is a heaven and hell?” “Yes, absolutely”. “Well, you are the most unusual Christian I have ever met – you are almost a Muslim. If it were not for Jesus, you would be!”. I wanted to respond, “Thank Allah for Jesus”!

Because that is the fundamental difference. Whilst Christians and Muslims are monotheists – believing that there is one God – who is all powerful, all knowing and present everywhere – we disagree about the nature of God. For Christians God is the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For Muslims that is blasphemous. “They are unbelievers who say, God is the Messiah, Mary’s son…surely whoever associates anything with God, God shall prohibit him entrance to Paradise and his home shall be the Fire. None shall help the evildoers” (Qur’an 5.73). Jesus is God. You cannot have an almighty God who is Trinity and an almighty God who is not Trinity.

There is however another aspect to the question of whether Islam is a pathway to knowing God. Nowhere in the Qur’an does it say that it is possible to know God. For the Muslim that is impossible. All you can do is have correct beliefs about God. But as Jesus says in John 14:6 there is a way to know the Father – and that is through him. He is not only ‘a’ way – he is the only way.

Islam will not lead you to the knowledge of God. The Bible teaches that all human beings are made in the image of God, and that he has set the burden of eternity in our hearts. In other words, we have a longing for him. Perhaps it might be that Muslims are seeking – but they will ultimately only find him if they find Jesus.

Consider: Why is it not exclusive to acknowledge Jesus as the only way? If Jesus offers himself as the source of salvation for everyone, then surely that is as inclusive as possible? Consider how you can take the truths within Islam, to lead people to the One who is The Truth.

Further Reading:

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? – Andy Bannister

Where to Start with Islam – Samuel Green

See also ASK 35

Prayer: Lord God – how can we know you, the unknowable one, unless you reveal yourself to us? We bless and praise your Name that you are the God who reveals himself. In creation, through the prophets, and in these last days by your son, who is your express image and exact representation. To know Jesus is to know you. We pray O Lord for our Muslim friends. Reveal yourself to them – that they may know you, and the Christ you have sent, that they may have eternal life, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Isalmism, Islam and Christianity – A conversation with Neil Johnson – Vision Radio

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