A friend helpfully explained how the doctrine of creation is fundamental to understanding differences between Christians and Muslims.
When Christians communicate the gospel to unbelievers it is common for them to make points and emphasise truths that are taken almost exclusively from the New Testament. This poses particular problems when Christians are seeking to explain the gospel message to Muslims. We are likely to get our wires crossed unless we keep in mind that there are fundamental differences in worldview which go back to foundational differences in the Christian and Muslim understandings of creation.
First, the Bible teaches that creation, including the creation of people in God’s image, was very good. Human beings were created perfect. Human beings themselves are responsible for the evil they brought into the world and, in this sense, sin was not inevitable. By contrast, the Qur’an, while considering that God created a good world, understands that God created man as weak, it being understood that sin was inevitable.
Second, the Bible, beginning with the reality of perfect, sinless human beings, regards the entrance of sin as horrific, of absolutely horrendous proportions. In Romans 8 Paul explains that on account of one sin at one point in history the entire universe was subjected to frustration and placed in bondage to decay. Consequently, the Fall resulted in the plummeting of man, with humanity sinking to the depths of depravity. This state pertained not merely to Adam and Eve but to every human being that has ever entered the world, for human nature itself has been radically changed by that first sin. While Muslims agree that Adam disobeyed God it is the Islamic understanding that he made an error, a mistake. Consequently, human nature has not been radically changed by that first sin. Just as Adam and Eve were created weak so all people ever since are in the same state.
Third, because the Bible treats sin so seriously it regards people as having fallen into depths from which they cannot extricate themselves. It is impossible for people to climb the slithery walls and return to the high position they once enjoyed prior to the Fall. By contrast, because Islam regards “sin” as error, it follows that just as an error can be corrected so it is possible for the mistakes that Muslims make to be rectified.
Fourth, because the Bible teaches that it is utterly impossible for people to elevate or save themselves it follows that our only hope is that God himself effect reconciliation. However, because Islam believes Muslims are capable of correcting the errors they make, Islam does not seek reconciliation with God but rather guidance from God. Muslims look to Allah to show them what to do and what not to do, to indicate what is haram (forbidden) and what is halal (permitted).
Fifth, both Christians and Muslims believe in heaven and hell. However, the Bible teaches that unless people experience God’s grace and are reconciled they will certainly go to hell. Muslims also believe that all bad people will go to hell. Here we need to be careful. Many Christians when sharing the gospel with Muslims may be tempted to ask the Evangelism Explosion question, “If you were to die tonight where would you go?” It is common for Christians to think that Islamic lack of assurance concerning salvation provides a way of helping Muslims to see their need of Christ. There are indeed Muslims who are deeply troubled by their inability to find assurance of salvation. However, there are also many Muslims who think of hell in much the same way as Catholics think of purgatory. Many Muslims are not particularly troubled by the EE question because they assume that even if they go to hell (about which it is hard to think about anyway) it will only be temporary. If they are relatively good then they hope to be in hell but for a short time before being admitted to paradise. If they have been bad Muslims they may have to stay their longer before admittance to paradise. Indeed, in the hadith it is taught that if one stays awake during the Night of Power “with belief and for the pleasure of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven” (al-Bukhari & Muslim).
Sixth, while Christians think in terms of salvation Muslims think in terms of success. Sometimes Muslims use the term “salvation” but only because they are adopting a Christian term for the sake of communication with the West. “Salvation” is not an Islamic term. Muslims are aiming for success, not salvation as Christians think of salvation. Muslims can achieve success by following the right guidance, through the Qur’an and hadith, but also for many Muslims, by also following the traditions and practices they have learnt through folk Islam. So-called extremist Muslims believe that the lack of success experienced by Islam is due to the failure of Muslims to follow the guidance of God. It is their belief that if they force Muslims to follow such guidance then Islam will once again experience success. Muslims emphasise God’s mercy but, since they are thinking in terms of correcting error, they do not share the Biblical conception of being under the wrath of a righteous God.
How crucial it is to get our doctrine of creation right!
Posted July 12, 2008
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