Jesus and Islam
One of my favorite blogs, both for content and style is the English blog Archbishop Cranmer (found at http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/).
This week, among other interesting articles, His Grace deals with a television program on the what Muslims think about Jesus. Cranmer’s points are good: The Muslim view of Jesus is false and unhistorical, yet no counter view is likely to be presented (Muslims reject the divinity of Jesus and deny that he was crucified or resurrected). He points out how no one worries about offending Christians, but many are deferential to Islam. No TV station would make an honest film on the “Christian view of Mohamed.” And, Christians should be upset by this sort of blasphemy that proselytizes for a false religion that is causing the world unbelievable grief.
Cranmer says: “There will, of course, be nothing objective about the historical evidence for the crucifixion and resurrection: the documentary will unashamedly portray Jesus as Muslims see him, and use the Qur’an as its primary source material, completely and conveniently ignoring the fact that it was ‘revealed’ centuries after Jesus lived and the Gospels were penned. The accounts of the real primary material are thereby rubbished, and Jesus’ divinity is denied. It is both blasphemous and offensive to Christians the length and breadth of the country, but as long as it’s not blasphemous for Muslims, everything’s alright.”
In a way, this television special is shocking, because just when the world needs to convince Muslims to stop believing in Islam, and preferably to believe in the real and divine Jesus, not only for their eternal salvation, but for the survival of our own freedom and civilization, so many elites in the UK and Europe are out doing the opposite to their own hurt. I suppose it is more empirical evidence for the reality of evil. Only the devil could get Muslims, on the one hand, and liberal non-believing “christian”, secularists, atheists, and socialists on the other, on the same page. But then “liberal Christians” (i.e. those who do not really believe the bible) believe something similar to the Muslims in that they always had trouble with Jesus death, atonement for our sins, resurrection, eternality, identity as the Logos, and divinity. At least the Muslims do not have trouble with miracles and the virgin birth, the early stumbling blocks of the “liberals.”
What we really need today are whole seasons and collections of films that will be shown in the middle east and in Muslim markets in the West that explain the truth about Christianity and western civilization in subtle sophisticated ways. The Jesus film and Mel Gibson’s film about Jesus have had some success in changing hearts and minds. We need much more. We need to at least win their “tolerance” and “understanding.” But if we really want peace Islam will need to be discredited and the truth believed in its place. This is a tall order when so many in the west doubt the truth. But we can pray and we can make a start. Doing nothing good only makes failure more likely.
Donald McConnell
“He points out how no one worries about offending Christians, but many are deferential to Islam.”
This may have something to do with the established pattern of violence exhibited by many radical Muslim sects whenever they feel their God or prophet has been maligned. If Christians generally behaved in the same manner, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were treated the same way. Tolerance does not always equate with respect in these circumstances. I’d offer that Christians are offered greater respect via a diminished sensitivity. In other words, perhaps the general perception is that Christians can handle the jabs and disrespectful comments without having to resort to violent reprisal for their hurt feelings.
Consider also that the Muslim faith is not as old as that of the Christian or Jewish faiths. Just as both Judaism and Christianity went through a ridiculously violent period of maturity, so it stands that Islam will do the same. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that many Jews discussed the dangers of Christianity during the time of the Crusades and Inquisitions. They may have spent hours discussing how to temper and defend against a faith that seemed bent on the annihiliation of all opposing beliefs.
It seems to me that far too many people take the “You’ll know them by their fruits” maxim too literally. A judgment is made concerning Islam based upon the over-dramatic actions of but a few faithful. This reasoning then seeks to support the argument for converting the believers of Islam to Christianity for their own good. Have we learned nothing from history? By what means would you convert a faith that equates disagreement with a call to war?
If you knew “your enemy”, you’d know that their present strength is largely derived from their belief in a common enemy. The diplomatic solution would be to avoid violent encounters until such a time as both sides could communicate with each other reasonably. Indeed, I would bend over backwards right now to avoid offending a Muslim. Better to allow a boiling pot to cool off before hastily placing one’s hand in it.
There is much to be said for those who have the maturity and self discipline to allow a verbal slight to roll off their strong shoulders. Will Christians take the high road or will they allow themselves to be dragged down to the deepest, and most wretched, corners of that hellish battlefield?
Comment by S'akowin — August 21, 2007 @ 5:11 pm |
Plain and simple, muslims don’t believe someone can be born of a human being and yet be son of God, be worshipped as a God (or along with God), and eventually die. If you truly beleive in monotheism, how can you accept the “son of God as your savior” and not God himself?
Comment by eem — August 21, 2007 @ 9:44 pm |
Here are my elaborations on Jesus claims to divinity in word and deed.
Here is a link with lots of articles on Jesus divinity: http://www.loveliftedme.com/site/OurMinistry/StudyResources/TheologyDeityofChrist/tabid/154/Default.aspx.
Also let me lay out a few of the many passages that support Jesus claim to be God.
First, we have claims made by action. Jesus did many things only God can do. You could say he did them in the power of God, but they are the sort of things that testify to who Jesus was. The similar miracles done by Jesus followers have been done “In Jesus Name” – in other words through Jesus authority. Jesus raised the dead (Matthew 9:18 – 26, Luke 7:12 – 17, John 11:1 – 44), made or healed human eyes out of mud (John 9:6 – 7), forgave sins (Mark 2:5 – 12, Luke 5:17 – 26), and created bread and fish to feed thousands (Mark 6:30 – 44).
Jesus accepted Peter’s statement that he was the “Son of the living God”, a statement that made Jesus divine if true. See Matthew 16:16 – 17. Jesus also accepted worship (Matthew 14:33, 28:9, 17, 16 – 20, Luke 19:35 – 40, John 9:38). Only God has a right to do this. You cannot claim Jesus is not God, but is a nice holy man if he accepted the worship due only to God alone.
Jesus claimed to be God’s son, as well as to be God. See John 1:49, 3:10 – 21, 5: 16 – 47, 8:12 – 36, The Jews of the time clearly understood that sonship implied being the same thing as the father – so Jesus claim to be God’s son was a claim to be God. See John 5:18.
Jesus also referred to himself by the term that only God spoke of himself. It was forbidden to utter the name in Hebrew culture. Yet Jesus says I AM – YHWH – of himself. See John 8:58 – 59. The Jewish leaders knew what this meant and tried to stone Jesus for claiming to be God.
Jesus also claimed to be God through riddles. Jesus implied he had lived from eternity. Job 19:25 already said there would be a “redeemer” who was alive in Job’s time and who would stand upon the earth at the resurrection. Jesus said he existed before Abraham. See John 8:49 – 59. He also pointed out that David called the Messiah “my Lord.” See Mark 12:35 – 37, Luke 20:41 – 44. How could this be since the Messiah would be David’s son? Only if the Messiah was the incarnate God/Man of the Christian trinity.
Before any of this happened, the Old Testament predicted that a man, the Messiah, would also be God – “mighty God, everlasting father.” See Isaiah 9:6 – 7. So none of this should really be a surprise to anybody really paying attention.
You see, the Son of God and God and the Holy Spirit of God are all the same God, but three persons. C. S. Lewis has an excellent discussion of this in his book “Mere Christianity.” This doctrine of the Trinity is the only way to harmonize all the statements of the scripture. It is hard for the human mind. But does it not make sense that the real God would be difficult to explain rather than simple? A god who is the invention of men would be simple – and no doubt arbitrary so that the men could justify all their desires. But the real God – the God of the Trinity – is too complex and too sublime for human invention. We do not always like what He says or what He does. But God is Good and God is God. Why shouldn’t God become a man while also remaining God if He exists i three persons with fundamental unity? To paraphrase Anselm, only a man should die to atone for the sins of humans, but only God has a life of enough purity and value to offer it for to atone for all human sins. When we accept the Son of God we accept God himself – and even more amazing, He accepts us.
Comment by Donald McConnell — August 22, 2007 @ 3:13 am |
Deliver A Messiah “Mistaken Identity” By Agron Belica Authorhouse Publishing Co. WoW!!! What new theory has this Albanian have for us? He is convinced jesus wasn’t on the cross.. im out peace
Comment by K.fatmir — August 22, 2007 @ 6:23 am |
Not a new theory, but silly. Jesus mother and best friend were at the foot of the cross. I do not think they would mistake his identity. Some people will believe anything.
Comment by Donald McConnell — August 24, 2007 @ 1:43 am |
I would advise people not to take Agron Belica seriously. He does not have any proof to support his statements. What you read above is just an advertisement to sell his book. Could be a fake out. I have found one person however, Melanie Steffen, on the Internet that claims that Jesus has talked to her. Jesus was crucified she states but not in Calvary. She does have proof to support her messages are from God on various blog sites. She is not advertising to sell her book either.
Comment by Tim Higgins — September 27, 2007 @ 2:47 pm |
What I have read from Melanie Steffen is that Jesus was taken back to Rome for the crucifixion. He is taken to Rome with a number of other prisoners for entertainment. After the show Jesus’ body is thrown off of the Tapeian Rock. This is where the Romans disposed of criminals, traitors and others not worthy of burial. The body of Christ is just disposed of. Taken out to the trash. Now this story as cruel as it is sounds more like what the Romans would have done. Really what purpose would the Romans have in torturing a Jew in front of his own people. They could have had an uprising on their hands. People would have taken revenge for killing their prophet. Their Messiah. The people loved him.
Comment by Tim Higgins — October 7, 2007 @ 7:00 pm |