I think it's really interesting how much the major religions overlap. The old testament of the bible is the same as the Torah, and the Koran has many of the same stories as the bible. I don't know if you can learn about Islam from reading the bible, but I think if you read both the bible and the Koran you would see that the two religions come from very similar places. The problems arise when either of those two religions is considered from an extreme viewpoint.
Two admonitions from the Bible come to my mind when considering Islam, but obviously the Bible doesn't directly teach anything that gives readers specific knowledge about Islam. The first admonition teaches Christians to be wary of anyone who brings them a Gospel different than the one they've received or tries to pervert grace of Christ. The apostle Paul said, "[Those who bring a different gospel] Let them be accursed." Jesus said, "...that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (John 5:23) In I John 5:12-13 it says, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." Hence, when Muslims or others come and deny that Jesus is the Son of God, Christians will reject that teaching. Although Christian can be hopeful because the Qur'an teaches about Jesus, we become wary when in practice most Muslim are afraid to read the Bible or are not allowed access to it. The biggest obstacle to our common agreement is the difficulty Muslims have in believing that God wants to speak directly to each earnest seeker so that they can come into a relationship with Him through the grace that is found in Jesus.
I don't think the Bible mentioned Islam because it was already completed before Islam started. Does Quran mention Christianity?
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting how much the major religions overlap. The old testament of the bible is the same as the Torah, and the Koran has many of the same stories as the bible. I don't know if you can learn about Islam from reading the bible, but I think if you read both the bible and the Koran you would see that the two religions come from very similar places. The problems arise when either of those two religions is considered from an extreme viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteTwo admonitions from the Bible come to my mind when considering Islam, but obviously the Bible doesn't directly teach anything that gives readers specific knowledge about Islam. The first admonition teaches Christians to be wary of anyone who brings them a Gospel different than the one they've received or tries to pervert grace of Christ. The apostle Paul said, "[Those who bring a different gospel] Let them be accursed." Jesus said, "...that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (John 5:23) In I John 5:12-13 it says, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
ReplyDeleteHence, when Muslims or others come and deny that Jesus is the Son of God, Christians will reject that teaching. Although Christian can be hopeful because the Qur'an teaches about Jesus, we become wary when in practice most Muslim are afraid to read the Bible or are not allowed access to it. The biggest obstacle to our common agreement is the difficulty Muslims have in believing that God wants to speak directly to each earnest seeker so that they can come into a relationship with Him through the grace that is found in Jesus.