The national media has repeatedly tried to convince the people of the United States that Islam and Christianity are the closest of cousins, theologically, morally and ethically. Many years ago I looked at this claim and decided to do my own study and make my own assessment. There are others who have done the same study and, if they have been intellectually honest, their conclusion must be: Biblical Christianity and Islam are far from the same. Here are the facts:
Islam rejects the Trinity and the God of the Bible (Surah* 4:171; 5:73; 112:1-4). For Muslims, Allah, alone, is the one true deity (Surah 112:1-4). Islamic teachers and their followers deny the Deity of Jesus, that He died on the cross, and that He was raised from the dead (Surah 4:157-158; 19:88-92). Muslims teach that Jesus was only one of thousands of prophets sent by Allah (Surah 4:171; 17:111; 61:6). For Muslims, Mohammed is the greatest of all the prophets, even greater than Jesus. According to the Muslim faith, Jesus was merely a man, nothing more, nothing less (Surah 5:75).
The teachers of Islam reject the salvation and forgiveness that’s provided through Christ. Rather, they teach that only Muslims can be saved (Surah 10:103; 33:43; 47:11). According to the Quran, if a person follows Islam and does enough good deeds to outweigh the bad ones, Allah may allow him to enter paradise, but even then, there is no guarantee and no Muslim can be certain (Surah 4:13-14; 4:88; 5:9-10; 14:4; 28:67-68; 46:8-9). The only sure pathway to Islamic “Paradise” is killing and being killed in jihad, a holy war (Surah 3:157; 61:10-12).
Some Muslim leaders and teachers may say that the Bible is a holy book, but in fact, the teachings of Islam undermine and deny every fundamental doctrine about sin and salvation taught in the Bible.
Today, and for the foreseeable future, Islam is the most powerful system on earth for the destruction of biblical truth, Christianity, and Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Literally, thousands of Christians are being murdered under Islamic persecution, especially in the Middle East, Africa, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia. A quick look back at history tells us that Islam has always spread by the sword: convert to Islam or die! That hasn’t changed.
On May 14, 2015, the following statement was made by ISIS leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi:
“Islam was never a religion of peace. Islam is the religion of fighting. No one should believe that the war that we are waging is the war of the Islamic State . . . It is the war of all Muslims, but the Islamic State is spearheading it. It is the war of Muslims against infidels.”
Summary:
Islam and Christianity are nothing alike, but both claim to be the only true way to God; both cannot be right. There is no atonement in Islam, no forgiveness, no savior, and no assurance of eternal life. There is only a set of beliefs (The Five Articles of Faith) that every Muslim must ascribe to; there are also The Five Pillars of Faith (practices and duties) that every Muslim must observe and live by, or there will be consequences.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope: There is forgiveness for sin available by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The promise of eternal life is given from the God of the Bible who is immutable and always faithful. There is real hope, real love, real mercy, real compassion and certainty found in Biblical Christianity.
Islam is a religion of uncertainty, oppression (especially for women), vengeance, and hopelessness.
As John MacArthur wrote, “Making these kinds of distinctions may not be politically correct, but it is critical if the purity of the gospel is to be protected. Put simply, there is no salvation outside of Christ. When this truth is compromised, the [true] gospel is abandoned—and so is the only hope that we can offer to those who are not our enemies, but rather our mission field. When evangelicals capitulate and attempt to soften the offense of the gospel in this way, they blur the lines between the god of Islam and the God of the Bible. But now is not the time for blurring lines. Now is the time to draw lines—lines between truth and error, and between the one path to heaven and the many paths to hell.” (1)
Closing Thoughts:
In Christianity, Jesus suffered, died, was buried and resurrected on behalf of, and in the place of His followers. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13).
In Islam, Mohammed and the rest of the Muslim leaders and teachers send others to die for them. We’ve never heard of, or seen, one of the ayatollahs, mullahs, imams, or leaders of jihad strap on a bomb and blow themselves up. They always send someone else to die in their place.
This is such an important issue in our day. I encourage everyone to dig deep into this topic. There are some outstanding resources available that will deepen your understanding of the distinctions between Biblical Christianity and Islam. Having that knowledge will help you to be informed as you talk about the subject with others who are searching for the Truth.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him.
By His Grace, Dr. Gary T. Dromi
* The Quran is composed of 114 “Surah” or chapters. Surah 4:171 would be the fourth Surah, and the 171st verse of Surah 4, for example.
(1) http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A289/The-Gospel-According-to-Islam
Islam rejects the Trinity and the God of the Bible (Surah* 4:171; 5:73; 112:1-4). For Muslims, Allah, alone, is the one true deity (Surah 112:1-4). Islamic teachers and their followers deny the Deity of Jesus, that He died on the cross, and that He was raised from the dead (Surah 4:157-158; 19:88-92). Muslims teach that Jesus was only one of thousands of prophets sent by Allah (Surah 4:171; 17:111; 61:6). For Muslims, Mohammed is the greatest of all the prophets, even greater than Jesus. According to the Muslim faith, Jesus was merely a man, nothing more, nothing less (Surah 5:75).
The teachers of Islam reject the salvation and forgiveness that’s provided through Christ. Rather, they teach that only Muslims can be saved (Surah 10:103; 33:43; 47:11). According to the Quran, if a person follows Islam and does enough good deeds to outweigh the bad ones, Allah may allow him to enter paradise, but even then, there is no guarantee and no Muslim can be certain (Surah 4:13-14; 4:88; 5:9-10; 14:4; 28:67-68; 46:8-9). The only sure pathway to Islamic “Paradise” is killing and being killed in jihad, a holy war (Surah 3:157; 61:10-12).
Some Muslim leaders and teachers may say that the Bible is a holy book, but in fact, the teachings of Islam undermine and deny every fundamental doctrine about sin and salvation taught in the Bible.
Today, and for the foreseeable future, Islam is the most powerful system on earth for the destruction of biblical truth, Christianity, and Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Literally, thousands of Christians are being murdered under Islamic persecution, especially in the Middle East, Africa, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia. A quick look back at history tells us that Islam has always spread by the sword: convert to Islam or die! That hasn’t changed.
On May 14, 2015, the following statement was made by ISIS leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi:
“Islam was never a religion of peace. Islam is the religion of fighting. No one should believe that the war that we are waging is the war of the Islamic State . . . It is the war of all Muslims, but the Islamic State is spearheading it. It is the war of Muslims against infidels.”
Summary:
Islam and Christianity are nothing alike, but both claim to be the only true way to God; both cannot be right. There is no atonement in Islam, no forgiveness, no savior, and no assurance of eternal life. There is only a set of beliefs (The Five Articles of Faith) that every Muslim must ascribe to; there are also The Five Pillars of Faith (practices and duties) that every Muslim must observe and live by, or there will be consequences.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope: There is forgiveness for sin available by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The promise of eternal life is given from the God of the Bible who is immutable and always faithful. There is real hope, real love, real mercy, real compassion and certainty found in Biblical Christianity.
Islam is a religion of uncertainty, oppression (especially for women), vengeance, and hopelessness.
As John MacArthur wrote, “Making these kinds of distinctions may not be politically correct, but it is critical if the purity of the gospel is to be protected. Put simply, there is no salvation outside of Christ. When this truth is compromised, the [true] gospel is abandoned—and so is the only hope that we can offer to those who are not our enemies, but rather our mission field. When evangelicals capitulate and attempt to soften the offense of the gospel in this way, they blur the lines between the god of Islam and the God of the Bible. But now is not the time for blurring lines. Now is the time to draw lines—lines between truth and error, and between the one path to heaven and the many paths to hell.” (1)
Closing Thoughts:
In Christianity, Jesus suffered, died, was buried and resurrected on behalf of, and in the place of His followers. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13).
In Islam, Mohammed and the rest of the Muslim leaders and teachers send others to die for them. We’ve never heard of, or seen, one of the ayatollahs, mullahs, imams, or leaders of jihad strap on a bomb and blow themselves up. They always send someone else to die in their place.
This is such an important issue in our day. I encourage everyone to dig deep into this topic. There are some outstanding resources available that will deepen your understanding of the distinctions between Biblical Christianity and Islam. Having that knowledge will help you to be informed as you talk about the subject with others who are searching for the Truth.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to serve Him.
By His Grace, Dr. Gary T. Dromi
* The Quran is composed of 114 “Surah” or chapters. Surah 4:171 would be the fourth Surah, and the 171st verse of Surah 4, for example.
(1) http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A289/The-Gospel-According-to-Islam
