The uniqueness of Jesus Christ is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. His origins, his birth, his actions, his teachings, his death and resurrection, and his eternal status all set him apart from every other religious figure that ever lived.
Jesus is unique. Jesus is God, Jesus is saviour. Jesus is king. Moses is not. Buddha is not. Muhammad is not. There is only one true God, one true religion, and one true way to God. This is basic Christian teaching, and it has been so for 2000 years.
Let me spell this out in more detail: Unlike so many other religious leaders, Jesus made his own identity the focal point of his teaching. Who He was, not just what he said, was the essential thing. He didn’t say I am God’s messenger, or I can point the way to God.
He said I am God! He claimed to be far more than just a teacher or a prophet. He didn’t claim to just point to the truth. He claimed to be the truth. He didn’t just point the way to salvation. He claimed to be the only source of salvation. And he is the only religious leader to come back from the grave.
But plenty of wolves in sheep’s clothing are trying to deny all this, water all this down, and elevate false prophets and false religions to a place of theological equivalence with Christ and Christianity. And the interfaith movement is a primary place in which we see this occurring.
The idea that Christ is simply on a par with other religious leaders and that Christianity is not really superior to any other religion is a basic part of so much of the interfaith movement. In the interests of just getting along, truth claims are downplayed and superficial similarities are played up.
That is not how any Christian pastor or leader should operate. We need to stand for biblical truth at all costs. Seeking to live harmoniously with others in a very disharmonised world is commendable, but this should never come at the expense of biblical truth.
But we see the war on Christian truth occurring all the time sadly. I have often documented how the biblical faith gets slammed as clueless Christian leaders recklessly join in with interfaith endeavours. We had another doozy of an example of this happening just the other day. Consider this recent religious news item:
A Church of England church in London has come under fire for holding a joint birthday celebration for Jesus and Mohammed. The “Milad, Advent and Christmas Celebration” took place on Sunday at All Saints Church in Kingston upon Thames. In a promotional flier, the church said the service was “Marking the birthday of Prophet Mohammed and looking forward to the birthday of Jesus”. The hour-long service included time for Islamic prayer and was followed by the cutting of a birthday cake.
The piece continues:
The church organised the event alongside the Kingston Inter Faith Forum and the South London Inter Faith Group. Earlier this year, a passage from the Koran denying that Jesus is the Son of God was read during a service at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow. The passage claims that Mary was “ashamed” after giving birth and that Jesus spoke to her from his crib. At the time, the Revd Dr Gavin Ashenden, then chaplain to the Queen, referred to the reading as “blasphemy”, saying: “There are other and considerably better ways to build ‘bridges of understanding’”.
Wow, what madness. Here we have the founder of a political ideology responsible for the death of more Christians than any other person in human history being celebrated right along with Jesus Christ. And this Kingston church wants to honour the guy!
As commentator Archbishop Cranmer put it: “Every time a church accords Mohammed the epithet ‘Prophet’, they are rejecting the crucifixion, denying the resurrection of Christ, and refuting that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, for Mohammed denied all of these foundational tenets of the Christian faith.”
Does the good Rev from Kingston actually read his Bible? Had he simply read 1 John 2:22-23 he would have known not to proceed with this idolatrous powwow: “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
And if that is not clear enough, the Rev should go on and read 1 John 4:1-3:
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
If one religion celebrates and affirms the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and another says such a concept is utterly blasphemous, then they are clearly not on the same page, and no Christian church should be celebrating the birth of Muhammad along with the birth of Jesus.
One might as well celebrate the birthdays of Churchill and Stalin in a combined service. While the differences between the English leader and the Communist murderer are massive, even those differences pale in significance when we compare (or rather, contrast) Jesus with Muhammad.
I have written on this often. In one piece I discussed the clear theological differences when it comes to Christ. In Christianity we have this:
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God’s final and perfect word to man. He came not just as God’s messenger, but as God incarnate, as Saviour and Lord. He is eternal and without sin, (and, since the incarnation) fully God and fully man, two complete natures in one person. He died on the cross for man’s sin and rose again on the third day, ascending to heaven. As predicted in the Old Testament, He will one day come again as Israel’s Messiah to set up His kingdom on earth and to subdue His enemies. Jesus Christ is the culminating thought of the Old Testament and the chief subject of the New Testament. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords to whom every knee will one day bow.
But in Islam we find this:
Isa, or Jesus, is revered as a Prophet but His divinity is vigorously denied. He was a mere man, only a messenger of Allah created by God. He was born of the virgin Mary, performed miracles, and yet disclaimed divine honours. Since it was unjust for the innocent and sinless Christ to die a criminal’s death, an “appearance” or a substitute was crucified on the cross, while Christ ascended to heaven where He now occupies an inferior station. One day He will return as one of Muhammad’s caliphs to help establish Islam as the world’s one true religion. On the side of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem it says in Arabic, “God has no son”. Contrast this with Matthew 3:17: “This is my Son, whom I love”.
And consider the differences when it comes to violence. As I wrote in an earlier piece, the two are complete opposites:
In sum, we find in the life, teachings and example of Muhammad nothing at all comparable to that of Jesus Christ. The two men could not be further apart in these areas. Claims that the two are both great religious leaders who share much in common are obviously quite wide of the mark.
On the one hand we have Jesus Christ who was the Prince of Peace who told us to love and forgive our enemies. On the other hand we have Muhammad who was a military leader who told us to kill and take revenge on our enemies. Muhammad preached “Death to the infidels!” while Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. The disciples of Muhammad killed for the faith while the disciples of Jesus were killed for their faith. The two could not be any more different.
That is why most of the interfaith initiatives should be avoided like the plague. They simply play down such differences because just getting along is seen as being more important. But Christian leaders must never be ashamed of biblical truth, and they must never shy away from affirming the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
The warning about interfaith initiatives also should include those between certain so called Christian denominations. Some like the Islamists deny the deity of Jesus Christ, or even the bodily resurrection. Some deny the Trinity. Some even try to insert evolution into the Bible even though there is absolutely no hint of it, and in fact contradicts how the Bible describes what and how God created and made things. Although there is no perfect denomination that has everything right, there are many good Bible teaching churches to attend. Still, one must always be on guard regardless. The only way to do that is to study the Bible intensely and compare what the church says with what the Bible says. If they disagree then the church is wrong.
Bill that church and it’s Clergy are clearly apostate and will be judged for their actions. It is not surprising in such a secularizing largely atheistic world with a Pope who questions the validity of Christ and the Bible and seeks One World Government. One wonders Bill how these people hare to claim to have been called by God. They are hypocrites to have been Ordained with the laying on of hands to receive a special anointing of The Holy Spirit whom they deny.
I enjoyed reading, so direct and true. Thank You. I will keep this commentary for reference.
Have just started into Mark Durie’s The Third Choice: Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom (Deror Books, 2010), after wading through the late Dr Nabeel Qureshi’s three titles. There is a true hajj: not to Mecca, terrestrial Jerusalem, Rome or Canterbury, but to the heavenly Mount Zion, that City whose eternal foundations have been laid by none other than almighty God Himself.
Servants of Christ ought to teach His flock Biblical answers to the dogmas of Muhammad: We must be able to answer with uncompromising truth and divine love Qur’an and Hadith’s charges laid against those Muslims call “Peoples of the Book”.
The hazy, well-intentioned notions of Rosa Mira’s mystic coalition of all world religions as the answer to an emergent Antichrist are ultimately a delusion of the most dangerous kind.
What a crop of corrupt clergy we have. Fed and watered by dumba*se congregations facilitating the destruction of the Gospel in their Church. So hard to believe, but then I’m still recovering from witnessing the satanic joy expressed on the faces of the politicians in parliament, who passed the homosexual marriage act.
Fr. Joseph Dwight writes ‘BEHOLD THE DESTRUCTIVE HIDDEN POISON IN THE NAME OF CHARITY (FALSE), misguided compassion, false ecumenism (http://spir-food.blogspot.it/2014/06/who-decides-truth.html) and that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples ‘When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12) and “If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea (Mark 9:42). Our Lord Jesus Christ stated about Himself “I am the way, The TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) and let us never forget His words “ For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished” (Mt 5:18).
Bill, Gerald is totally correct when he calls it “Satanic Joy expressed on the faces of the politicians”. It certainly was not a God given jubilation. Unfortunately it is going to take decades to even start a turn around but first the Australian people have to endure the suffering that is brought about by their sinister Yes vote. It is interesting to see the Qld Govt has forecast a huge increase in funding for HIV treatment. I wonder if this is aveiled recognition that it is a Homosexually born and transmitted disease?
The Bible:
2Cor 6:15
“And what accord (agreement, unison) has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
Me:
What fellowship does Christ have with the devil – none, none, none!!!
What a load of evil deception…
Thanks for this article. Whatever happened to the Anglican church? Many past clergymen such as J. C. Ryle and John Newton would get a terrible shock if they could see this sort of thing.
Sad! Sad! Sad! …but knowing the evil heart of people -as described in the Bible- not entirely unexpected.
Mark 14:61 Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mark14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Luke 22:70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Luke 22:71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
2Jn 1:11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Replying to John Abbott:
“I and my Father are one. John 10:30”
Comparing Islam and Christianity
Muhammad…
Jesus…
Stoned women for adultery.
(Muslim 4206) “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
(John 8:7)
“I have been commanded to fight
against people till they testify that there
is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad
is the messenger of Allah”
(Muslim 1:33) “He who lives by the sword
will die by the sword.”
(Matthew 26:52)
Permitted stealing from unbelievers.
(Bukhari 44:668, Ibn Ishaq 764) “Thou shalt not steal.”
(Matthew 19:18)
Permitted lying.
(Sahih Muslim 6303, Bukhari 49:857) “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
(Matthew 19:18)
Owned and traded slaves.
(Sahih Muslim 3901) Neither owned nor traded slaves.
Beheaded 800 Jewish men and boys.
(Abu Dawud 4390) Beheaded no one.
Murdered those who insulted him.
(Bukhari 56:369, 4:241) Preached forgiveness.
(Matthew 18:21-22, 5:38)
“If then anyone transgresses
the prohibition against you,
Transgress ye likewise against him”
(Quran 2:194) “If someone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also.”
(Matthew 5:39)
Jihad in the way of Allah elevates one’s position in Paradise by a hundred fold.
(Muslim 4645) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called Sons of God”
(Matthew 5:9)
Married 13 wives and kept sex slaves.
(Bukhari 5:268, Quran 33:50) Was celibate.
Slept with a 9-year-old child.
(Sahih Muslim 3309, Bukhari 58:236) Did not have sex with children.
Ordered the murder of women.
(Ibn Ishaq 819, 995) Never harmed a woman.
“O you who believe! Fight those of the
unbelievers who are near to you
and let them find in you hardness.”
(Quran 9:123) “Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5)
Ordered 65 military campaigns
and raids in his last 10 years.
(Ibn Ishaq ) Ordered no military campaigns, nor
offered any approval of war or violence.
Killed captives taken in battle.
(Ibn Ishaq 451) Never took captives.
Never killed anyone.
Encouraged his men to rape enslaved women.
(Abu Dawood 2150, Quran 4:24) Never encouraged rape.
Never enslaved women.
Demanded captured slaves and
a fifth of all other loot taken in war.
(Quran 8:41) “The Son of Man came not
to be served, but to serve.”
(Matthew 20:28)
Was never tortured, but tortured others.
(Muslim 4131, Ibn Ishaq 436, 595, 734, 764) Suffered torture, but never tortured anyone.
“And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is only for Allah”
(Quran 8:39) “Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you”
(Matthew 5:44)
Blessed the brutal murder of a half-blind man
(al-Tabari 1440) Healed a blind man
(Mark 8:28)
Ordered a slave to build the very pulpit
from which he preached Islam.
(Bukhari 47:743) Washed his disciples feet.
(John 13:5)
What are the Greatest Commandments?
“Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause”
(Muslim 1:149) What are the Greatest Commandments?
“Love God and love thy neighbor as thyself.”
(Matthew 22:34-40)
Demanded the protection of armed bodyguards, even in a house of worship
(Quran 4:102) Chastised anyone attempting
to defend him with force.
(John 18:10-12)
Died fat and wealthy from what was
taken from others in war or
demanded from others in tribute. Demanded nothing for himself.
Died without possessions.
Advocated crucifying others.
(Quran 5:33, Muslim 16:4131) Was crucified himself.
According to his followers:
Had others give their lives for him.
(Sahih Muslim 4413) According to his followers:
Gave his life for others.
(John 18:11 and elsewhere)
Well said Bill. However, could you please direct me to scripture where Jesus was to have said “I am God”?
John Abbott
Thanks John. See this for starters:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2017/12/15/the-deity-of-christ/
The warning about interfaith initiatives also should include those between certain so called Christian denominations. Some like the Islamists deny the deity of Jesus Christ, or even the bodily resurrection. Some deny the Trinity. Some even try to insert evolution into the Bible even though there is absolutely no hint of it, and in fact contradicts how the Bible describes what and how God created and made things. Although there is no perfect denomination that has everything right, there are many good Bible teaching churches to attend. Still, one must always be on guard regardless. The only way to do that is to study the Bible intensely and compare what the church says with what the Bible says. If they disagree then the church is wrong.
Bill that church and it’s Clergy are clearly apostate and will be judged for their actions. It is not surprising in such a secularizing largely atheistic world with a Pope who questions the validity of Christ and the Bible and seeks One World Government. One wonders Bill how these people hare to claim to have been called by God. They are hypocrites to have been Ordained with the laying on of hands to receive a special anointing of The Holy Spirit whom they deny.
I enjoyed reading, so direct and true. Thank You. I will keep this commentary for reference.
Have just started into Mark Durie’s The Third Choice: Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom (Deror Books, 2010), after wading through the late Dr Nabeel Qureshi’s three titles. There is a true hajj: not to Mecca, terrestrial Jerusalem, Rome or Canterbury, but to the heavenly Mount Zion, that City whose eternal foundations have been laid by none other than almighty God Himself.
Servants of Christ ought to teach His flock Biblical answers to the dogmas of Muhammad: We must be able to answer with uncompromising truth and divine love Qur’an and Hadith’s charges laid against those Muslims call “Peoples of the Book”.
The hazy, well-intentioned notions of Rosa Mira’s mystic coalition of all world religions as the answer to an emergent Antichrist are ultimately a delusion of the most dangerous kind.
What a crop of corrupt clergy we have. Fed and watered by dumba*se congregations facilitating the destruction of the Gospel in their Church. So hard to believe, but then I’m still recovering from witnessing the satanic joy expressed on the faces of the politicians in parliament, who passed the homosexual marriage act.
Fr. Joseph Dwight writes ‘BEHOLD THE DESTRUCTIVE HIDDEN POISON IN THE NAME OF CHARITY (FALSE), misguided compassion, false ecumenism (http://spir-food.blogspot.it/2014/06/who-decides-truth.html) and that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples ‘When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12) and “If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea (Mark 9:42). Our Lord Jesus Christ stated about Himself “I am the way, The TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) and let us never forget His words “ For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished” (Mt 5:18).
Bill, Gerald is totally correct when he calls it “Satanic Joy expressed on the faces of the politicians”. It certainly was not a God given jubilation. Unfortunately it is going to take decades to even start a turn around but first the Australian people have to endure the suffering that is brought about by their sinister Yes vote. It is interesting to see the Qld Govt has forecast a huge increase in funding for HIV treatment. I wonder if this is aveiled recognition that it is a Homosexually born and transmitted disease?
The Bible:
2Cor 6:15
“And what accord (agreement, unison) has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
Me:
What fellowship does Christ have with the devil – none, none, none!!!
What a load of evil deception…
Thanks for this article. Whatever happened to the Anglican church? Many past clergymen such as J. C. Ryle and John Newton would get a terrible shock if they could see this sort of thing.
Sad! Sad! Sad! …but knowing the evil heart of people -as described in the Bible- not entirely unexpected.
Mark 14:61 Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mark14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Luke 22:70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Luke 22:71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
2Jn 1:11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Replying to John Abbott:
“I and my Father are one. John 10:30”
Comparing Islam and Christianity
Muhammad…
Jesus…
Stoned women for adultery.
(Muslim 4206) “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
(John 8:7)
“I have been commanded to fight
against people till they testify that there
is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad
is the messenger of Allah”
(Muslim 1:33) “He who lives by the sword
will die by the sword.”
(Matthew 26:52)
Permitted stealing from unbelievers.
(Bukhari 44:668, Ibn Ishaq 764) “Thou shalt not steal.”
(Matthew 19:18)
Permitted lying.
(Sahih Muslim 6303, Bukhari 49:857) “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
(Matthew 19:18)
Owned and traded slaves.
(Sahih Muslim 3901) Neither owned nor traded slaves.
Beheaded 800 Jewish men and boys.
(Abu Dawud 4390) Beheaded no one.
Murdered those who insulted him.
(Bukhari 56:369, 4:241) Preached forgiveness.
(Matthew 18:21-22, 5:38)
“If then anyone transgresses
the prohibition against you,
Transgress ye likewise against him”
(Quran 2:194) “If someone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also.”
(Matthew 5:39)
Jihad in the way of Allah elevates one’s position in Paradise by a hundred fold.
(Muslim 4645) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called Sons of God”
(Matthew 5:9)
Married 13 wives and kept sex slaves.
(Bukhari 5:268, Quran 33:50) Was celibate.
Slept with a 9-year-old child.
(Sahih Muslim 3309, Bukhari 58:236) Did not have sex with children.
Ordered the murder of women.
(Ibn Ishaq 819, 995) Never harmed a woman.
“O you who believe! Fight those of the
unbelievers who are near to you
and let them find in you hardness.”
(Quran 9:123) “Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5)
Ordered 65 military campaigns
and raids in his last 10 years.
(Ibn Ishaq ) Ordered no military campaigns, nor
offered any approval of war or violence.
Killed captives taken in battle.
(Ibn Ishaq 451) Never took captives.
Never killed anyone.
Encouraged his men to rape enslaved women.
(Abu Dawood 2150, Quran 4:24) Never encouraged rape.
Never enslaved women.
Demanded captured slaves and
a fifth of all other loot taken in war.
(Quran 8:41) “The Son of Man came not
to be served, but to serve.”
(Matthew 20:28)
Was never tortured, but tortured others.
(Muslim 4131, Ibn Ishaq 436, 595, 734, 764) Suffered torture, but never tortured anyone.
“And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is only for Allah”
(Quran 8:39) “Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you”
(Matthew 5:44)
Blessed the brutal murder of a half-blind man
(al-Tabari 1440) Healed a blind man
(Mark 8:28)
Ordered a slave to build the very pulpit
from which he preached Islam.
(Bukhari 47:743) Washed his disciples feet.
(John 13:5)
What are the Greatest Commandments?
“Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause”
(Muslim 1:149) What are the Greatest Commandments?
“Love God and love thy neighbor as thyself.”
(Matthew 22:34-40)
Demanded the protection of armed bodyguards, even in a house of worship
(Quran 4:102) Chastised anyone attempting
to defend him with force.
(John 18:10-12)
Died fat and wealthy from what was
taken from others in war or
demanded from others in tribute. Demanded nothing for himself.
Died without possessions.
Advocated crucifying others.
(Quran 5:33, Muslim 16:4131) Was crucified himself.
According to his followers:
Had others give their lives for him.
(Sahih Muslim 4413) According to his followers:
Gave his life for others.
(John 18:11 and elsewhere)
Thanks Siddi.