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Whew, Jeff is wearing me out over here– LOL. Seriously, you ask some great questions, and I am desperately trying to get to them.
Here is your most recent question (I will still try and answer the other if possible today):
Ahhh…sorry about all the questions. I just really was interested in your postings, and like your overall approach…however, in reading an answer that you wrote concerning a Muslim woman seeking to marry a man her parents disapproved of, I believe I read something that is a big difference. It seems you view Jesus as a prophet, just as maybe Mohammed or some other ‘great’ religious person may be. So, you view anyone seeking ‘god’ as being ‘alright’. Is that correct? If so, I guess we differ in the fact that I view Jesus as the only Son of God, the only way to God the Father as written in God’s Word. The righteous path is a narrow one, the wde path (that’s all-inclusive) leads to destruction. These other “prophets” or religious figures/theology/teachings that reduce Jesus below them, on an equal plane as them, or even compares Him to them is where they go terribly, terribly wrong. I think if you really take the Bible and base truth on it…you can’t, then, mesh the other religions of the world into it. The other religions of the world cannot be equal to what the Bible teaches…the Bible automatically excludes those that do not hold it as the absolute truth and only way and seek to revise it to be inclusionary of other belief systems…it simply does not allow for it. That is where it gets so tough and people have a hard time with being legalistic, critical, judgemental, etc. In a world that very much does not want there to be a set standard…an overall single authority…an absolute truth….and desperately seeks to include, validate, and accept everyone as being ‘ok’ and a ‘good person’ and going to ‘heaven’ or some other perfect place–it very much undermines that there is ONE God and only His way is right…even if a person is ‘great’, God’s word doesn’t allow for some other belief system. But, as you say, we should love everyone…but I don’t think that God and Allah are the same…and they are not going to heaven. I beleive Islam is a false religion. When you know the truth…then the things that do not match it stick out and they are not truth. Please explain or your thoughts. Thanks again.
What Is Jesus? A Prophet? God? Messiah? Or What?
First of all, I do have different views of Jesus than most Muslims. I also have different views of Jesus than many Christians. I have written several posts about my view of what the bible teaches, but I will briefly touch on them again:
- Jesus is NOT God the Father, nor is God a Trinity (this is not biblical, and is a doctrine created hundreds of years after Jesus ascended).
- Jesus is the Son of God (meaning he was created directly by God, and followed God’s will).
- Jesus is the #2 person under God. God has granted the son full authority as the bible clearly teaches. This means he is even over other prophets and past Kings (such as David). The bible even says God has raised Christ even above the Angels!
- Jesus lived a sinless life, was crucified, and was resurrected to sit at God’s right hand throne.
- Jesus pre-existed spiritually before coming to Earth, and will now exist eternally as King (Messiah) over God’s new creation when He returns the 2nd time (the 2nd coming).
- We should follow Christ above all others. As he did God’s will.
- God is GREATER than Jesus. Jesus himself says this repeatedly. Jesus acknowledges that he gets his power from God. Jesus says the father is greater clearly. Even after Jesus ascends to heaven, he remained obedient to God’s will, and the bible clearly shows Christ is under God’s authority (In the first part of Revelation, God “Grants” Christ a vision).
If you want to put labels on Jesus, you could accurately apply all of these labels below:
- The Messiah
- The Christ
- The Anointed One
- The Savior
- The King of the Jews
- The Son of Man
- The Son of God
- The Holy One of God
- A Prophet
- A Teacher
- A Rabbi
- Master
- Lord
- etc. etc.
All of these titles can be applied accurately to Jesus. He is all of those things and more. All of those titles can be found in the bible in reference to Jesus (By himself, his apostles and others).
So to call Jesus a prophet itself isn’t necessarily wrong, but he is, of course, more than just merely a Prophet. He is everything on the list above and more! This is the one who is the Messiah. He is going to be our authority for eternity (second only to God Himself).
Are All Muslims Doomed to Hell? Do They All Reject Jesus?
It would really be a mistake to try and stereotype a Muslim. You cannot fit a Christian into a nice box. Why? Christians have different views on things. Some thing Jesus is God, but not a trinity. Some think Jesus is God in a trinity. Some think Jesus isn’t God at all, but the Messiah and Christ. They can’t all be right can they? No, of course not.
So what if Jesus isn’t really God, but those Christians have made him into God? Does that mean they are idol worshippers? Or what if Jesus really is a trinity. Do the oneness pentecostals and non-trinitarians doomed to hell? See how tricky this can be when we want to get into specifics.
In that same way, it would be a mistake to try and fit Muslims into 1 nice box. I know some Muslims who think Jesus is nothing but a prophet. I know some who think Jesus is the Messiah, and will return to Earth and has been given authority by God. Some think he was crucified, and some do not.
So it is a mistake to judge people by a stereotype, and should consider their individual views. Jesus said this in the bible:
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50
Jesus also said this:
“Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:49-50
So what we see in these 2 verses is interesting. Jesus indicates that if you follow God’s will, you are following his will. If you follow Christ, you follow God. Just like if you followed Moses, you followed God (because Moses taught God’s laws).
In the other verse, we see Jesus saying whoever isn’t “against him” and acknowledges him is in fact for him. I know of no Muslims who are against Christ. The question is: Do they have a proper view of Christ? Do they follow God’s laws?
Now these 2 verses right here should be taken into consideration with Muslims. I know a few who are very nice people. They follow God’s laws (as dictated in the bible) more closely than most Christians I know. They also consider Jesus as the Messiah and Christ.
Then there are other classes of Muslims who beat women, fly suicide missions, and so forth, who obviously DO NOT do God’s will. I think there are Righteous Muslims who will go to heaven, and we shouldn’t clump them with the “bad ones.”I also think there are plenty of “Bad Christians” who won’t go to heaven, and they shouldn’t be clumped with the good Christians.
God judges us on an individual basis. He seeks our hearts and minds. He knows what we think and why we think it. He knows whether or not we have a proper view of Jesus. He knows whether or not we follow His laws.
Am I a Muslim or a Christian? Do I Follow the Bible or the Koran?
I am without a doubt 100% a Christian. I follow the Holy Bible as my guide book. I believe the Holy Bible is the complete truth.
I follow Christ. Why Christ? Christ proved he was what he said he was by being resurrected from the dead and sitting at the right hand of God.
I disagree with many Muslims on a variety of topics (such as Jesus, which scriptures are more accurate, etc.). At the same time, you might be surprised that Muslims share many of the same beliefs as Christians (just like Jews share many of the same beliefs about Moses, etc.).
So again, I do not fully agree with all parts of the Muslim faith. I am a Christian. But I do like to engage in friendly dialogue, and anyone who really does the will of God, believes in God, follows Christ, and so forth is my friend, or brother, or sister (as Jesus said).
Do Muslims follow God’s will? That is something that must be asked on an individual basis. Do Christians follow God’s will? Some do, some don’t. Do Muslims? Some do, some don’t.
What About the Advice I Gave the Muslim Girl?
In the article you mentioned, I simply gave a person of a different faith advice. I used Mohammad as an example, because they are clearly familiar with Mohammad. I have studied comparative religions before, and know quite a bit about the Muslim faith (as well as others).
I do not follow Muhammad’s teachings, I follow Christ and the Bible. That being said, I mean do disrespect at all to others.
So I Mohammad in the example in that question. I do like to have dialogue with all people of all faiths (and even atheists). Why? Because we can share ideas and faith. I can show them why I believe what I believe.
So when I reply to a question, I try to put it in words and use examples they can understand and relate with.
What About God’s Name? Is it Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, or What?
I think what we call God isn’t nearly as important as following his will, or believing in Christ. I have written an article concerning God’s name.
Will All Good People Go to Heaven? Even if They Reject God?
I touched on this in my last post. I don’t even think some Christians will go to heaven, so it would be a terrible mistake to assume I think good people in general go to heaven. This is a faulty teaching.
Who gets to heaven are those who follow God’s laws, accept Christ, and are counted righteous by God. Who does this include? That is for God to decide on an individual basis.
But I think it would be a mistake to take the view that all Christians will be in heaven (Jesus refutes this). It would also be a mistake to think that all Muslims or other faiths (especially the monotheistic) automatically go to hell.
The narrow gate is the gate of following God’s will. That is indeed a narrow gate (meaning that not everyone gets to heaven, and in fact a lesser than 50% majority would).
A narrow gate means it is less than 50%. So less than 50% of the entire worlds population since the dawn of history will not make it. But wouldn’t it be wrong to assume that there are not some out there who may be a Muslim who did not believe what is necessary to make it? Wouldn’t it be wrong to assume that because people may have some false beliefs that they aren’t counted as righteous? Even the disciples sometimes had false beliefs, and Jesus had to correct them.
Even in Revelation, Jesus corrects some of the “churches” for their wrong beliefs or wrongdoings. But they are still considered to be following Christ and God.
After all, I certainly think Catholics have some really non-biblical beliefs. But does that mean all people who happen to classify themselves as Catholic won’t make it? Or Baptists? Or other faiths? See my point.
And I do think that God and Christ will set everyone straight once and for all on what is true and what is wrong. In Christ’s return, he will set everyone straight and there will once again be unity in the faith.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts About My Beliefs and Views, and Interfaith Dialogue
Again, my views on Jesus Christ are pretty clear on this blog, and I summarized them above. I think that is by far the most accurate interpretation of Christ. It makes the most logical sense, and has the most scriptural evidence.
He is the messiah, Christ, anointed one. He died, ascended to God’s right hand. He has been exalted above the angels, and will rule over God’s creation as King. He is not God, but rather the son of God. He is under God’s authority (as he himself says), and God is greater. But Christ is #2 in command.
I enjoy interfaith dialogue with all peoples. I agree and disagree with most faiths on various points, Muslims included. I don’t think it is fair to say all Muslims go to hell at all.
I think the scriptures clearly teach some basic principles that show those who believe in Christ, and do God’s will inherit the Kingdom of God. Whether or not a person fits into this category is for God to know when he judges them individually.
Thanks again, and I hope I clarified this for you.
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Posted under Ask a Question, comparative religions
This post was written by Revelation on July 9, 2009
