Yes, Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God (But Here’s What That Means & Doesn’t)

The Official Blog of Benjamin L. Corey ^ | December 17, 2015 | Benjamin L. Corey

[delacoert]

Wheaton College is stirring up an old debate this week that's worth revisiting. Professor Larycia Hawkins, in an effort to show solidarity with Muslims, decided to wear a hijab during advent. While wearing a hijab may have been tolerated by the school, what she said about the relationship between Islam and Christianity, was not. She wrote:

"I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God."

For the crime of saying, "we worship the same God" Hawkins was suspended from school. Once news of this broke, the Evangelical Machine™ went into over-drive to celebrate the decision. Bloggers quickly weighed in with approval, and it certainly caught the eye of my brother-from-a-TOTALLY-different-mother, Franklin Graham, who said "shame on her!" for wearing a hijab (as if a head covering is some mortal sin), and continued to say she was "absolutely wrong" that we worshipped the same God.

In light of what will be ongoing conversations about Islam in America, the issue of God v. Allah is a critical one to have.

Do we worship the same God? If so, what does that mean?

The best answer to this question is, of course, Miroslav Volf's book, Allah: A Christian Response. It's so important that I'd almost say one should hold off on having a firm opinion on the matter until they're informed- and Volf has produced what really is the best that exists on the topic. However, for those who would never go out and read a book, I'm going to answer this question in the most broken-down, basic way I can.

Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? Is God and Allah one-in-the-same? In the most primitive way, yes. Let me explain:

In ancient times there was a man named Abraham who is revered in three of the world's great religions. Abraham, of course, is considered the father of the Jewish people as well as Arabs and then Muslims. Essentially, Abraham somewhat founded a religion that went into three different streams: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Here's the important part: all three of these religions are Abrahamic religions, trying to worship Abraham's God.

And this is where we can say all three religions do in fact worship the same God, as all three religions are pointing to, offering worship, and attempting to describe, the same object.

On the surface, it appears different because we say God, and Muslim's say Allah, but that's simply because that's the word for God in Arabic. In fact, Christians in that part of the world also call God Allah. Allah is just a word- if Islam were born in a different culture, they'd use a different word. In this regard, saying that God and Allah are different because we're using different words would almost be like saying, "Who is this weird god Mexicans worship and call Dios?" It's an issue of language, that's all.

Here's where we're at: all three religions are offering worship the same object, and that is Abraham's God- though they might use different terminology (and described traits, which we'll get to).

Now, when we affirm that Muslims and Christians worship the same God the Evangelical Machine™ goes bonkers, and that's because they assume we're affirming way more than what we affirm when we say, "yes, it's the same God."

Same God yes, but that doesn't mean all three religions are equally true, or that we're describing this God in the same way.

Affirming the basic fact that Christianity, Judaism and Islam are three religions attempting to worship and describe the same God (Abraham's God, whatever one calls him), doesn't mean we're saying all three religions are the same, equally valid, correct, or anything else. We're simply pointing to the fact that we're attempting to describe the same entity.

Some will argue that God and Allah are not the same (Abraham's God) because Christians and Muslims describe the character of Abraham's God differently, even conflictingly. However, describing an object differently doesn't mean that two people are describing two totally different objects. For example, let's say Jane and Henry both work for a guy named Jeff. Jane says that Jeff is a decent boss who treats people fairly. Henry on the other hand, describes Jeff as being lazy and unavailable. The two people may be describing Jeff differently, and one or both of them might be wrong in their understanding of Jeff, but they're still attempting to describe the same object.

Describing an object differently doesn't make it a different object.

However, if having different understandings and opinions on the attributes of the object to which we offer worship were a legitimate argument to say that they are entirely different, one would have to say the same thing about Judaism, and even among Christian denominations/traditions.

For example, Evangelicals are quick to paint Judaism as our close brother, and will say that not only do we worship the same God, but that they are God's favorite people. However, Jews do not believe about God what we believe about God. If this difference in understanding God's attributes or activity through history makes the God of Islam a different God than the one we are worshipping, we would have to say the same thing about Jews. Not only that, we'd have to say it about other Christians, too– making the case that each denomination has it's own God.

And this is the basic logic that's wrong: "You describe the object differently than I do, therefore it is a different object." Unfortunately, that logic would get us into all sorts of problems.

For example, plenty of Christian traditions describe a God I have a hard time recognizing. I even find some of the ways they describe his attributes to be offensive. However, as Christians we do in fact worship the same God- we just disagree on what God is like. It's not the object we disagree on, but the attributes.

We could play this out with every Christian sect- 40,000+ of them. Again, if we apply the same principle Evangelicalism applies to Islam (they describe God differently than how we describe God, thus it is a different God) that same logic would cause us to declare that every Christian different than ourselves is worshiping a different God.

However, we don't do that. While we disagree and sometimes even fight about these differences, we still have the charity and decency to largely affirm that all Christians are attempting to offer worship to the same object: the God of Abraham. That obviously doesn't mean we think all Christian traditions are equally right or valid- we simply affirm that we are attempting to worship the same entity: Abraham's God.

We extend this charity to other Christians. We extend this charity to Judaism- which outright rejected God's covenant and the Messiah. Yet, when we find Islam, we depart from our norm of acknowledging the object of our worship is the same but simply disagree on what the nature and characteristics are like.

Why we refuse to have the charity to admit that, like Jews and 40,000 versions of Christianity we disagree with, we're all attempting to worship Abraham's God, is beyond me. There's plenty the Christian and Muslim disagree on, theologically. We disagree on the attributes of God, the nature of sin, soteriology, etc. However, like it or not, both religions are attempting to worship the same entity.

And that is the God of Abraham.

When I myself was struggling with this question, the most helpful words came from Miroslav Volf when he came to speak to my class when I studied Islam at Gordon-Conwell. Volf said, "there's a difference between worshipping the right God, and worshipping the right God rightly."

One can affirm we are worshipping the same God without it being an affirmation that one is worshipping the right God in the right way.

So, yes: Christians and Muslims do in fact worship the same God- but that doesn't mean everything you're assuming we mean when we say it. It's not a confession of Unitarian Universalism. We're not saying both religions are the same and equally true or correct.

All it means is we affirm that Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all trying to worship the same entity: Abraham's God.

[.45 Long Colt]

So the CCC section 841 doesn’t mean what it says?

[Shery]

No, we don’t worship the same God. Muslims deny the attributes of God, the Father, as well as the Son and HS. The say that God is not a loving God, did not have a Son, and we are not covered by the Blood of Jesus for salvation. Quit trying to find common ground, as this is an impossible job. Their god is vengeful and full of hate. Our God created the universe and after the fall, sought to reconcile it ti Himself, even though many would never believe.

Our God is vengeful against sin, and as it often states throughout Scripture, that His hand is stayed against a country until they reach a point that the sin must be dealt with. Such as when the Canaanites sin had finally reached maximum point, God allowed Israel to come against them, even though Israel was not fully obedient in this, hence the nations they left among themselves influenced them into idol worship and other abominations. God intended for Israel to purge the sin completely so that they would not be a stumbling block to them through inter-marriage, etc.

Gos allows a country to defend itself, but otherwise, we should not look to conquer the world world, like the Muslims attempt. God wanted us to show His character through witnessing to the power of God to change lives, not subject nation after nation to killings, slavery, rape, etc.

We do not serve a mon god, that which is created by God’s hands, but the absolute creator of the world.

[.45 Long Colt]

There is only one name by which men must saved. If men who never hear of the Lord can be saved, why bother with evangelism? Better yet, why did He have to die?

The answer to your question is YES, such a man is damned because the wrath of God abides on all sons of Adam. When Adam fell, we all fell (see Romans 5). We are dead in trespasses and sins the moment of our conception (Psalm 51:5), so all of us start damned. In Ephesians 2, Paul says we are “children of wrath.” Even so, in Romans 1 Paul teaches that all men are without excuse, so no man will be able to stand in judgment and claim he didn’t know. And we can be sure, the Lord doesn’t wink at sin. He declared to Moses that He would not “clear the guilty.” (see Exodus 34)

God is under no obligation to save any man or to ensure that all hear the good news of Jesus Christ. That a man ever hears of Jesus Christ and saving gospel is pure grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

[Gamecock]

**Essentially, Abraham somewhat founded a religion that went into three different streams: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.**

What kind of drivel is that.

God used Abraham to be the cornerstone of his people as a key part of redemptive history.

Islam does NOT worship the God of Abraham.

[Jessarah]

(I’m playing devil’s advocate here because I agree with you...but)

God is Triune, while Allah is singular....the Jews also believe God is singular, do they not? Don’t Christians believe that we worship the same God as the Jews?

[redleghunter]

Great research on you blog site. Thanks.

[Lady Heron]

No, they do not worship the same God. The test of Angels in the Bible shows from the very first Mohamed was not talking about God of the Bible.

[delacoert]

Taken in context, #841 means what it says. It says Muslims aren't saved. (See below.)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART ONE - THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

SECTION TWO - THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

CHAPTER THREE - I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

ARTICLE 9 - "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"

Paragraph 3. The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

III. THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC
The Church and non-Christians

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."

The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, the first to hear the Word of God. The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."

840 And when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

842 The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:

All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."

844 In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:

Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair.

845 To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son's Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is "the world reconciled." She is that bark which "in the full sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world." According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood.

[daniel1212]

Islam does NOT worship the God of Abraham.

Exactly, and when a Jews comes to Christ he can realize he was seeing the God of the OT in a very basic and darkened way, while a Muslim convert realizes he has a decidedly different god.

Been debating this at source site by the grace of God. https://disqus.com/by/PeaceByJesus/

[daniel1212]

Glory to God for what is good, but technically if referring to this page that is not a blog (a regularly updated website or web page) as this , but a regular web site.

[RoadGumby]

Um, No.

[HossB86]

Taken in context, #841 means what it says. It says Muslims aren't saved. (See below.)

Taken in context, 841 says PLAINLY that "together with us [Catholics], they [Muslims] adore the one, merciful God...."

No matter how much "context" is appealed to, it will not change the fact that 841 says exactly -- EXACTLY -- what it says: Catholics and Muslims worship the same God.

Question is, which "God" is being worshipped? The One, True, Living, Triune God, or "Allah"? Muslims do NOT worship the One Triune God; in fact, they claim that to do so is blasphemy because Allah has no son.

And the other glaring issue is captured in the very first quotation of 841:
"The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims;"

Hate to break this to you, but unless God calls them out of their idolatry and false religion of Islam, they're NOT included in the plan of salvation. Muslims do NOT acknowledge "the Creator" -- they deny him. And until their hearts are changed, they're damned just like any other person born since Adam and not saved.

You either worship God, or you do not. Worshipping Baal, or Molech, is NOT worshipping God imperfectly. It boils down to worshipping either God, or Satan.

The only context that's needed here is God's Word plainly stated in scripture. And 841 does not reflect that in the least little bit.

Hoss

[Teacher317]

I like your response best. Short and easy to see and research. Thanks! I’ll be quoting you. :)

[HossB86]

You take delight in the thought of people being damned. I want nothing to do with your sick, malicious, merciless monster you call God.

I read nowhere in .45s posts that he took ANY delight in sinners' damnation. What he said is straight from God's Word. Spend some time in it; you might just learn something. We are born into original sin; we are deserving of death from the start. It's plainly stated. Did you read the Scripture he quoted? He didn't make it up!

God is not sick, nor is he malicious -- we DESERVE death and damnation because of Adam's fall -- there is NOTHING good in us at all -- and the very fact he sent his only begotten Son into this world to PAY for OUR sins shows infinite mercy.

Spend some time in the Bible; I pray you come to know God Almighty. He is the God of the Bible... not of a man-made institution founded in 300 AD.

Hoss

[HossB86]

The Catholic Church was founded in 300 A.D.?

Okay. Now I know I’m talking to Jack Chick.

Yup. Christ did not create the Roman Catholic Church. Sorry. Nothing in Scripture supports it -- unless it's the misquoted/misinterpreted proof texts trotted out by the RCC... which means it's not supported in Scripture.

But, aside from your snide remark, why not refute the actual issue of CCC 841?

Hoss

[trisham]

Amen to that.

[HossB86]

I don’t waste time and energy on bigots.

Then you're not wasting time on me because I'm not a bigot.... unless you're making a personal attack, which you shouldn't do, right? You know that, don't you?

And since I'm sure you do know that, why not just refute CCC 841 instead of personally attacking me?

Hoss