Friends,
My research draws me into looking for best
articles on how Christians can understand and
relate most constructively to Muslims.
This is the most compelling article I have found
regarding the practical differences between the
Biblical view of God and the Muslim view.
And it's less than 1,000 words!
I am interested in your thoughts, and have pasted
the article below for your convenience.
This is part of a larger discussion of the differences, outlined here:
<http://oprev.org/2013/02/social-implications-of-differences>.
---
What do Muslims and Christians believe differently about God?
<http://oprev.org/2013/01/what-do-muslims-and-christians-believe-differently-about-god>.
By Bruce, January 4, 2013
The Christian God is three persons in one
essence, while the Muslim god is a single
autonomous unity. The English technical term for
the three-in-one Christian God is "trinity." The
Arabic technical term for solitary singularity of
divine essence is tawhid.
Muslim scholars claim that tawhid is the most
important article of Muslim faith and that all
other Muslim doctrine springs from it. Tahwid
means not only that there is only one God, but
also that nothing in creation can be associated
with God and that God cannot associate himself
with anything in creation. We'll explore the
implications of divine non-association in my next
post on the theology of man, but for now let's
consider the implications for society and civic
structures if God is a singularity rather than a
trinity.
In chapter one of He Is There and He Is Not Silent Francis Schaefer writes,
The Persons of the Trinity communicated with each
other and loved each other before the creation of
the worldŠ. This is not only an answer to the
acute philosophic need of unity in diversity, but
of personal unity and diversity. The unity and
diversity cannot exist before God or be behind
God, because whatever is farthest back is God.
But with the doctrine of the Trinity, the unity
and diversity is God Himself - three Persons, yet
one God. That is what the Trinity is, and nothing
less than this
Honor, glory, love, integrity, morality, and
truth demand relationships. These moral qualities
cannot exist within a singularity. However, these
moral qualities can exist in eternity past within
a trinity. If God is a trinity, then glory,
honor, and love are eternal. That eternity for
glory, honor, and love is possible because the
persons of the trinity have been glorifying,
honoring, and loving each other for eternity.
Also, if God is a trinity, then integrity,
morality and truth are also eternal. That
eternity for moral qualities is possible because
the persons of the trinity have been holding each
other accountable to standards of integrity,
morality, and truth for eternity.
But if God is a singularity, then there are no
interpersonal relationships within God. If there
are no interpersonal relationships within God,
then there is no eternal basis within God for
honor, glory, love, integrity, morality, and
truth. If there is no basis in eternal reality
for God's glory and honor, then God's glory and
honor are not eternally innate to him but depend
on his relationship with creation. Also, if God
is a singularity, then God can do nothing to
shame himself. If God has no innate honor, then
he can never potentially have innate shame. He
can only be shamed by his creation. If God can do
nothing to potentially shame himself, then his
behavior has no moral boundaries. He can lie,
cheat, and steal with impunity because God is
only accountable to himself. If there are no
relationships within God, then God has no
accountability.
In Christian society, because God is a trinity,
nothing and no one can embarrass or dishonor God.
God's honor and glory are part of his eternal
essence and depend on nothing other than God
himself. Nothing in creation can ever change or
diminish God's honor and glory - even if God
becomes a man and dies a humiliating death on a
cross. Only God himself can potentially shame
himself, because a trinity has accountability
within itself.
But in Muslim society, because god is a
singularity, the society must guard and protect
his glory. Nowhere on earth and at no time in
history do we find Christians violently
protesting in the streets when people insult God,
his prophet, or his holy books. People in
Christian societies know that God does not need
his honor protected. But Muslims around the world
throughout history are paranoid about the glory
of their god. "Allah Akhbar," the Arabic words
for "God is Great," are constantly on their lips.
Insulting the prophet receives a death penalty in
many Muslim countries. Defiling a Qur'an
instigates violent protests and even murders
around the world.
People become like what they worship and relate
to one another based upon the way that they
relate to God. In Christian societies, God's
honor is certain and his integrity is an innate
attribute. Christian doctrine holds that God's
integrity constrains his behavior so that he
cannot lie. If God were to lie, then he would
shame himself. Therefore, in Christian societies,
integrity is more important than honor, and
society expects people to tell the truth even if
it means embarrassing themselves, their families,
their business, or their leaders.
But the relative esteem for integrity and honor
are reversed in Muslim societies. According to
Muslim doctrine and according to the Qur'an
itself, "Allah is the best deceiver." In Islam,
god's honor depends upon how creation treats him,
and integrity is not an innate part of his
eternal essence. Power, as an attribute, can be
independent of relationships, and it is the most
vaunted attribute of the Muslim god. As a result,
in Muslim societies, honor is more desirable than
integrity, and people are expected to deceive in
order to protect themselves, their families,
their businesses, or their leaders from shame.
Among Muslims, the notion that God would stoop to
become a man and suffer at the hands of men is
one of the most offensive blasphemies to
comprehend.
--
May you bask and rest in the fullness of Christ living in and through you!
For His Kingdom,
--Robby
Beloved son of the King of Kings,
Privileged to be married to Jackie,
Grateful father of Joelle (1996), Dana (1998), and Wesley (2001).
Looking forward to the day of God, and speeding its coming (2 Pet 3:12).
(360) 420-5634 * Skype: RobbyButler
17110 Brook Ct, Mount Vernon WA 98274
Family: <http://RJButler.MissionsPlace.com>
Ministry: <http://theMissionNetwork.org>
--
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