Can the Cross and the
Crescent Coexist?
There is
an interesting movement gaining momentum in the
As
Christians we are called to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you.” (Matthew 5:43-45) And
our responsibility is: “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone.” (Romans 12:17-18) We must see everyone through God’s eyes –
as possibilities for salvation through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
We must not see Muslims (or anyone else) as our enemies – they, too, have the
opportunity to know Christ and have eternal life, just as we have.
Here is a synopsis of the teachings of Islam and how
we answer those teachings with the foundational answers of our faith.
Muslims teach that Christians and Muslims share the
following common beliefs:
Let’s look at each of these teachings and see how
they line up with foundational Christianity.
We
worship the same God
Allah says: “Whatever a Verse (revelation) do We
abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it. Know
you not that Allâh is able to do all things?” (Koran - The Cow - 2:106)
God
says: “the word of the Lord is flawless.” (Psalm 18:30)
“For the word of the Lord is right and true;” (Psalm 33:4)
One has to ask, why would an eternal, all-knowing
God have to abrogate (overturn & replace) His word? And why would God cause
us to forget one of His verses? In
fact, God tells us: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them
on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
And God tells Joshua: “Do not let this Book of the
Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8)
And Jesus
tells us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass
away.” (Matthew 24:35)
We know that
God tells us: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.”
(Isaiah 45:5)
God of the Bible gives us His gift of salvation by grace, through faith: “Abram
believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Allah of the Koran gives an
uncertain salvation based on works – the Koran speaks dozens of times about
“faith and good works” and also says: “We have assigned to every one two
scribes (guardian angels), the one seated on his right and the other on
his left, not a single word does he utter but there is a vigilant
guardian ready to note it down.” (Koran
– Qaf - 50:17-18) These
angels keep a count of good & bad deeds and on judgment day will report to
Allah, and: “Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will
attain salvation: But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost
their souls, in Hell will they abide.” (Koran
- The Believers - 23:102-103)
The Bible tells us of an eternal
life in heaven, or eternal punishment in hell – see (Daniel 12:1-2)
& (Matthew 25:44-46)
The Koran says: “Those who are
damned shall be in the fire; in there, they will have only sighs and sobs. They
will dwell therein as long as the heavens and the earth shall last, unless your
Lord ordains otherwise; surely your Lord is the mighty doer of what He intends.
As for those who are blessed, they shall be in paradise. They will dwell
therein as long as the heavens and the earth shall last, unless your Lord
ordain otherwise; an award which shall never be taken away.” (Koran – Hud -
11:105-107) An eternal reward or punishment “unless your Lord ordain
otherwise.” Muslim teaching says that on a certain day during the annual
pilgrimage to
If Allah of the Koran and God of
the Bible are the same, then God has changed – and we know that cannot happen!
God of the Bible speaks eternal, all-knowing revelation, He cannot lie, His
promises are everlasting. He is a God of grace who freely gives the gift of
salvation based on our faith. Allah of the Koran causes people to “forget” his
revelation, and overturns his own revelation in order to give “better”
revelation. His salvation is by works and eternal heaven or eternal hell is
only eternal “unless he ordains otherwise.”
We believe in the Bible as well as the Koran
The beginning of the 1400 year-old
conflict between the Arabs and the Jews is found in how the Koran contradicts
the Bible. In Genesis 22, Abraham takes his son Isaac to be sacrificed on
So, we must ask – “If God and Allah
are the same, why aren’t the revelations, the Koran and the Bible harmonious
and accurate?” Were they revealed by the same God? There are over 20 Biblical
stories referenced in the Koran – they all have inaccuracies, some minor, but
most have major differences. Even though the Koran states that Muslims believe
in the Torah and the Gospel, Islam teaches that the Bible has been corrupted
and is suspect. Therefore, Allah had to reveal the Koran as the final
revelation given to correct all previous revelations.
Christians must know that there
exists manuscript evidence for the Bible that was written both before and after the time of Muhammad – and it is the same as the text of our
Bibles today. We have to ask, “Exactly when was the Bible corrupted?” Muhammad
says: “He has revealed to you the Book with the Truth, [Koran] confirming the
scriptures which preceded it; for He has already revealed the Torah and the
Gospel for the guidance of mankind, and the distinction between right and
wrong. Those that deny God’s revelations shall be sternly punished.” (Koran
- The ‘Imrans - 3:3-4) Then which “correct” copy of the Torah and the
Gospel was he speaking of? Muslims teach that the Bible has been corrupted -
evidence proves otherwise!
We believe in Jesus
Our greatest divergence between
Christianity and Islam happens when we ask “Who is Jesus Christ?” When Jesus
asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers” You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God!” See (Matthew 16:15-16) When Peter gives this
answer, he is stating that Jesus is the Christ, (Messiah) God on earth,
Immanuel, God with us. He confesses that Jesus is the Son of God appearing in
the flesh. We also believe that Christ was crucified, the perfect sacrifice to
pay the penalty of all sin, for all men, for all time. See (John 19:18)
The Koran teaches otherwise: “and for their saying, 'We killed the
Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger (and Prophet) of Allah.' They did
not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but to them, he (the crucified) had
been given the look (of Prophet Jesus). Those who differ concerning him
(Prophet Jesus) are surely in doubt regarding him, they have no knowledge of
him, except the following of supposition, and (it is) a certainty they did not
kill him. Rather, Allah raised him up to Him. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.” (Koran
– Women - 4:157-158)
Islam teaches that Jesus was NOT
crucified! Allah raised him bodily, alive (without death) into heaven. We must
ask, “If Christ wasn’t crucified, then…?” 1) He did not die 2) He did not pay
the penalty for sin 3) He was not resurrected – and if all those things are
true, then Paul, in I Corinthians 15 says that we will not be resurrected
either, we are still in our sins, and our faith is worthless!
Again, Peter says “You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God!”
Jesus Himself says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son…” (John 3:16) –
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Again, the Koran teaches otherwise: “God is but one God. God forbid that he should have a son!” (Koran – Women - 4:171) And it says:
“Those who say: ‘The Lord of Mercy has begotten a son,’ preach a
monstrous falsehood…That they should ascribe a son to the Merciful, when it
does not become the Lord of Mercy to beget one!” (Koran – Mary – 19:88-89)
The Bible teaches one true God
existing in three persons – there are Old Testament as well as New Testament
references. (Matthew 3:16-17) and (Matthew 28:19) are just two
verses that speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each member of
the Trinity is co-existent, co-equal – God is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy
Spirit is God.
The Koran, however, says: “So believe in Allah and His Messengers and
do not say: 'Trinity.' Refrain, it is better for you. Allah is only One God.” (Koran – Women
- 4:171)
“Indeed those who say: 'Allah is the third of
the Trinity’ became unbelievers. There is but One God. If they do not desist in
what they say, a painful punishment will afflict those of them that disbelieve.”
(Koran - The Table - 5:73)
Even the Imam in
Christians believe that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Christ. He came in the first century as incarnate God to
suffer and die to pay for the sin of all men. He was resurrected and lives
today. We believe that He will return in the end times as the warrior king –
King of Kings and Lord of Lords – see (Revelation 19:15-16)
The Muslim Hadith (the collections
of the deeds and sayings of the prophet Muhammad) tell us: “The Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is,
Jesus. (peace_be_upon_him) He will
descend (to the earth). He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He
will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all
religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the
earth for forty years and then he will die.
The Muslims will pray over him.
Sunan Abu-Dawud (Hadith) Book 37, Number 4310: Narrated
AbuHurayrah
This Hadith says that Jesus, as
Messiah does appear, but only in the last days. When He appears, He will destroy
the myth of the cross, and begin to
convert the world to Islam. Allah will destroy all religions except Islam. Jesus will live on earth for forty years,
then die, be buried next to Muhammad and all Muslims will pray over Him. A VERY
different Messiah from Jesus of the Bible! (The Arabic word ‘jizyah’ is a tax
levied on non-Muslims living in Muslim lands. These people are referred to as
‘dhimmis.’ The reason Jesus will abolish jizyah is that he is converting
everyone to Islam. Everyone must convert, or die. Therefore, jizyah will no
longer be needed – “Allah will perish all religions except Islam”)
What is Islam’s relationship to other faiths?
While there are some verses in the
Koran that sound accepting and tolerant of other religions, there are others
that deny that acceptance. Here are some that sound amiable toward others:
“There shall be no compulsion in
religion.” (Koran - The Cow - 2:256)
“Believers, Jews, Christians - whoever
believes in God and the Last Day and does what is right - shall have nothing to
fear or to regret.” (Koran - The Table - 5:69)
“You will find that the most people in enmity
to the believers are the Jews and idolaters, and that the nearest in affection
to the believers are those who say: 'We are Christians.' That is because
amongst them there are priests and monks; and because they are not proud.” (Koran
- The Table - 5:82)
Then there are the verses that
convey the opposite:
“Say: 'O unbelievers, I do not
worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. Nor am I worshiping
what you have worshipped, neither will you worship what I worship. To you your
religion, and to me my Religion.' (Koran - The Unbelievers – 109)
“Fight all men until they say, ‘There
is no god but Allah.” Muhammad’s
‘Farewell Address’ Sahih Muslim (Hadith)
Book 001, Number 0033
Allah's Apostle said "How will
you be when the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you and he will judge
people by the Law of the Quran and not by the law of Gospel? Sahih Bukhari (Hadith) Volume 4, Book 55, Number 658: Narrated
Abu Huraira
“The only true faith in God’s sight
is Islam.” (Koran - The ‘Imrans - 3:19)
“He that chooses a religion other than Islam,
it will not be accepted from him and in the world to come he will surely be
among the losers.” (Koran - The ‘Imrans - 3:85)
“It is He
who sent forth His apostle with guidance and the true faith to make it
triumphant over all religions, though the idolaters abhor it.” (Koran – Repentance
- 9:33)
And here is how the Koran defines
an unbeliever, and how to relate to them:
“Indeed those who say: 'Allah is the third of
the Trinity’ became unbelievers.” (Koran
- The Table - 5:73)
“The unbelievers are your inveterate enemies.”
(Koran – Women - 4:101)
“Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the
hypocrites, and deal sternly with them. Hell shall be their home, evil their
fate.” (Koran – Sovereignty - 66:9)
“The unbelievers among the People of the Book
and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of
all creatures.” (Koran - The Proof - 98:6)
It is plain that those who believe
in the Biblical Trinity are labeled as “unbelievers” in Islam. Then there are
many verses that describe what a Muslim is to do to these unbelievers, and it
is mostly violent!
Conclusion
The conclusion we must make is
based on a simple “test” that John gives us:
“Dear friends, do not believe every
spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many
false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the
Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from
God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and
even now is already in the world.” (1
John 4:1-3)
Based on this test, we can only
conclude that the Islamic teachings of Christ are NOT the Spirit of God. Islam denies: 1) that Jesus was crucified
2) that He is the Son of God 3) that He is a member of the Trinity 4) that
Jesus is God 5) that Jesus is the Biblical Messiah.
Furthermore, God and Allah are NOT
the same, The Bible and Koran were NOT revealed by the same God and, despite
some Koranic verses that seem to befriend the Christians, the majority of the
verses teach that Christians are unbelievers and are worthy only of death.
Can the cross and the crescent
coexist? We, as Christians, are called to treat ALL people civilly, sociably
and live in peace as far as it depends on us. But at the spiritual level, we
MUST realize that Islamic teachings are in direct contradiction to the Bible
and we CANNOT waver on our foundational beliefs of Christianity.