After sometime to digest the current political landscape I came to the conclusion that in our Post Modern culture anything goes. Since our Post Modern culture does not believe in an absolute truth this allows us to have a truth that justifies sin in our lives and allows us to accept others sins and then say that everything is good. An example of this within our culture is our calling all religions that have "Christ" in it's theology "Christian". This type of ecumenical belief system takes Islam, Mormonism, Catholicism and Baptists and says we all believe in the same God and that makes us Christian brothers (i.e. "The Common Word").
Scripture tells us this is not true and that Christ is the only way.
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
So how does this work it's way into our political system? Easy! All the candidates can say they are Christian, Muslim or any other religion and not have to explain how their political stance correlates to their faith. Since all the candidates can pretty much believe anything they want and chalk it up to "that's how I read scripture" or "that's what an all loving God means to me", they have no fear of saying that they are pro-choice or that they are for gay marriages.
For instance let's take recent event's with Barack Obama and his pastor. Barack can call him a man that has influenced his life like a father would. Then later on say that if he was actively attending that church now and the pastor had not stepped down, he would have left that church. Everybody seems to be OK with this....that is unless you are voting for Hillary Clinton, then and only then and in the name of politics not religion. Hillary even makes statements about her faith and then leaves the foundational truths up to experience and what she thinks. Wow! Senator and theologian. So that you know McCain doesn't escape this. He looks to John Hagee, talk about someone who distorts the Gospel.
We as believers must discern as we take time to vote this year. We cannot just blindly believe the people running for President when they say they are Christians. We must filter their political positions through scripture and vote based upon what is Biblical.
The way that I look at it, it's like Rice Krispies, a whole lot snap, crackle and pop, but no substance. It's like Chinese food, you can eat so much and not be full due to a lack of substance. So Berean search scripture, pray and ask the Lord for guidance because this upcoming year is the year of the pagan in politics. Pray that we would be alright with whom He chooses. Berean this would be a good time to remember He controls nations and those in charge of nations.
"He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again]" (Job 12:23)
"All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name." (Psalm 86:9)
8 comments:
Hi Tom,
What would you say about a person who thinks that there really is common ground between the Muslims and Christians; that they have the same God, but that the Muslims' view is only partial and skewed (not that they are saved b/c they reject Jesus)?
Denise,
I would attempt to explain that that there really is no common ground between the god of the Muslims and our God. My God is a Triune God, the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is something they reject. Their god may have some similarities, but that is about all, just similarities.
Also to answer your “partially skewed” comment. There really is no such thing as partially skewed, is there? Either you believe scripture in total or you do not. Either you believe that we have a Triune God or you do not. Either you believe that God sent His Son to the Cross for our sins or you don’t. These are all things that would differentiate the Muslim faith from ours.
The last thing I would impart to this person is the certainty in our God. This is something Muslims do not have. We have the certainty of salvation, they do not. What comfort that is for us to know that our God is good for all His promises. The Muslim god does not give the Muslim faith that certainty. They have to hope that their deed are good enough to get them into heaven.
Does that answer your question?
Peace,
Tom
Tom,
I agree that there is no common ground at all between Islam and Christianity; between Allah and Jehovah. I think Scripture clarifies this:
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
I agree too that the whole counsel of Scripture clarifies the nature of God; I mean its not like we're working in the dark here. He has revealed Himself to us through His Word and the Son.
It seems many want to go the ecumenical route. Have you seen these quotes stating the same idea that there is commonality between Allah and Jehovah?
“Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? The answer is surely Yes and No. Yes, in the sense that the Father of Jesus is the only God there is. He is the Creator and Sovereign Lord of Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, of every person who has ever lived. He is the one before whom all shall one day bow (Phil. 2:5-11). Christians and Muslims can together affirm many important truths about this great God—his oneness, eternity, power, majesty. As the Qur’an puts it, he is “the Living, the Everlasting, the All-High, the All-Glorious” (2:256).-- Timothy George, Christianity Today 46/2 (Feb,42002)
And
Imad N. Shehadeh (a co-signer of the liberal “A Christian Response to the Muslims letter‘A Common Word Between Us and You’” –an ecumenical work between Muslims and Christians to find common ground)who said:
“However, while Islam today has much in common with Christianity on the essential attributes of God, there is a wide divergence on His moral and relational attributes. Muslims and Christians may speak of the same subject, the true God, but they have different concepts of Him. ‘Theologies, and Scriptures for their source, are agreed about His being. They diverge in understanding the predicates they make of Him…when freely assuming that the God of the Gospels, and Allah of the Qur’an are the same Lord. Emphatically so, as subject of all the predicates made. And one, too, in many of the Muslim/Christian predicates such as Lord, Creator, Sovereign, Sustainer, in power wisdom, mercy and truth.”
“Jews have an incomplete picture of God’s nature…Muslims have an inaccurate picture of His nature (based on the Qur’an and the Hadith)…. So while Christians and Muslims believe in the same God, they conceive of His nature differently, each claiming that they have the true concept. So in short, Muhammad began with the one and only true God, Allah.”
“Though Muslims and Christians may believe in the same God as subject, the nature of God as conceived by Islam is not at all identical to the nature of God within the Judeo-Christian faith.”
Aren't these disturbing quotes?
Do you see how ecumenical this is? I fear this is where professing Christianity is headed.
I am familiar with the second quote, the first quote was new to me. Are these quotes disturbing? Yes! Absolutely! Am I concerned that the “True” church is turning down an ecumenical road? Somewhat, and I’ll explain why.
The first reason is when I look at the pastors that have signed this document they primarily come out of the Emergent”, “Post Modern” and more liberal churches. The pastors that signed on to the “Common Word” are men that already have issues with their interpretation of scripture.
The second reason is that this is just the current mood of the ecumenical movement with the church. In the late 90’s it was “Evangelicals and Catholics Together”, today it’s “A Common Word”, next year it may be the Mormons and Evangelicals.
Don’t get me wrong we have to be aware of the current landscape and for me it’s my duty as a shepherd within the church to educate those under my care about the “flaming arrows” (Eph. 6:16) that our enemy is throwing our way. If we keep our focus on our relationship with the one true God and take seriously the call we have to be ministering the one true Gospel to the world then we will counter heresy in Gods timing and Gods way.
Always remember that our Lord will protect his church and this is just the sifting of the “tares and the wheat” (Matt. 24-30).
Wouldn't it be a major problem when someone uses those quotes to justify their wrong view that Allah is just another name for the God of Scripture? Such people who use these quotes because it reflects their similar thinking are in grevious error, don't you think? What should a person do when coming across this?
The way that I would treat this person is the same way I would treat any unbeliever. This person to me is no different than a Mormon, Jehovah or any other person that believes in a type of Christ or warped Christian God.
The method that I would us would be more of a conversational/relational method though. First, I would question them on how they came to that conclusion. Discuss their reasoning in light of scripture. Then talk to them about who the God of the bible is, tell them who the Jesus of the bible is. At this point I would lovingly talk through the differences between their god and my God and between their Christ and my Christ.
I would not try to knock this out in one conversation though. I would try to develop a relationship with that person so that my life would also be a witness to them.
The key thing to remember in all this is that you are not trying to win them over to your argument, you are trying to bring to the saving knowledge of the Gospel. If you argue your point with them, you may win the battle, but lose the soul.
I hope this helps.
Tom,
What would you do if someone say, at the seminary level, believes that Allah is another name for God and that the Muslims,Mormons, and JW's, while lost (because they reject Jesus), still have the same God we do, but their view is inaccurate? What would you do? Confront the professor's error with Scripture? Or just leave it be? Or what?
Well your question is a little bit tricky and I’ll explain why. “Allah” is the Arabic word for God. So that statement unto itself would be a correct statement. In saying that, like you point out, the Muslim view of God is not our view of God and therefore their God is not our God. Now when you bring in the Mormons and Jehovah’s into the mix your talking about a type of God that closely reflects the attributes of our God. Those religions since they mimic “True” Christianity have some similarities in the way they would describe their God and the way we would describe our God.
So, what this statement boils down to then is the word “same”. At this point I would discuss with this seminary professor what he meant by “same”. Did he mean same in all ways, as in their God is our God and therefore they are also joint heirs in the kingdom? Did he mean same in type, as in their God is similar to our God but is still a false god? Because of the academic nature of this person I would be slow to judge and quick to question and listen.
Would I not say anything? No I would not. Would I confront them with what I see as a “sin” issue right away? No I would not. I would assume first that I misunderstood them and that I need clarification first. If after clarification has been made and they believe in something other then the One Triune God, who had a Son named Jesus who died for our sins and in whom is the only way to have eternal life the I would bring that to his attention. In a loving manner mind you….trying to win a brother.
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