Date post: | 15-Jul-2015 |
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Islam – Theological Problems
Dr. Robert Patton
Many basic misunderstandings
The Muslim believes the following:
Christians have changed the Bible; therefore it is not the same as the Qur’an
The death and substitutionary sacrifice of Christ never occurred
The trinity means three Gods
The deity of Christ – Christians think that God had sexual intercourse with Mary
Basic understanding
The absolute holiness of God, and His abhorrence of sin
The need of redemption via a substitute
Man cannot change his nature by himself. He is born a sinner –
This is denied by the Muslim, who believes that man is good, but weak and forgetful
Initial contacts of Muslims with Christians in the 7th century
With Jews, who also killed Jesus because He claimed to be God (shirk)
The Jews also found Christ crucified a stumbling block
They also contacted aberrant Christians who did not teach good doctrine
Our lives must speak
We must win their hearts with our lives of love to open them to hearing the gospel
Mere facts are not enough – they have been programmed to reject them
Theological differences
Truth = Qur’an for the Muslim
Truth = total Biblical witness, culminating in Jesus for the Christian
Theological differences
God’s mercy = revelation of perfect law for the Muslim
God’s mercy – the suffering, redemptive love in Jesus Christ
What is missing in the Qur’an?
For the Christian:
God’s holiness
Man’s sin nature which he cannot overcome
God must intervene and save mankind
For the Muslim, these are nonsense, and you end up with a works religion
What is ultimate truth
Qur’an is uncreated and eternal book preserved in heaven – Muslim
Bible is God’s authentic authoritative Word revealed supremely in Christ.
Do not insult
Muhammad – recognize the good he did, such as reforming from idolatry and protecting certain groups. But he is not our prophet
Talk then about Jesus
Miraculous birth
Miraculous life
Miraculous ascension to heaven
The Qur’an
We appreciate the wonderful things that it says about Jesus
His virgin birth
His miracles
His ascension
His sinless life
Prophecies of Muhammad vs. Jesus
Some could be thought to refer to Muhammad –Gen 12:1-3; Deut. 18:19, John re comforter
But more than 300 talk about this special prophet, the messiah, who is Jesus
Deity of Christ – one approach
Starting with common ground
Christ had a supernatural birth with no father. (Adam did too, but his was supernatural too)
Christ did many supernatural acts – healing, raising the dead – so his life was supernatural. Others did some miracles as well
The next step is interesting!
Christ’s supernatural resurrection
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and also arose from the dead and conquered death. They may object – but keep going
Then the prophet Jesus went to heaven and there is no grave and no bones to worship
So His death was supernatural
So His birth, life and end of life
Were all supernatural
What other prophet can say that?
He was the most supernatural person who ever lived
The muslim agrees with the virgin birth, the miracles, and the ascension of Christ
Christ as the Son of God
Show that we TOTALLY reject the idea that God had sex with Mary = blasphemy
Son of the road – 5 times in the Qur’an. Does this mean that the road married and made little roads?
Similar fashion – the Bible uses it metaphorically
Jesus reveals God
Jesus reveals God like a son can reveal the father because he resembles him.
We cannot tell God what to do or how He may choose to reveal Himself. It is like the veil being opened or removed.
The trinity
Muslims hold
The sovereign will of God
The eternal uncreated words of God – Qur’an
The argument: Then you have 2 uncreated things, thus 2 gods. When they object, point out that we have 3 uncreated things, the persons of the trinity
Personally I don’t think this is a strong argument…
The problem of holiness
The Muslim needs to see that even a little bit of sin is an affront to a holy God
One way is to offer a contaminated drink (showing them the contamination) to illustrate that a little poison makes the whole thing unacceptable.
Adam sinned once, but was punished by God
Works do not provide holiness
Only Christ can remove sin
Heaven is holy and we cannot enter with sin in our lives.
Animism cannot give power over sin, but Christ can do so
Four areas of vacuum in the Qur‘an
A loving God
A personal God
The assurance of forgiveness of sins
The assurance of eternal life
Impersonal God
Muslims do not pray to God for personal things
They feel that he is transcendent, and may pray to saints, etc for personal things
We can pray for them
Main things: LOVE AND PRAYER
Is the Bible corrupted?
The problem –
Christians: The Bible is God-breathed and inspired by God and cannot be changed: 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Rev. 22:18-19
Muslims: The Qur’an is the mother of books on the throne of God
But in many places there are differences!
The answer from the Muslim
The Qur’an is the FINAL revelation which is to all people
The Muslim accepts the law of abrogation, where a more recent writing negates earlier ones
Thus they would state that the Bible has been changed by Christians or Jews
The Qur’an and the Bible
The Qur’an gives encouragement that the Bible is the Word of God: 5:68; 21:7
The Qur’an states that God’s Word cannot be changed: 6:115; 10:64
The big question
Then when was the Bible changed – before or after Muhammad?
If before – then Muhammad was a false prophet
If afterwards – we have many manuscripts that show no change
Then ask…
Who changed the Bible?
When was in changed?
How can they change God’s Word?
Jews would not dare to do so
Christians have severe warnings not to do so
Jesus said that his words would never pass away
What about translations?
The translations are somewhat different, but also there are a number of translations of the Qur’an. They do not invalidate the Qur’an
I have looked at three different English translations, and there are minor differences between the three
God the Father
To the Muslim, God is far away, and our relationship with him is primarily obedience. He conceives of sonship as biologic
For the Christian, God is close to the individual. The issue is obedience, but also that God has chosen to reveal himself. The son is also eternal, so it is not about procreation but relationship
Helpful hints
Do not ridicule or condemn Muhammad, but raise up Jesus as Lord
Avoid calling Islam a religion of words or the mechanics of Muslim prayers
Remember that Muslims do believe in God’s laws and have a fear of God
Helpful hints
Muslims are aware of sin and ask for mercy, though they have no assurance of forgiveness
Appeal to their conscience and need of a Savior
Tell the about our beliefs in Jesus Christ
Our behavior must back up our belief
Helpful hints
Our message will be evaluated on the basis of the character of the messenger. Show true love in the face of bitterness
Start with truths that the Muslim knows – that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, that He is known as the Word of God (Kalimat Allah)
Rely on the Holy Spirit
Helpful hints
Discuss with the same sex only.
Men – not into a home where no man is present.
Women, dress modestly & avoid all men groups
Don’t argue; praise the Lord Jesus
Do not insult Muhammad, Islam or the Qur’an