Yesterday I expounded on all the differences that Christians had with each other. We may have our differences but I believe we’re all going to heaven together whether or not we speak in tongues or not Psalm 139:14 (New International Version) 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. So if God made us all wonderfully different it stands to reason that our faiths would different and distinct as we are.
So the question I broached yesterday, What is God’s name? Is it Father, God, Lord, Savior, Jesus? All of those are correct. In fact at the bottom of this blog I am pasting a list of all the names of God that are used throughout the Bible. God has dozens of names, including my favorite “I am” which is open to plenty of discussion and debate.
So my point is, if God has many different names that are in the Bible, could one of his names be Allah as well? Are Allah and Jehovah the same God? I have asked a few friends this question. Some of them believe Allah is not the same God as Jehovah, but that is their opinion. I asked God to reveal the truth to me, and the more that I interact with Muslims the more I believe that maybe Allah and Jehovah are different names for the same God. The details of the faiths between Muslims and Christians are certainly different. But I went into detail in yesterday’s blog about all the details that are different within the Christian church as well.
Muslims and Christians Believe in the God of Adam, of Noah, of Abraham, of David and Jesus. Are these not the same God? The fundamental and major difference between the two is the divinity of Christ. Christians believe that Christ is the Son of God and that He is one with God and the Holy Spirit in the Trinity. Muslims believe in Christ but only as a great prophet not as the Son of God. They also believe that He is coming back some day in the rapture. There are a lot of similarities within our religions and even more when you compare Judaism and Islam.
Now I don’t know the answer to this, but Im just going to throw this out there. Please feel free to agree or disagree, or to state your opinion on the matter. The most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” There is also John 14:6 “I am The Way, The Truth, The Life, no man gets to the Father but by me.” For Christians, which I myself am a passionately devoted Christ-follower, its pretty cut and dried. All paths to heaven go through Christ. If you don’t have Christ stamped on your eternal passport you are out of luck…from the Christian standpoint. But…consider this…and Im not sure I have the right answer to this yet. If God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are indeed one through the Trinity, if you believe in God, by definition aren’t you also believing in Christ at the same time. Its kind of a mind blowing concept if you think about it. What Im trying to figure out, as a Christian, are Muslims getting to heaven? I am not the judge, and thank God Im not. But after interacting with them for nearly five years now, It is my opinion that they are going to heaven. I have met so many devoted and passionate Muslims over here. I think we’ll be standing side by side next to each other. I know this may cause an uproar, but remember its not our job to judge who gets into heaven or not. Remember Christ Himself said in Luke 10:25 “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Most of the Muslims that I have met do exactly this. So who am I to say whether they will or won’t get into heaven.
Sure they may have some extreme radicals in the Muslim ranks, but Christians aren’t averse either. Take that one pastor in Florida that was planning the Burn the Quran day for example or the white supremacists burning their crosses. Every society has their nuts, but the majority shouldn’t be judged on the extreme minority. I have noted in detail how God speaks distinctly to me. When I got here he told me specifically that my job was NOT to convert Muslims to Christianity, instead I was to reach out to my fellow expats instead. There are plenty of expats out here to which I can minister.
I was having breakfast with my friend today a devout Muslim. We were sharing our faith and we believe that we believe the same God. I think he’s like the Muslim version of me, trying to open up his brother’s eyes about Christians. He said something that blew my mind. “What if Christians are Muslims” meaning that we believe the same God. If you think about it, the term Christian is just a label. Christ did not come to this earth to start Christianity, instead he was teaching “The Way” a new way just to believe, simply, like God had originally intended. Christian means “Little Christ” it was a derogatory term the Romans used to describe Christ Followers in the first century. The Christ followers liked it, the name stuck. Muslim is just a label too for the followers of Islam. The details and how we practice our faith are vastly different, but the key like Christ admonished, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. For Christians and Muslims that bicker with each other over their opinion of the truth, maybe we should all take heed with the latter part of that verse.
Comments, suggestions, debate welcome.
Jevohah and Allah, Here are some other names of God found in the Bible:
OLD TESTAMENT NAMES FOR GOD
ELOHIM......Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1 meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.
ADONAI......Malachi 1:6 meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.
JEHOVAH--YAHWEH.....Genesis 2:4 a reference to God's divine salvation.
JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM.......Exodus 31:13 meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"
JEHOVAH-ROHI......Psalm 23:1 meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH.......Ezekiel 48:35 meaning "The Lord who is present"
JEHOVAH-RAPHA.........Exodus 15:26 meaning "The Lord our healer"
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU......Jeremiah 23:6 meaning "The Lord our righteousness"
JEHOVAH-JIREH.........Genesis 22:13-14 meaning "The Lord will provide"
JEHOVAH-NISSI.........Exodus 17:15 meaning "The Lord our banner"
JEHOVAH-SHALOM........Judges 6:24 meaning "The Lord is peace"
JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH......Isaiah 6:1-3 meaning "The Lord of Hosts"
JEHOVAH-GMOLAH........Jeremiah 51:6 meaning "The God of Recompense"
EL-ELYON..............Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14 meaning "The most high God
EL-ROI................Genesis 16:13 meaning "The strong one who sees"
EL-SHADDAI............Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1 meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
EL-OLAM...............Isaiah 40:28-31 meaning "The everlasting God"
MORE NAMES OF GOD
ABBA.............................Romans 8:15
ADVOCATE.........................I John 2:1 (kjv)
ALMIGHTY.........................Genesis 17:1
ALPHA............................Revelation 22:13
AMEN.............................Revelation 3:14
ANCIENT OF DAYS..................Daniel 7:9
ANOINTED ONE.....................Psalm 2:2
APOSTLE..........................Hebrews 3:1
ARM OF THE LORD..................Isaiah 53:1
AUTHOR OF LIFE...................Acts 3:15
AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH..............Hebrews 12:2
BEGINNING.........................Revelation 21:6
BLESSED & HOLY RULER..............1 Timothy 6:15
BRANCH............................Jeremiah 33:15
BREAD OF GOD......................John 6:33
BREAD OF LIFE.....................John 6:35
BRIDEGROOM........................Isaiah 62:56
BRIGHT MORNING STAR...............Revelation 22:16
CHIEF SHEPHERD.....................1 Peter 5:4
CHOSEN ONE.........................Isaiah 42:1
CHRIST.............................Matthew 22:42
CHRIST OF GOD......................Luke 9:20
CHRIST THE LORD....................Luke 2:11
CHRIST, SON OF LIVING GOD..........Matthew 16:16
COMFORTER..........................John 14:26(kjv)
COMMANDER..........................Isaiah 55:4
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL...............Luke 2:25
CONSUMING FIRE......................Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29
CORNERSTONE.........................Isaiah 28:16
COUNSELOR...........................Isaiah 9:6
CREATOR.............................1 Peter 4:19
DELIVERER..............................Romans 11:26
DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS.................Haggai 2:7
DOOR...................................John 10:7(kjv)
END....................................Revelation 21:6
ETERNAL GOD............................Deut. 33:27
EVERLASTING FATHER.....................Isaiah 9:6
FAITHFUL & TRUE........................Revelation 19:11
FAITHFUL WITNESS.......................Revelation 1:5
FATHER.................................Matthew 6:9
FIRSTBORN (3)........................................Rom.8:29,Rev.1:5,Col.1:15
FIRSTFRUITS............................1 Cor.15:20-23
FOUNDATION.............................1 Cor. 3:11
FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS & SINNERS.....Matthew 11:19
GENTLE WHISPER.........................1 Kings 19:12
GIFT OF GOD............................John 4:10
GLORY OF THE LORD......................Isaiah 40:5
GOD....................................Genesis 1:1
GOD ALMIGHTY...........................Genesis 17:1
GOD OVER ALL...........................Romans 9:5
GOD WHO SEES ME........................Genesis 16:13
GOOD SHEPHERD..........................John 10:11
GREAT HIGH PRIEST......................Hebrews 4:14
GREAT SHEPHERD.........................Hebrews 13:20
GUIDE..................................Psalm 48:14
HEAD OF THE BODY.......................Colossians 1:18
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.....................Ephesians 5:23
HEIR OF ALL THINGS.....................Hebrews 1:2
HIGH PRIEST............................Hebrews 3:1
HIGH PRIEST FOREVER....................Hebrews 6:20
HOLY ONE...............................Acts 2:27
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.....................Isaiah 49:7
HOLY SPIRIT............................John 15:26
HOPE...................................Titus 2:13
HORN OF SALVATION......................Luke 1:69
I AM....................................Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
IMAGE OF GOD............................2 Cor. 4:4
IMAGE OF HIS PERSON.....................Hebrews 1:3 (kjv)
IMMANUEL................................Isaiah 7:14
JEALOUS..............................Exodus 34:14 (kjv)
JEHOVAH..............................Psalm 83:18 (kjv)
JESUS................................Matthew 1:21
JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD................Romans 6:23
JUDGE................................Isaiah 33:22, Acts 10:42
KING.................................Zechariah 9:9
KING ETERNAL.........................1 Timothy 1:17
KING OF KINGS........................1 Timothy 6:15
KING OF THE AGES.....................Revelation 15:3
LAMB OF GOD...........................John 1:29
LAST ADAM.............................1 Cor. 15:45
LAWGIVER..............................Isaiah 33:22
LEADER................................Isaiah 55:4
LIFE..................................John 14:6
LIGHT OF THE WORLD....................John 8:12
LIKE AN EAGLE.........................Deut. 32:11
LILY OF THE VALLEYS...................Song 2:1
LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH............Revelation 5:5
LIVING STONE..........................1 Peter 2:4
LIVING WATER..........................John 4:10
LORD..................................John 13:13
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.....................Revelation 15:3
LORD JESUS CHRIST.....................1 Cor. 15:57
LORD OF ALL...........................Acts 10:36
LORD OF GLORY ........................1 Cor. 2:8
LORD OF HOSTS.........................Haggai 1:5
LORD OF LORDS.........................1 Tim. 6:15
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS..............Jeremiah 23:6
LOVE.................................1 John 4:8
MAN OF SORROWS.........................Isaiah 53:3
MASTER..................................Luke 5:5
MEDIATOR................................1 Timothy 2:5
MERCIFUL GOD............................Jeremiah 3:12
MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT................Malachi 3:1
MESSIAH................................. John 4:25
MIGHTY GOD...............................Isaiah 9:6
MIGHTY ONE...............................Isaiah 60:16
NAZARENE.................................Matthew 2:23
OFFSPRING OF DAVID.......................Revelation 22:16
OMEGA....................................Revelation 22:13
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON........................John 1:18(kjv)
OUR PASSOVER LAMB........................1 Cor. 5:7
OUR PEACE................................Ephesians 2:14
POTTER...................................Isaiah 64:8
POWER OF GOD.............................1 Cor. 1:24
PRINCE OF PEACE..........................Isaiah 9:6
PROPHET..................................Acts 3:22
PURIFIER.................................Malachi 3:3
RABBONI (TEACHER)........................John 20:16
RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY..................Heb.1:3
REDEEMER.................................Job 19:25
REFINER'S FIRE...........................Malachi 3:2
RESURRECTION.............................John 11:25
RIGHTEOUS ONE............................1 John 2:1
ROCK.....................................1 Cor.10:4
ROOT OF DAVID............................Rev. 22:16
ROSE OF SHARON...........................Song 2:1
RULER OF GOD'S CREATION..................Rev. 3:14
RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH................Rev 1:5
RULER OVER ISRAEL........................Micah 5:2
SAVIOR...................................Luke 2:11
SCEPTER OUT OF ISRAEL....................Numbers 24:17
SEED.....................................Genesis 3:15
SERVANT..................................Isaiah 42:1
SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS....................1Peter 2:25
SHIELD...................................Genesis 15:1
SON OF DAVID.............................Matthew 1:1
SON OF GOD...............................Matthew 27:54
SON OF MAN...............................Matthew 8:20
SON OF THE MOST HIGH.....................Luke 1:32
SOURCE...................................Hebrews 5:9
SPIRIT OF GOD............................Genesis 1:2
STAR OUT OF JACOB........................Numbers 24:17
STONE....................................1 Peter 2:8
SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.....................Malachi 4:2
TEACHER...................................John 13:13
TRUE LIGHT................................John 1:9
TRUE WITNESS..............................Revelation 3:14
TRUTH.....................................John 14:6
VINE......................................John 15:5
WAY........................................John 14:6
WISDOM OF GOD..............................1 Cor. 1:24
WITNESS....................................Isaiah 55:4
WONDERFUL..................................Isaiah 9:6
WORD.......................................John 1:1
WORD OF GOD................................Revelation 19:13
3 comments:
I don't even know how to reply to your last two blog entries except to say that I am glad to read this. I have believed that Allah and the God I know are the same for a long time. They are just different names used for our Creator, the Almighty.
Like you, I am also glad it isn't my place to judge the lives of individuals. I am so curious to see how things will be revealed in the end.
Thank you for your thoughts!
Hi Rick - I enjoy reading your posts about what you're doing now that you're in Dubai. I wanted to comment on some of your comments, and be the one who disagrees with what you're saying. So here are three comments that I'm sure others will disagree with.
Before I do, I wanted to affirm your idea about labels. Labels, really, mean very little (except that it gives us a common language with which we can identify each other). Whether we call ourselves Christians, Muslims, The Way is less important than who we identify with, specifically the person and work of Jesus Christ.
I also want to make clear that I'm not disputing your idea that Jehovah and Allah are the same. The jury is still out on that one for me.
Here are my thoughts:
1. I'm not sure how you reconcile the two verses that you quoted - Loving God and loving others, and then the most famous verse, John 3:16. You come to the conclusion at the end that both Muslims and Christians are the same, when you clearly quote a verse that requires people to accept Christ as the only way to God.
"For Christians and Muslims that bicker with each other over their opinion of the truth..."
2) I think its important to note that this isn't an opinion in the same sense that we each have a favorite football team. That's an opinion. However, truth is not an opinion. Either Christians are right or Muslims are right. There's no middle way.
3) Its also important to make clear that, while bickering (arguing for the sake of proving myself right so I feel good) is not helpful or glorifying to God, "arguing" (presenting truth for the sake of someone you care about) is helpful. The key is in the heart. Does the person arguing want the other to see truth and be satisfied in Christ? Does the person arguing have the others interests genuinely at heart? Quite often its not, and that's wrong.
Thanks for your feedback Josh and Kim. I certainly don't have all the answers. The search for truth is a very subjective and personal one. Of course there are going to be disagreements and I really appreciate you sharing your point of view.
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