We now see current movements such as "Coexist" and "Chrislam" which are endorsed within some of our large mega churches, gaining ground and followers, and they also look to be embraced by our current Pope. Let's dive in! Chrislam - referring to interfaith branches of Christianity and Islam is a syncretic (combining of different beliefs, while blending various schools of thought) religion which mixes elements of Christianity and Islam. Christian Muslims believe that Muhammad, Moses and Jesus were all great prophets equally deserving of love and respect but with very distinct and different roles. Worship services include singing of Christian hymns and Islamic nasheeds to praise God and attract his presence. Christian Muslims freely call out in "The Name of Allah" during worship. They also celebrate Christmas, Easter, Ramadan without judgement or hostility. They recognize both the Bible and Qur'an as holy texts. Chrislam is viewed by some as the solution for the ongoing conflict between the Western World (predominantly Christian) and the Middle East (predominantly Muslim). They point to similar teachings on morals and ethics. Both are considered to be children of Abraham.
Critics of Chrislam cite "irreconcilable differences" as pertaining to the deity of Jesus Christ. True Christianity declares Christ to be God incarnate. For without His deity, Jesus' death on the cross would not have been sufficient to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. The Qur'an declares the idea that Jesus is God to be blasphemy and denies the death of Christ on the cross. Christianity has, at it's core, that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. This eternal salvation is a gift of grace, earned by Christ's crucifixion, while Islam holds the firm view that eternal damnation awaits those who do not earn salvation by submitting to the requirements of the Qur'an.
This movement of Chrislam represents a blurring between both religions. The question is can these differences really be blurred? Let's look at some of the similarities and differences between the two. Clearly, both religions are mutually exclusive. Both religions claim to be the only true way to God, both can't be right. There is no atonement in Islam, no forgiveness, no Trinity, no savior, and no assurance of eternal life. Muhammad is considered by Muslims to be the last and greatest prophet, where as Jesus declares in the fourteenth chapter in the gospel of John that He is the only way, and that believing in Him is the same as believing in God. He states that HE (Jesus) is the way, and that there is no other way. Jesus also says that seeing Him is the same as seeing the Father, and tells us to believe Him that He is in the Father, and the Father in Him.
The word Allah is used by Muslims to describe their god. However, there is evidence that the name "Allah" actually suggests the moon-god Hubal. This moon-god was a deity worshiped at the Ka'bah in pre-Islamic Arabia. The Meccan's took over the idol Hubal from the Moabites. There is strong evidence that suggests Allah and Hubal are the same, and there can also be found a link between Hubul, and the Phoenician deity Ba'al, whom the children of Israel took great issue to.
The 1st commandment tells us that we are to have no other gods.
Exodus 20:1-6 (KJV)
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments
We're told that our God is a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24 (KJV)
24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
The word for LORD is Yehovah (Jehovah) which is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus also declared-
John 8:56-58 (KJV)
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am
And...
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
So we see that we must be very careful. With the Syrian crises and the influx of Middle East refugees and their religion into our society, and with the growing trend of our Christian churches demonstrating political correctness, compromise, and complacency instead of preaching uncompromising truth message, we are challenged to re-examine our faith as we find ourselves faced with simply making a decision.
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
So, who will you serve? Who will be your God?
Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.
