This is the final installment as we look at Brian McLarens response to three very important questions. This final question brought on no doubt by Brian’s recent observance of Ramadan, concerns whether Brian believes that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
After reading Brian’s answer several times I discover that he doesn’t actually answer the question. He is after all a left leaning political activists and politicians, especially left leaning ones seem to be really good at doing that. But it seems that he believes that there is some degree of commonality between Islam and Christianity. He makes his argument by first pointing out that there are differences in Christianity.
“Do all Christians hold exactly the same concept of God when they worship?” He lists a few differences then adds “Of course, there are significant differences, so significant that some Christians deny that other Christians are truly Christians.”
Before moving on I’d love to get an answer to this question: Do you believe that there are specific doctrines that if a person does not believe them (virgin birth, penal substitution, and the resurrection) they are not truly Christians (aka in a genuine saving relationship with Christ)?
He continues his logic this way:
“If Christians differ so greatly from one another in their concepts of God, then of course Muslims and Christians have significant differences too.”
That’s ok, except that when it comes to salvation it’s not a person’s “concept” of God that matters, what matters is if the person accepts the God revealed in Scripture. It’s not the simply the similarities in “concepts” that unifies genuine believers, it’s the refuting of differences between a man’s “concept” and a Biblical reality. Again it would be great if he clarified here that these significant differences have important salvific effects! But instead he looks at the “common” ground between the two.
“Both believe God is omnipotent, all-merciful, and without any imperfection.”
There are so many places we could go with that…but I’m sure it was the all-merciful part of the Muslim God that is fueling Islamic terrorism around the globe. Interesting side-track though – A genuinely zealous Muslim who truly believes the Quran will kill for Allah. The biblically, genuinely zealous Christian will die for Christ. There’s a significant difference! But continuing on, He makes this point:
“But Christians believe that God is revealed most fully and gloriously in a crucified person, and Muslims believe God is revealed most fully and gloriously in an inspired book.”
I wonder if the truth really likes to be flirted with. We do believe that God revealed himself fully in the crucified and risen Savior. But Brian, how does God reveal that Savior to us who live 2000 years later? Could it be through the work of the Spirit through the inspired Word of God? And by the way, the fact that Muslims do not believe Jesus to be God is probably the most significant and damning difference. Brian then raises this “fascinating question”:
“How merciful is God in hearing the prayers and receiving the worship of people whose concepts are less than fully accurate? If God requires 100% accuracy, we’re all hopeless since we all fall short in our understanding of God.”
Those who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth. It’s true that we cannot know God fully because God is infinite and we are finite. But we can know God truly because He has revealed himself to us through his Word. And we are required to study scripture to know God! True there is growth within a Christians life, but until a person is 100% accurate on the fact that he’s a sinner facing the wrath of God, believes by faith in the work of Christ on the cross and throws himself on the mercy offered thereon, that person’s worship/righteousness is as a filthy rag, utterly worthless. A person who does not believe Jesus is God cannot worship God. A person who does not believe that God’s Word is inspired cannot worship God, for how do you worship God but dishonor what he says?
Finally I must add that a huge difference between the Muslim religion and biblical Christianity is that Islam is a works based religion and Christianity is based on faith. This drives to the theme of this blog in that the Muslim religion is just like any other religion of man – it’s based on the quest for satisfaction based on my own efforts. Why is it that the Muslim has to force people to believe? Because in doing so they’re hoping for eternal satisfaction and reward. Why is it that a Christian offers the gospel to all who will hear whether they accept it or reject it? It’s because they’ve already found that satisfaction in Christ and earnestly desire others to have it as well! Why do works-based religions do good works and force others to do what they’re doing (try to fix the environment, feed the poor etc.), because they’re looking for the satisfaction that comes from doing good things. Why do divinely satisfied Christians do good works (feed the poor, look after the fatherless and widows etc), because in doing so they bring glory to God and proclaim the satisfaction that can only be found in Him!
This is the final installment as we look at Brian McLarens response to three very important questions. This final question brought on no doubt by Brian’s recent observance of Ramadan, concerns whether Brian believes that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
After reading Brian’s answer several times I discover that he doesn’t actually answer the question. He is after all a left leaning political activists and politicians, especially left leaning ones seem to be really good at doing that. But it seems that he believes that there is some degree of commonality between Islam and Christianity. He makes his argument by first pointing out that there are differences in Christianity.
“Do all Christians hold exactly the same concept of God when they worship?” He lists a few differences then adds “Of course, there are significant differences, so significant that some Christians deny that other Christians are truly Christians.”
Before moving on I’d love to get an answer to this question: Do you believe that there are specific doctrines that if a person does not believe them (virgin birth, penal substitution, and the resurrection) they are not truly Christians (aka in a genuine saving relationship with Christ)?
He continues his logic this way:
“If Christians differ so greatly from one another in their concepts of God, then of course Muslims and Christians have significant differences too.”
That’s good. Again it would be great if he clarified here that these significant differences have important salvific effects! But instead he looks at the “common” ground between the two.
“Both believe God is omnipotent, all-merciful, and without any imperfection.”
There are so many places we could go with that…but I’m sure it was the all-merciful part of the Muslim God that is fueling Islamic terrorism around the globe. Interesting side-track though – A genuinely zealous Muslim who truly believes the Quran will kill for Allah. The biblically, genuinely zealous Christian will die for Christ. There’s a significant difference! But continuing on, He makes this point:
“But Christians believe that God is revealed most fully and gloriously in a crucified person, and Muslims believe God is revealed most fully and gloriously in an inspired book.”
I wonder if the truth really likes to be flirted with. We do believe that God revealed himself fully in the crucified and risen Savior. But Brian, how does God reveal that Savior to us who live 2000 years later? Could it be through the work of the Spirit through the inspired Word of God? And by the way, the fact that Muslims do not believe Jesus to be God is probably the most significant and damning difference. Brian then raises this “fascinating question”:
“How merciful is God in hearing the prayers and receiving the worship of people whose concepts are less than fully accurate? If God requires 100% accuracy, we’re all hopeless since we all fall short in our understanding of God.”
Those who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth. It’s true that we cannot know God fully because God is infinite and we are finite. But we can know God truly because He has revealed himself to us through his Word. And we are required to study scripture to know God! True there is growth within a Christians life, but until a person is 100% accurate on the fact that he’s a sinner facing the wrath of God, believes by faith in the work of Christ on the cross and throws himself on the mercy offered thereon, that person’s worship/righteousness is as a filthy rag, utterly worthless. A person who does not believe Jesus is God cannot worship God. A person who does not believe that God’s Word is inspired cannot worship God, for how do you worship God but dishonor what he says?
Finally I must add that a huge difference between the Muslim religion and biblical Christianity is that Islam is a works based religion and Christianity is based on faith. This drives to the theme of this blog in that the Muslim religion is just like any other religion of man – it’s based on the quest for satisfaction based on my own efforts. Why is it that the Muslim has to force people to believe? Because in doing so they’re hoping for eternal satisfaction and reward. Why is it that a Christian offers the gospel to all who will hear whether they accept it or reject it? It’s because they’ve already found that satisfaction in Christ and earnestly desire others to have it as well! Why do works-based religions do good works and force others to do what they’re doing (try to fix the environment, feed the poor etc.), because they’re looking for the satisfaction that comes from doing good things. Why do divinely satisfied Christians do good works (feed the poor, look after the fatherless and widows etc), because in doing so they bring glory to God and proclaim the satisfaction that can only be found in Him!
