"The Nature of God Revealed: A Critical Doctrinal Difference Between Islam and Christianity" (pt.1)

     I will begin a new series of blog posts over the next few weeks. They will pertain to a critical doctrinal difference between Islam and Christianity. The majority of Christians and Muslims fail to understand the fundamental differences when it comes to each one's faith. Therefore, my desire is to help us understand one of the most fundamental, as well as critical, issue that separates Islam and Christianity. The critical doctrinal issue I will focus upon will be the nature of God, more specifically the knowability of God in Islam versus Christianity. The ability to know God is a common doctrine in Christianity due to the fact that God chooses to make Himself known by special revelation through the Trinity. However, this is not the case in Islam. I pray you will read, critique, and ask questions concerning this fundamental difference when it comes to Islam and Christianity.

Introduction

       For over six thousand years, humanity has been conflicted regarding how one should worship God. After the fall in Genesis 3, sin entered into the world, and then Genesis 4 revealed that Cain and Able desired to bring worthy sacrifices in their worship of God; however, God received one and rejected the other. This led to the murder of Able and the judgment of Cain. There have been worship wars ever since, and they still exist today. These worship wars are between religions that claim the exclusive rights on how they know and worship God.

            The last twelve hundred years have contained sharp controversy and conflict between the Muslim and Christian faiths. Muslims and Christians alike ascribe to the worship of the one true and living God, yet only one is truly correct. Christians believe they can know their God in a personal way, while Muslims believe they can only know Allah’s will since he does not reveal himself in a relational way. Therefore, this paper will attempt to expose the superficial similarities between the Allah of the Qur’an and the God of the Bible, as it relates to the knowability of God. The argument will be presented as following: first, by contrasting the Oneness of Allah and God; second, by investigating Qur’anic and Biblical texts concerning the transcendence of Allah and God; third, by presenting evidence for the contrast of Allah’s and God’s immanence; and fourth, personal application in the importance of the Trinity as it relates to evangelizing to Muslims.

The Oneness of God

            The Scriptures testify that there is only one true God. The belief in the one true God is known as monotheism [Greek: mono, one + theos, god]. The belief in more than one God is called polytheism [Greek: poly, many]. The Islamic and Christian faiths are monotheistic in the sense that they worship one god. God’s Oneness is a point of similarity between the Muslim and Christian, but it also presents a major doctrinal difference when it comes to God’s nature of knowability.

            Both religions have a core conviction that their worship consists of worshipping One God. The doctrine of God’s Oneness can be traced throughout both histories as stated in the Qur’an and in the Bible. The Oneness of God is a vital doctrine, even though neither camp would agree on each other’s view. So the question that should be asked is, if both religions agree on the Oneness of God, what is the major difference when it comes to Islam and Christianity’s view of God’s Oneness? The writer will offer similarities and differences concerning the Tawhid and the Trinity.

Please feel free to share you thoughts, concerns, or questions. I will be posting part 2 in the next few days. Don't forget that you can subscribe to this blog by placing your e-mail address in the "follow by e-mail" location on the home page.