A Quick Introduction to TRUE Christianity
Contrasted with
A Quick Introduction to Islam
The
churches of Christ Greet You (Romans
The words below in Italics are the words from the Quick Introduction to Islam.
The plain block words are the contrast and answer
from True Christianity.
When we speak of True Christianity, we are speaking about those people who follow the Bible ONLY.
When we speak of True Christianity, we are NOT speaking about “Christian” denominationalism.
Please prayerfully study these things…
True Christianity
True Christianity was founded by Christ!
Jesus is the purchaser (Acts
True Christianity had its origin in
The GOVERNMENT of True Christianity is an
absolute Monarchy! Jesus, its head, is in Heaven (Eph.
The WORK of True Christianity is saving
souls! Christians preach the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Acts 8:4; 1 Thess.
1:8), provide for their poor (Acts
True Christianity uses the New Testament
as its doctrine! Jesus gave the Word (Matt.
The MESSAGE of True Christianity is the Gospel! The Gospel has facts to believe: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4), commands to obey: believe in and confess Christ (Mark 16:16, Rom. 10:9-10), repent of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:31), be immersed in water (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and promises to enjoy: remission of sins (Matt. 26:28; Acts 2:38; 3:19), communion of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Acts 2:38; Romans 8), eternal life (1 John 5:11; Rev. 2:10; 22:14).
True Christianity is devoted to the Word
of Christ! The WORD is inspired (2 Pet.
True Christianity is universal – it’s for ALL nations! Its commission is world-wide (Matt. 28:18-20), its invitation is to all (Matt. 11:28-30; Rev. 22:17), its scope involves every race, color, and tongue (Mark 16:15; Gal. 3:27-28), its duration is age lasting (1 Cor. 15:23-26), its fellowship is for the obedient (Heb. 5:8-9; 1 John 1:7; cf. John 1:1-5), and its benefits are eternal (2 Pet. 1:10-11; Rev. 21:1-7).
True Christianity is undenominational in
its unity!
Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:20-23), the apostles pled for unity (2
Cor.
13:11; Phil. 1:27; 1 Peter 3:8), the Bible gives the plan for unity (Ephesians
4:4-6 says): there is one body – unity in parts (Rom. 12:4-5; 1
Cor.
12:12-27), one Spirit – unity in life (1 Cor. 1:10; Gal. 5:22-25), one
hope
– unity in trust (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:3-4), one Lord – unity in
authority
(1 Cor. 8:5-6), one faith – unity in message (Romans 10:17; Gal.
1:6-12;
2 Thess. 1:7-10), one baptism – unity in practice (penitent believers
are
immersed in water to be saved – Acts 2:38; 8:12, 35-39; Rom. 6:4; Col.
2:12;
Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), and one God – unity in worship (Matt. 4:10; 1
Cor.
8:5-6).
The faithful Christian perpetuates unity (Eph. 4:1-3).
The ORGANIZATION of True Christianity is congregational! Every local church: is independent and self-governing under Christ - the heavenly bishop (Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4), has elders (pastors, bishops) who feed, tend, oversee, and rule the flock among them (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:2-4; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Heb. 13:17), has deacons to serve (1 Tim. 3:8-13), and has members that minister in word and deed (1 Cor. 12:20-27; cf. 1 John 3:17-18; 4:20-21).
The MEMBERSHIP of True Christianity is
made up from honest humble obedient people! The members have heard and
believed the Gospel (Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:2), confessed their faith in
Christ (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10), repented and been buried in
water (Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; 10:47-48 ): to wash away their sins (Acts
22:16), to get into Christ (Gal. 3:27),
to get into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13), and to be saved (1 Peter
3:21). These same obedient people then received the indwelling presence
and gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts
The DESTINY of True Christianity (the
church) is Heaven! By Heaven’s wisdom it was purposed (Eph.
The word "Islam" is an Arabic word which means
"submission to the will of God". This word comes from the same root as
the Arabic word "Salam", which means "peace". As such, the religion of
Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of
heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely
revealed Law.
To be a True Christian means that one is submissive to the will of God. Submission is the essence of Christian discipleship, but it is a submission borne of love for God and for His Son, Jesus Christ; it is submission for the sake of Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:11; 10:18, 22, 39; Luke 6:22; John 15:21; Rom. 15:30). Therefore, Christianity teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law (the Bible). The peace of God that passes all understanding is promised to those who rejoice in the Lord and pray with thankfulness (Phil. 4:4-8).
The most important truth that God revealed to
mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped
except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to Him
[ALLAH].
The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God (Deut. 26:10; 1 Chron. 16:29; Psa. 95:6; Matt. 4:10; John 4:24; 9:31; Acts 24:14; Phil. 3:3; Rev. 4:10; 14:7; 19:10; 22:8-9). Thus, all human beings should submit to Him (Deity).
Some of you reading this article misunderstand the term “God.” Deity is a name of the Supreme Being (from the Latin, “Deus,” God). The term signifies in a concrete sense Him whom we call God (please study this series: Who Is God?).
Muslim monotheism totally denies the Godhead. They have been confused into thinking True Christians serve three “gods.” However, we serve only ONE God. This ONE God (Deity) is manifested in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Allah and Jehovah are not the same objects of worship. That Allah is a god, there is no doubt; but Allah is not the God (Deity) of the Bible.
The word “GOD” is not the name of a personality; it is the name of a
nature, a quality of being (as opposed, for example, to the angelic or
human
natures). It is simply a name for the Divine nature or
substance. Therefore,
when the Bible affirms there is but one God (cf. Mark
There is a unified set of traits or characteristics that distinguish
a personality as being “God.” And those persons possessing these
attributes are referred to as “God” in the Bible. So there is no
contradiction whatsoever in the biblical teaching that there is but ONE
Divine nature or one God. The Bible reveals that the Father, the
Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit [three persons] each possess the
Divine nature - the infinite characteristics of Deity. There is
but one Divine nature, but there are THREE possessing this unified set
of qualities. Thus, each is called God (cf. John 6:27; 2 Pet.
1:17; Heb. 1:8; Acts 5:3-4). Concerning our Lord Jesus, the term means
to assert that He was and is the very and ETERNAL God (Deity).
The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the
will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic
background. Being a Muslim entails willful submission and active
obedience to God, and living in accordance with His message [the
Qur’an].
Christians are those who submit to the will of
God,
regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Being a
Christian
entails willful submission and active obedience to God (Matt.
Friends, is it really true that ALL Muslims have “willfully” submitted to Allah? Read on, and we will see.
Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is
just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Not only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world,
especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim
World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and from Indonesia to Morocco, one can
clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups
and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality,
more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs -
there are more Muslims in
Some people mistakenly believe that Christianity is just a religion for the European or white American, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are there converts to True Christianity in every corner of the world, especially in England and America, but also in Bosnia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Morocco, etc. etc. One can clearly see that Christians come from many various races, ethnic groups, and nationalities. In actuality, anyone who submits completely to God (Deity) and worships Him alone is a True Christian.
Friends, Islam is NOT a religion of peace! We are
afraid the very name ISLAM [or at least its correlative “Salam”] is a
misnomer. Followers of Jesus (True Christianity) are taught to “love
your neighbors as yourself” (Mark
History tells us how it came about that so many non-Arabs are Muslims. In the early years, devote Muslims were (and some still are) willing and eager to slaughter thousands of innocents if they refused to convert to their religion. It was "convert or die" when faced with military defeat by those who were Muslims. Thus, the followers of Islam are following a man who massacred entire towns at a time without blinking because they refused to accept him as a prophet.
As a religion of hatred, it expounded the theory
that if a person could not be converted to Islam he is to be
killed. However, for the last few centuries Islam has not been in
a position to force itself upon other nations. But during the 20th
century Muslims again developed the resources, the will, and the
leadership to use violence. They fully intend to convert the
world. One must ask, if Islam is a religion
which has true merit,
why must it be forced on people?
Whether or not an individual Muslim believes the above truths, clearly that is where his allegiance lies. Clearly that is what he is taught from the Qur’an. As the “Christian” denominational world has watered down the Gospel of Christ, many Muslims are trying to water down the teachings from the Qur’an. But listen to the words from your own book:
"And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter." - Qur’an, surah 2:191
"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and let there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression." – Qur’an, surah 2:193.
"Muhammad said, 'He who changes his Islamic religion, kill him.’” - Qur’an, hadith 9:57. And on and on we could go.
True Christians are in a war, but not against
“flesh and blood” (people). We are fighting a spiritual warfare against
Satan (Eph.
Islam is not a new religion because "submission to the will of God", i.e. Islam, has always been the only acceptable religion in the sight of God. For this reason, Islam is the true "natural religion", and it is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God's prophets and messengers. Muslims believe that all of God's prophets, which include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, brought the same message of Pure Monotheism.
Christianity is a New Religion, however "submission to the will of God" is still the only acceptable religion in the sight of God. The way of Christian discipleship is NOT a "natural religion," but a revealed way of life. It is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God's prophets and messengers (the coming of the Messiah). Christians believe that all of God's prophets, who include Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, and others, brought the same message that there is only ONE God.
As stated above, Muslims believe in Pure Monotheism. By the word PURE they intend to deny Jesus and the Holy Spirit as being God. Thus, Allah is NOT the same God worshiped by Christians.
For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad was not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was the Final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His final message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham, who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets. Suffice it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Qur'an portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and worshipped Him without intermediaries. Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were "Muslims", i.e. those who submitted to God's will, and they preached "Islam", i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God.
Jesus was a Prophet! But even more than a prophet:
He was the Son of God! He did begin a NEW religion with a NEW name –
Christianity (Acts
If Muhammad did not found a New Religion, then what is it? It certainly is not Judaism. It is not Christianity. Thus, Islam is a new religion. As for Muhammad, he may have been the “Final Prophet of Islam,” but the Bible speaks nothing of the man. Enough said, for now!
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief
in the
Oneness of Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus.
Islam
teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and
thus
fulfills the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam's concept
of
God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand. Islam
teaches that the hearts, minds and souls of human beings are fitting
receptacles for clear divine revelation, and that God's revelations to
man are not clouded by self-contradictory mysteries or irrational
ideas. As such, Islam teaches that even though God cannot be fully
comprehended and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not
expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false beliefs about Him.
The foundation of the Christian faith is belief in the Oneness of Almighty God - the God of Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Christianity teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings, and thus fulfills the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Christianity's concept of God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand. Christianity teaches that the hearts, minds, and souls of human beings are fitting receptacles for clear divine revelation, and that God's revelations to man are not clouded by self-contradictory mysteries or irrational ideas. As such, Christianity teaches that even though God cannot be fully comprehended and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false beliefs about Him.
According to the teachings of Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and His Oneness should never be compromised by associating partners with Him - neither in worship nor in belief. Due to this, Muslims are required to maintain a direct relationship with God, and therefore all intermediaries are absolutely forbidden.
According to the teachings of Christianity, Almighty God is absolutely One. The word God means Deity, and there is only ONE Deity – ONE Divine Nature. The Bible teaches that Deity is revealed in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead). Due to this, Christians as priest are required to maintain a direct relationship with God. Yet, no one gets to the Father without going through the Son (John 14:6). Therefore, Jesus is the ONE and ONLY mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).
WOE to the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Jehovah
Witnesses, and ALL others who refuse to go through the Bible Jesus to
get to God. They have denied their only hope; and thus, “they do not
have the Father” (1 John
From the Islamic standpoint, believing in the Oneness of God means to realize that all prayer and worship should be exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as "Lord" and "Savior". Some religions, even though they believe on "One God", do not make all of their worship and prayers for Him alone. Also, they also give the title of "Lord" to beings that are not All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Un-Changing - even according to their own scriptures.
From the Christian standpoint, believing in the
Oneness of God means to realize that all prayer and worship should be
exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as "Lord"
and "Savior." Since Jesus is also God the Son and since God has given
the Son the right to judge everything (John
Suffice it to say that according to Islam, it is not enough that people believe that "God is One", but they must actualize this belief by proper conduct. In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is completely based on Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and man is man.
Suffice it to say that according to Christianity, it is not enough that people believe that "God is One," but they must actualize this belief by proper conduct. In short, in the Christian concept of God, which is completely based on Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and man is man. Our unique Lord Jesus was God, and He became a man. While walking on the earth as a man, He proved His Divinity over and over again by the miracles He performed (cf. John 3:2). His greatest proof was the fact that He die, was buried, yet raised Himself from the dead (Rom. 1:4).
Islam claims that their concept of God is based on “Divine Revelation.” Where is the proof? What did Muhammad do to prove he was a prophet? Where is the evidence he received inspired revelations from God? Yes, he SAID he was a prophet and he SAID he received the Qur’an from God, but where is the proof? Like Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Jr. has led another group of God’s created children into destruction with his claims of being a prophet and receiving the Book of Mormon from God. We ask Mormons the same question, where is the proof?
Since God is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and the creature never mix.
Since God is the only Creator and continual
Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation.
However, the God of True Christianity is also immanent - personally and
actively involved in
the affairs of all nations (cf. Daniel
Again, as the transcendent God, He transcends all. He is far above and outside of the universe - totally independent of it. He is totally separate from and outside of time and creation, enthroned on high, and exalted above the heavens. He is the sovereign King, the independent and all-powerful God of the universe (Ps. 103:19; 113:4-5; 115:3; 123:1). As such, He is the source of all authority, power, and deliverance.
While God is that, He is also the immanent God who
operated in time and creation. He created it and He sustains it - every
atom and
molecule is held together by Him (Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3). God is also
intimately concerned with His creatures - particularly with mankind.
Though distinct from His creation, God is immanently present everywhere
in creation and in our lives. Proverbs
The Point: There is nothing we can do, no thought we can think, and no place can we go without God being there and knowing it completely. This means four things: (1) The whole of God is wholly present everywhere at all times, yet, He is separate and independent from the world and the things and creatures in the world. There is no limit to God's presence and no place is closer to God than another. (3) He does not need to travel and He can act in all parts of the universe at once with all His authority and power. (4) God is above us, below us, at both sides of everything and within all at the same time in some inexplicable way.
Islam teaches that God has a unique nature and that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond anything which human beings can imagine. The Qur'an teaches that the signs and proofs of God's wisdom, power and existence are evident in the world around us. As such, God calls on man to ponder over the creation in order to build a better understanding of his Creator.
Christianity teaches that God has a unique nature
and that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond anything
which human beings can imagine. The Bible teaches that the signs and
proofs of God's
wisdom, power, and existence are evident in the world around us (Rom.
Muslims believe that God is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings. In this, Islam strikes a unique balance between false religious and philosophical extremes.
Christians believe that God is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings. However, we do wonder how the Muslims can believe that Allah “is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings,” when just above they said, “Since God (Allah) is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and the creature never mix.” Is there not a contradiction in these two statements?
Some religions and philosophies portray God as just an impersonal "Higher Power" who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life of each individual human. Other religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that He is present in His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something - or even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty God has clarified the truth by letting mankind know that He is "Compassionate", "Merciful", "Loving" and the "Answerer of Prayers". But He as also emphasized strongly that "there is nothing like unto Him", and that He is high above time, space and His creation.
Some religions and philosophies portray God as
just an
impersonal "Higher Power" who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life
of
each individual human. They say, "The Creator and the creature
never mix."
True Christianity does not give God human qualities; we give man God’s
qualities.
Yes, God is present with His creation, but NOT “by being incarnate
in
someone, something - or even everything.” In an incarnation, Deity
becomes
flesh (cf. John
In Christianity, Almighty God has clarified the truth by letting mankind know that He is "Compassionate," "Merciful," "Loving," and the "Answerer of Prayers." The righteous man does his best to take on those same qualities of God in his life. However, we pale in our comparisons to God, for there is nothing like unto Him, and He is high above time, space, and His creation - yet He is with us (Eph. 4:6).
Finally, it should be mentioned that the God
that Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and Christians worship -
because there is only one God. It is unfortunate that some people
mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and
Christians, and that "Allah" is just the "god of the Arabs". This myth,
which has been propagated by
the enemies of Islam, is completely false since the word "Allah" is
simply the Arabic name for Almighty God. It is the same word for God
which is used by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. However, it
should be clarified that even though Muslims worship the same God as
Jews and Christian, their concept of Him differs somewhat from the
beliefs of other religions - mainly because it is based completely on
Divine Revelation from God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian
belief that God is a Trinity, not only because the
Qur'an rejects it, but also because if this was God's true nature, He
would
have clearly revealed it to Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other
prophets.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the God that Christians worship is the ONE God of the Bible - because there is only one God. The Muslims certainly DO NOT worship the same God that Christians worship. Allah is more like Odin (the supreme god and creator in Norse mythology) than the God of the Bible. Allah’s righteousness pales in comparison to that of Jehovah. Even the Qur’an attributes to Allah a character that is soft on sin, for he has made no provision for the redemption of mankind from sin. Thus, Muslims, as such, cannot appreciate the magnitude of sin.
The God of the Bible is ONE God (Deity) in three
persons. When God decided to make man He said, “Let US make man in OUR
image, after OUR likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). The
It was NOT God’s will to clearly reveal His scheme of redemption to Noah, Abraham, or Moses. God developed His plan for man in a “mystery” (Matt. 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:9; Eph. 3:3-4; Eph. 5:32; etc.). Webster defines the English word “mystery” as “a religious truth that one may know only by revelation and cannot fully understand." Since the word “revelation” is used in that definition, perhaps it too should be considered. According to Webster, “revelation” means, “an act of revealing or communication divine truth; something that is revealed by God to man; an act of making something known.” A mystery, then, is a spiritual truth which cannot be explained except by direct revelation. But after it is explained, by an inspired man, it is no longer a mystery.
God’s mystery was kept secret since the world
began (Rom.
Man can “know” things by three basic ways: (1) by empirical means (seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, and touching), (2) by rational means (thinking, reasoning, 2 + 2 = 4), and (3) by REVELATION (to be informed by another). Certainly, a person can use any combination of the three to learn, know, and understand. However, the “mystery” was unknowable by a man’s empirical and rational abilities alone. Man could know the “mystery” only if God revealed it to him (cf. 1 Cor. 2:6-10).
The mystery was unknowable THEN, but it is
KNOWABLE now! The “mystery” has been revealed; men may know and
understand it (Rom.
The New Testament is “the revelation of the mystery” (please study this series: The Revelation of God). It is that religious truth revealed through the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the men He inspired to write it. Those who read it can know and understand it as well as did those who wrote it. Apart from the revelation of God, the “mystery” could never have been discovered because it is far beyond man’s comprehension.
The Arabic world "Al-Qur'an" literally means "the recitation". When used in regards to Islam, the word Qur'an means God's final message to mankind that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qu'ran, sometimes spelled Koran, is the literal the word of God - as it clearly says time and time again. Unlike other sacred scriptures, the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved in both its words and meaning in a living language. The Qu'ran is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact.
The New Testament is God's final message to mankind as revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the literal word of God - as it clearly says time and time again (1 Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19). The Bible has been preserved in both its words and meaning. Before one commits to a system of religion, it is necessary to inquire into the source of that religion. If the Bible is from heaven, then Christianity is the true religion. If the Qur’an is from God, then Islam is the genuine system.
The Bible is a marvelous and fascinating book. In
a sense
it is one book, but in another sense it is a collection of books. It is
ONE
in the sense that it is united, consistent, and harmonious. But it is
also
a full library of books collected under one cover. There are 66 books
in
all - 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.
The
Bible was given to be read, studied, understood, and obeyed (Matt.
God's final revelation to mankind, the Qur'an,
was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The
Qur'an,
in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the
Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn't something
decreed
by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qu'ran
was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim
communities
during the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
God’s final revelation to mankind, the New
Testament, was revealed to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit
(John 14-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The New Testament, in
contrast to many other religious books, was recognized as existing and
generally accepted from
the first century. It can be readily ascertained that the contents of
the
New Testament were NOT determined at some point hundreds of years after
the
apostles. Without a doubt a selection process was already at work
during the
days of the apostles. We know the writings were circulated among the
early
Christians (Rev. 1:3, 11; 1 Thess.
Muslims sincerely believe that the Qur’an is a divine book. It is styled “The Holy Qur’an.” This volume consists of 114 sections called Surahs, each of which is divided into verses. Each Surah (except 9) begins with: “In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.” It is alleged that the Qur’an was revealed to Mohammed verbatim by the angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years (but compiled after his death). One passage asserts: “Praise be to God, Who hath sent to His Servant [Mohammed] The Book [the Qur’an], and hath allowed Therein no Crookedness” (Surah 18:1).
The Qur’an, despite its claims, lacks the marks of
divine revelation. The book contains numerous historical inaccuracies
and anachronisms, i.e., the chronological misplacement of persons,
events,
etc. Here are two examples:
1. The difference of “Isaac versus Ishmael” is just one of
hundreds
of discrepancies between the Bible and the Qur’an. And many of these
differences concern crucial themes (e.g., the nature of God, the
identity of Christ,
and God’s plan of salvation). The Bible records that Abraham was
willing
to offer Isaac. The Qur’an says that Abraham was willing to offer
Ishmael.
The issue is: Which book is the revelation of God? Both volumes claim
inspiration,
but obviously both cannot be inspired.
2. In relating the events of the Exodus and
the wilderness wandering, the Qur’an says, “They disbelieved the signs
of God, and slew the Prophets unjustly” (surah 25:57-61). Who were “the
Prophets” in the wilderness? That expression, “the Prophets,” usually
designates a special ministry of servants who lived at a later time in
The entire Qur'an was also completely written down in lifetime of the
Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire
Qur'an word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures,
the Qur'an was always in the hands of the common believers, it was
always thought to be God's word and, due to wide-spread memorization,
it was perfectly preserved.
The entire New Testament was completely written down in the lifetime of the apostles. Picture all copies of the Bible being completely destroyed in an instant. How long would it take and how difficult would be the task to completely restore the Bible using the writings of men and their memories? It should not prove to be either a lengthy or difficult task.
In regards to the teachings of the Qur'an - it
is a universal scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and
not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it
brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets -
submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's
revelation in the Qur'an focuses on teaching human beings the
importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives
around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'an
contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah,
Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In
modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual
despair and "political correctness", the Qur'anic teachings offer
solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is
gripping the world today.
In short, the Qur'an is the book of guidance par excellence.
God's final revelation to mankind, the New Testament, is a universal scripture and is addressed to all of mankind. The message that it brings is NEW, yet it includes the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's revelation in the New Testament focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance that He has sent. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness," the New Testament teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. The solution offer is Jesus the Christ!
The New Testament relates to the need for human
redemption. All accountable souls share this need for redemption
(Romans
From these fundamental facts we have the inevitable conclusion that the purpose of the Bible is "THE GLORY OF GOD, AND THE SALVATION OF MAN, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD." This is the purpose-line which runs all the way through the Bible, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Every word in every verse of every paragraph of every chapter of every book has a vital connection with this purpose-line. Every book fastens in a wonderful way upon this purpose-line. It is our task as students of the Word to ascertain exactly what that connection is. We must study all the parts and see how each relates to the purpose of the Bible. In short, the New Testament is the book of guidance par excellence.
Before us are two books. One is flawless and divine. It is the Bible.
The other, the Qur’an, is error-ridden and the product of a self-styled
prophet who was no prophet at all. One encourages us to love our
enemies (Matt.
The Prophet Muhammad/Jesus, The Son of God
Unlike the founders of many religious, the
final prophet
of Islam is a real documented and historical figure. He lived in the
full
light of history, and the most minute details of his life are known.
Not
only do Muslims have the complete text of God's words that were
revealed to
Muhammad, but they have also preserved his saying and teachings in what
is
called "hadith" literature.
Unlike the founders of many religious, Jesus is a real documented and historical figure. He lived in the full light of history, and many details of His life are known. Jesus was the greatest person who has ever lived (please study this series: JESUS). The central character of the Bible is Jesus, the Son of God. The message of the Old Testament is that Jesus is coming, that of the New is that Jesus is here! His coming was the most important event in the history of man.
If it is the case that there is sufficient evidence to establish the proposition that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, the very Son of God; and if it is further true that what He taught is the absolute truth; and if it also is a fact that He affirmed that He is the exclusive way to God, and that none would succeed Him in that role; then it logically follows that Muhammad, by the process of elimination, is excluded as the “prophet” he claimed to be (READ John 14:6).
The entire Bible tells about Jesus. The Old Testament has many
prophecies of His coming. The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John) tell of His birth, His ministry, His death
for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead. The
remaining New Testament books tell about His church and His future
second coming to judge the world. Our lifetime here on earth is a
preparation for the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. ARE YOU READY for the Judgment Day?
This having been said, it should be understood that Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was only a man chosen by God, and that he is not divine in any way. In order to avoid the misguided wish to deify him, the Prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to refer to him as "God's Messenger and His Slave".
This having been said, it should be understood that Jesus our Lord is a most unique individual. He is the only person of two complete natures. He was NOT ONLY a man, but also Deity. Jesus was the Son of God. He was also the son of Mary. Therefore, He was both human and divine (He is God; He is man).
While our Lord (the Word) was always God (cf. John
1:1c), at a specific time He also became human. Jesus was born as all
children are born (Gal. 4:4), and the Lord developed as other human
beings do. John wrote: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John
It was necessary for the Lord to become a man for our redemption. Since He was human, He was tempted in every way as we are: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). As an intermediary between God and man, He was able to offer the sacrifice for sin on behalf of humanity; that sacrifice was His own blood (cf. Heb. 2:9, 14; 9:12-14, 26; Acts 20:28; Rev. 1:5; Matt. 26:28).
On the basis of His humanity, He serves in the
divine arrangement as the sympathetic mediator and high priest, "who
ever lives to make intercession for us" (Heb.
As we address Jesus as "Christ our Lord," we also
recognize that He was no mere man (as was Muhammad). As "Lord," we
acknowledge His divine authority. He is God's anointed ("Christ" means
"anointed"). He was with God, and was God, before time was (John 1:1).
He had equal glory with the Father before the world was (John 17:5;
Phil. 2:5-6; Col. 2:9). A rejection of Jesus Christ as the Son of God
(and God the Son) will render one eternally lost (John
Since Jesus is a divine person, divine names are
ascribed to Him: God (John 1:1); Son of God (John
The fact is, even the Qur’an, Islam’s “holy” book, calls Jesus “Messiah” (11 times), “the Word of God,” the “Spirit of God” (Surah 4:169-171), and “the Speech of Truth” (Surah 19:34-35). Unfortunately, many Muslims interpret these phrases in a sense contrary to what the language would signify ordinarily.
The mission of the last and final prophet of God (Muhammad) was to simply teach that "there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God", as well as being a living example of God's revelation.
The mission of Jesus was to seek and save that
which was lost (Luke
Before His death, Jesus announced to the apostles
His plan to build the church (Matt.
Having built and purchased the church, Jesus is
its ONLY
head (Col. 1:18). The Pope in
In simple terms, God sent the revelation to Muhammad, who in turn taught it , preached it, lived it and put it into practice. In this way, Muhammad was more that just a "prophet" in the sense of many of the Biblical prophets, since he was also a statesman and ruler. He was a man who lived a humble life in the service of God, and established an all-encompassing religion and way of life by showing what it means to be an ideal friend, husband, teacher, ruler, warrior and judge. For this reason, Muslims follow him not for his own sake, but in obedience to God, because Muhammad not only showed us how to deal with our fellow human beings, but more importantly, he showed us how to relate to and worship God, worship Him in the only way pleasing to Him.
In simple terms, God came to earth as a man and
taught and lived His revelation. Jesus was more than just a “prophet;” He
was a prophet, priest, and king. He was a man who lived a humble
life in the service of God. He established an all-encompassing religion
and way of life by showing what it means to be an ideal friend,
teacher, and Savior. For this reason, Christians follow Him for His own
sake (Matt.
Please notice above that the Muslims admit that Muhammad was a warrior. This again proves that Islam is not a religion of peace. It is a religion of hatred. We are glad to know the Muslims do not follow Muhammad for “his sake.” To follow Muhammad in order to be obedient to God is vain (Matt. 15:8-9). If you will search the New Testament you will find that God nowhere commands anyone to follow Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Jr., the Pope, or any man (or woman) other than Jesus (John 14:6).
Like other prophets, Muhammad faced a great deal of opposition and persecution during his mission. However, he was always patient and just, and he treated his enemies well. The results of his mission were very successful, and even though his mission started in one of the most backward and remotes places on earth, within a hundred years of the death of Muhammad, Islam had spread from Spain to China.
Jesus faced a great deal of opposition and
persecution during His mission. However, He was always patient and
just, and He treated His enemies well (cf. Luke
We wonder what history books documents the theory that Muhammad “was always patient and just, and he treated his enemies well.” All that we read from history gives a completely different view of Muhammad and his years as a warrior.
The Prophet Muhammad was the greatest of all of
God's prophets, not because he had new doctrines or greater miracles,
but because the results of his mission have brought more human beings
into the pure and proper belief in the One True God than any other
prophet.
Jesus, the Son of God, was the greatest of all of God's prophets because He DID bring a NEW doctrine and greater miracles (He healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead, walked on water, and calmed a storm). The results of His mission have brought more human beings into the pure and proper belief in the One True God than any other prophet.
The Islamic Way of Life/The
In the Holy Qur'an, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs.
In the Bible, God teaches human beings that they
were created for His glory (Isa. 43:7), and that the basis of all true
worship is the revealed will of God. Since the teachings of
Christianity encompass all aspects of life and ethics, obedience to the
will of God in all human affairs is necessary (sadly cf. Rom.
We wonder what is meant by the Islam term “God-consciousness.”
It is possible that such
a subjective term could be applied in a million ways. Maybe that’s
another reason why so many people find it easy to be a Muslim.
Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged.
Christianity makes it clear that all human acts
are NOT
worship. Initially, there were those who asserted that EVERYTHING a
Christian does in his or her life is an act of worship to God. The
foolishness of
such an assertion would mean that lying, cursing, or even fornication
would
qualify AS ACTS OF ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP. If everything one does in life
is
worship, than that includes exactly that – everything. This false
concept
was later refined and cleverly affirmed that everything a person does
is
godly worship, except sin. We challenge this ungodly assertion with a
few
questions: “Do we worship God when we brush our teeth? What about while
listening
to a rap or country song on the radio? Do we engage in worship when we
crank
up the mower and cut the lawn?”
The newest twist to this false doctrine affirms that every act of
SERVICE we render to God is worship. At first it was claimed EVERYTHING
was worship, then everything EXCEPT SIN, and now everything is worship
involving SERVICE to the Lord. Those who believe that all service is
worship do not distinguish between worship and service. They contend
that worship and service are one and the same. If their contentions are
true, then no longer are there only five acts of acceptable worship to
God. If their contentions are true there are literally thousands upon
thousands of divinely sanctioned acts of worship in which a Christian
can engage. This surely is a contradiction to what Jesus instructed the
woman of
If everything we do in service to God is worship, one could pass out
a religious tract, cut the church building lawn, drive someone to the
doctor, and on and on as claims of acceptable worship to God. While one
must avoid the extreme that says worship includes everything a
Christian does, one
must also avoid the extreme that says worship is only that which takes
place
in the church building. However, if everything we do in service to God
is
worship; one could stay at home on Sunday in order to cook a pot of
soup
for a sick person and could claim that he or she has worshiped the Lord
through their act of service. If such a doctrine is true, the rebuke of
the Hebrew writer is presumptuous (Heb.
True acts of worship are to be done for God alone and in accordance to
His Divine Law. As such, worship in True Christianity is not limited to
religious rituals. Together we sing, pray, give, remember Jesus, and
teach
the word each first day of the week. The teachings of Christianity are
given
for the salvation of the human soul, and such qualities as humility,
sincerity,
patience, and charity are demanded by God.
Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions.
Additionally, Christianity condemns pride and
self-righteousness (1 John
However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all.
However, all human beings fall into sin (Rom.
If the sinful nature of man needs no repair, as stated above in Muslim doctrine, then Jesus came and died for nought. Man’s sins are CORRUPT and horrible! Man’s sins crucified our Lord (Heb. 6:6). Man’s sins separate us and cause God to hide His face from us (Isa. 59:1-2). Man’s sins will keep him out of Heaven and lead him to the lake of fire, “which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).
The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord.
The true balance of the life of a Christian is established by having a biblical fear of God (Gen. 42:18; Psa. 115:11; Prov. 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26-27; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; Ecc. 5:7; 12:13; Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rev. 14:7) as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Christianity teaches that in Christ God forgives man's sins. Jesus paid the price so that man can be free from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).
It is true that the misguided despair of the mercy
of the Lord. Therefore, with love we are doing our best to guide you
who are Muslims to the True Mercy of the Lord – Jesus the Christ (Rom.
Additionally, the Holy Qur'an, which was
revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings
about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, Muslims
believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for
their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human
beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and
people will only be judged for what they
were capable of.
Additionally, the Bible contains a great deal of
teachings about the life hereafter and the Day
of
Judgment. Due to this, Christians believe that God will ultimately
judge all human beings for their beliefs and actions in their earthly
lives. Islam is teaching a lie when it says “people will only be
judged for what they were capable of.” In judging human beings,
Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will be
judge for the things DONE (not for what they were
capable of doing) in this life (2 Cor.
Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life
is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A
sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced
life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which
causes human beings
to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.
Suffice it to say that Christianity teaches that life is a test, and that all ACCOUNTABLE human beings (infants and the mentally retarded not included) will stand before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced moral life. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.
Islam for a Better Life/Christianity for a
Better Life
Islam teaches that true happiness can only be obtained by living a life full of God-consciousness and being satisfied with what God has given us. Additionally, true "freedom" is freedom from being controlled by our base human desires and being ruled by man-made ideologies. This stands in stark contrast to the view of many people in the modern world, who consider "freedom" to be the ability to satisfy all of their desires without inhibition.
Christianity teaches that true happiness can only
be obtained by living a life of obedience to God and being satisfied
with
what God has given us (Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:6-10; Heb. 13:5-6).
Additionally, true "freedom" is freedom from being controlled by our
base human desires and being ruled by man-made ideologies. This stands
in stark contrast to the view of many people in the modern world, who
consider "freedom" to be the ability to satisfy all of their desires
without inhibition. True freedom comes to those who know
the truth (John
The clear and comprehensive guidance of Islam gives human-beings a well-defined purpose and direction in life. In addition to being members of the human-brotherhood of Islam, its well-balanced and practical teachings are a source of spiritual comfort, guidance and morality. A direct and clear relationship with Almighty God, as well as the sense of purpose and belonging that ones feels as a Muslim, frees a person from the many worries of everyday life.
The clear and comprehensive guidance of Christianity gives human beings a well-defined purpose and direction in life. Its well-balanced and practical teachings are a source of spiritual comfort, guidance, and morality. A direct and clear relationship with Almighty God, as well as the sense of purpose and belonging that ones feels as a Christian, frees a person from the many worries of everyday life.
Friends, here is the truth about the “guidance” of Islam: Islam degrades life. Islam denies the Godhead. Islam denies that Deity could or did come in the flesh. Islam denies that the Bible was preserved intact. Islam is man-made.
In short, the Islamic way of life is pure and
wholesome. It builds self-discipline and self-control thought
regular prayer and fasting, and frees human-beings from superstition
and all sorts of racial, ethnic and national prejudices. By accepting
to live a God-conscious life, and realizing that the only thing that
distinguishes people in the sight of God is their consciousness of Him,
a person's true human dignity is realized.
In short, the Christian way of life is pure and wholesome. It builds self-discipline and self-control thought regular prayer and fasting, and frees human beings from superstition and all sorts of racial, ethnic, and national prejudices. By accepting to live a life of obedience to Christ, and realizing that the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is rather or not one has been washed in the blood of the Lamb, a person's true human dignity is realized.
In short, the Islamic way of life is NOT pure and
wholesome. It has no heart, whereas the heart of Christian discipleship
is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, which demonstrates (1) God's
hatred of sin, (2) God's love for mankind and (3) the love of the Son
of God for mankind. True Christianity also motivates those who
appreciate it to love God back (1 John
Conclusion:
Loved Ones: True Christians and Muslims certainly share certain moral values (as we do with Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, denominations, and atheists – as far as that goes), but many other Muslim values are diametrically opposed to God’s truth. Christianity and Islam are as antithetical religions as are Allah and Jehovah different objects of worship.