Issue 7, Apr 2008An Open Letter entitled
A Common Word between Us was sent by Muslim Leaders throughout the world to well known Christian Leaders:
Pope Benedict XVI, Batholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople; Patriarch of Alexandria and All of Africa, Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, All of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, All of Greece, Poland, etc. Also, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Presiding Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, President of Lutheran World Federation, General Secretary of World Methodist Council, Baptist World Alliance, General Secretary of World Council of Churches and leaders of Christian Churches everywhere.
A Common Word states: “Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.”
The letter continues, “The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour.”
The document goes on to present what it believes is a common LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF THE NEIGHBOUR. It is a serious appeal to the Christian Community and calls for careful response.
The Yale Divinity School Center for Faith and Culture has written “A Christian Response to A Common Word between Us and You.”
Both A Common Word from Muslim Religious Leaders and the Yale, “A Christian Response...” call for serious examination.
The Muslim A Common Word document assumes throughout that we worship the same One God. The letter from Yale Divinity School seems to accept this. The Yale response does not recognize that five times the Muslim A Common Word states that God (Allah) “has no partner.” This is a statement repeated frequently in the Qur’an (Surah 4:48; 7:173; 10:34-35, 66; 16:86; 28:62-64, 74; 30:40; 40:12; 42:21). Surah 3:64 is in fact quoted in A Common Word. Surah 3:64 boldly addresses Christians: “O people of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner (bold added) unto Him…” The Yale “A Christian Response...” ignores this obvious strong denial of Jesus as the Son of God in the Muslim A Common Word.
It is well for Christians to remember what is written on the inside of the
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem: “O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word, which he conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not “Three” -Cease! (it is) better for you!- Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from his transcendent Majesty that He should have a son” (Surah 4:171).
The Muslim A Common Word, in presenting “no partner” five times, makes a bold and clear denial of Jesus as the Son of God. How can we assume that Muslims and Christians worship the same God when Islam denies Jesus as His Son?
Another compelling difference concerning the love of God is presented in the Muslim document A Common Word: “Thus in the Holy Qur’an God enjoins Muslims who truly love God to follow this example, in order in turn to be loved by God (bold added): “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins. God is Forgiving, Merciful. (Aal ‘Imran, 3:31).”
Here is the defining difference in our concept of God. As quoted, Surah 3:31 teaches and Islam believes that by our loving God we are “loved by God” and receive forgiveness and mercy. Allah’s love is not a free gift. In every instance that the Qur’an speaks of Allah’s love, His love is in response to our love and obedience. For instance, “Allah loveth the steadfast” (Surah 3:146). “Allah loveth the equitable” (Surah 5:42).
The Yale Divinity School, in “A Christian Response..,” sidesteps the obvious problem and proceeds as if it were not so. It states:“We find it equally heartening that the God whom we should love above all this is described as being Love. In the Muslim tradition, God, ‘the Lord of the worlds,’ is ‘The Infinitely Good and All-Merciful.’ And the New Testament states clearly that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8).”
Thus the Yale response not only stops short of
1 John 4:9-10 (“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son…”), but it also distorts the love of God and avoids the fact that the Muslim document, A Common Word, describes God (Allah) as being loving toward those who “love God” and “follow me (Muhammad).” Then, in turn, “God (Allah) will love you and forgive you your sins.”
The Christian Faith teaches that before we loved God, God first loved us. He loved us while we were powerless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies (
Rom. 5:6-10) “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (
1 Jn. 4:10). It is this awesome, unconditional love of God that moves us to repentance and faith in His Son and brings us into fellowship with the true and living God.
One final distinction is necessary when seeking understanding and common ground. The Scriptures speak of the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Caesar: “God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (
Col. 1:13).
In distinction, there is the Kingdom of Caesar and the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus recognized the Kingdom of Caesar when he said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (
Mt. 22:15-22) Paul calls this kingdom the “governing authority.” This authority is established by God “to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (
Rom. 13:1-7). The civil authorities are there to punish “the wrongdoer” -murderer, terrorist, extortionist, robber, abuser, etc. The civil authorities exist to restrain the sinful inclinations of human nature and reward those who keep the laws.
The Kingdom of Christ does not operate with outward force and fear. The church does the work of the Kingdom of Christ by changing hearts through the “message of Christ”
(Rom.10:1-17). When hearts are changed, lives are changed.
Islam makes no distinction between these two Kingdoms. Hence, the Qur’an, Sharia law, and Jihad may be used with physical force to establish
the Umma, a theocratic kingdom on earth.
While we work for peace and harmony, we need to recognize the basic differences of how order and change are brought about in the world. In our desire for further understanding in the world, let us, on the one hand, be loving people of good will. Let us be courteous and civil. On the other hand, let us remember the fundamental differences between the two world beliefs. And let us not compromise or deny our Christian faith, but look upon the dialogue as an opportunity to share and demonstrate the unconditional, undeserved, unexpected love of God in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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By
Rev. Rick Richter, author of “The Qur’an and the Bible – A Comparison.” Second Edition 2006. C 2004 @ www.Churchpress.com.