It’s trendy right now because the false teachings of “acceptance” and “tolerance” teach that we all believe the same, so everyone just get along nice. Here’s the truth – Islam and Christianity are not the same. Not in the slightest. In fact, they are diametrically opposed to each other in the most significant of ways.
From the very beginning, the Old Testament predicts a Messiah to come. He will be crucified on a cross (Psalm22) and die for sins to redeem our souls (Isaiah 53). He will then be raised from the dead (Psalm16:10; cf. Acts 2:27; 13:35). He will be the Son of God that will be worshiped for all eternity (Daniel 7:13-14). He is God in the flesh (John 1:1) and was with the Father prior to the creation of the world (John 17:1-15).
The the Bible says this:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Lord – speaks of his divinity
Death – A necessary precursor for resurrection
Resurrection – That it happened.
These are the essentials of salvation–that Jesus is God in the flesh, that he died, and was raised again according to the Scriptures. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Scriptures that were spoken of by Moses (Luke 24:27).
What about Islam?
Islam denies the very key elements that are necessary to the Christian faith.
1) The Quran says Jesus was not God and has no Father (Quran 5:72, 75)
2) The Quran says Jesus did not die on the cross (Quran 4:157)
3) If he did not die. there is no resurrection.
4) Salvation is through works, not faith (Quran 7:8-9)
One must ask, why was Muhammad so intent on working to deny the 3 things that are fundamental to the Christian faith? Why did he care so much how Jesus did or did not die?
But if anyone thinks that Muslims and Christians worship the same God, one simply needs to ask a Muslim,
–> Bow down and worship Jesus
–> Declare Jesus is God
–> Say God is their Father
–> Declare Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected
No good muslim is going to say things.
At this point, some will say that both the Bible and the Quran are just about doing good works and living good lives.
Absolutely not! Whoever says this has not read the Quran, nor the Bible.
Jesus taught
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Love your enemies
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Turn the other cheek
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Blessed are the peacemakers
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My kingdom is not of this world
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Put your sword back in its place
Muhammad teaches
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I have been commanded to fight people until they testify…
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Fight those who do not believe…
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Jihad against unbelievers
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Establish Islamic rule
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Led battles
Both teach that their respective central figures are perfect moral examples. But Jesus, according to the Quran and the Bible, is sinless.
And Muhammad?
- He married a 6 year old and consummated the marriage when she was 9 (Bukhari 5134)
- He married his daughter-in-law after seeing her scantily clad (Quran 33:37)
- When he was caught in his wife’s bed with another woman, he received a special revelation it was permitted just for him (Quran 66:1-2)
- He killed people who mocked him (Bukhari 4037)
- He was free from many laws that others were to follow. His followers could marry 3-4 wives while he could have as many as he wanted, but only for him since he was the prophet (Quran 33:50)
We could go on and on and on. The fact remains that these two central figures are not even close.
Whether it comes to the teachings, the books to follow, or the central figures, in every single way Islam and Christianity are polar opposites. It may sound nice to try to equate them as the same, but any person of intellectual integrity can see for themselves.