Christianity and Islam (Part 2 of 2) by Kyle Pope
(Reprinted from Biblical Insights, http://www.biblical-insights.org/)
What Does the Qur'an say about the Bible? (Continued)
There are many instances in which the Qur'an actually contradicts
the Bible. For example:
Noah. The Qur'an claims of Noah, that one of his sons died
in the flood (Sura 11:43). The Bible claims that all his family
was saved (Genesis 7:7, 23).
Abraham. The Qur'an claims that Abraham left his father (Sura 19:45-49). The Bible tells us that Abraham stayed with his father until his death in Haran (Genesis 11:27-12:4). The Qur'an claims that Abraham told Isaac he would be sacrificed (Sura 37:102). The Bible says that Abraham told Isaac God would provide the lamb (Genesis 22:8).
Jacob. The Qur'an claims that Jacob knew that Joseph was not dead when shown his clothes (Sura 11:18). The Bible relates that Jacob tore his own clothes and mourned for many days (Genesis 37:34).
Joseph. When Joseph was in Egypt, the Qur'an claims that Potiphar asks Joseph to forgive his wife (Sura 12:29). In the Bible Potiphar has Joseph imprisoned (Genesis 39:20).
Moses. The Qur'an claims that Pharaoh's wife preserves the life of Moses as a baby (Sura 28:9). In the Bible Pharaoh's daughter saves the child (Exodus 2:1-10). The Qur'an claims that God spoke to Moses after ten years in Midian (Sura 28:25-30). The Bible states that it was forty years (Acts 7:30).
Zacharias. Before the birth of John the Baptist, the Qur'an claims that Zacharias was unable to speak for three days (Sura 3:41; 9:10). In the Bible Zacharias was unable to speak until the birth of John (Luke 1:20, 64).
Is The Bible Reliable?
How does Islam resolve such differences? Modern Muslims argue
that the modern Bible is flawed. Dr. Salah El Dareer in a 1974
debate claimed-"can we find either the Law or the Gospel
in today's Bible? I say we can find some of the Law; and yes we
can find some of the truth in the Bible" (The Hutto-El Dareer
Debate, Faith and Facts Press, p.25). This was not what Muhammad
believed. He claimed-"There is among them a section who distort
the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think it
is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they
say, 'that is from God,' but it is not from God" (Sura 3:78).
The claim is that people distort the Book "with their tongues,"
not that the Book is distorted. Muhammad claimed that those who
follow the Bible would be saved. He declared-"Those who believe
(in the Qur'an) and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures),
and the Christians… any who believe in God and the Last
Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their
Lord'" (Sura 2:62). The fact is that of the 4000 manuscripts
of the Greek New Testament which exist 126 of them predate Muhammad.
These manuscripts confirm that the text of our Bible today is
the same as that of the time of Muhammad.
What Does the Qur'an Say about Jesus?
There are many areas in which the claims of Islam about Jesus
are in near agreement with the claims of the Bible. The Qur'an
states that Jesus was born of a virgin (Sura 19:20,21); was given
the Holy Spirit (Sura 5:113); did miracles (Sura 3:49); was righteous
(Sura 6:85); was an apostle of God (Sura 61:6); was a prophet
(Sura 19:30); was the word of God (Sura 4:171); brought the gospel
(Sura 5:49) and was the Christ (that is,. Messiah) (Sura 3:45).
Yet there other times when the Qur'an rejects the Biblical picture
of Jesus. The Qur'an claims that Jesus was not God's Son (Sura
9:30). The Bible declares that Jesus is God's Son (Matt 3:17;
16:16). The Qur'an claims that Jesus was not divine (Sura 5:19).
The Bible reveals that in Jesus God was manifested in the flesh
(I Tim 3:16; John 1:1; 20:28). The Qur'an claims that Jesus was
not crucified (Sura 4:157) while the Bible states clearly that
Jesus was crucified (Luke 23:33). Even ancient historical sources
unfavorable to Christianity confirm the crucifixion (see Tacitus,
Josephus, Lucian, and the Babylonian Talmud).
Who Was Jesus?
What Islam fails to realize is that it cannot accept certain
claims about Jesus without being forced to accept others. If Jesus
was born of a virgin, then he was God with man (Isaiah 7:14-Immanuel
means "God with us" see Matthew 1:23). If Jesus was
the Messiah, then he was the Son of God (Matt 16:13-17). If Jesus
was the Word of God, then he was God in the flesh (John 1:1-4).
And perhaps most importantly, if Jesus brought the gospel, he
brought God's power to save (Romans 1:16,17).
Conclusion
To accept Islam one must rely upon the testimony of one man alone.
One must accept a faith built upon the very things that it is
forced to deny. One must accept a faith that denies established
history. To accept the Qur'an one must believe that Jesus was
the Messiah but not God's Son and the world's Savior.
[A tract on this topic is available by the author at http://kmpope.home.att.net]
Finding Fulfillment In Life by W. Frank Walton (wfwalton@juno.com)
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken
Me, The fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).
God's people of Judah rejected the long-term spiritual fulfillment
found only in the true and living God. They foolishly opted for
the short-term supply of worldly pleasure and idolatry. A cistern
was an underground receptacle for holding water. God was like
an ever flowing stream of fresh water, while Judah's worldly pursuits
were like leaky, unreliable cisterns that ran dry. This world
cannot provide the ultimate satisfaction we seek. "God made
the human machine to run on Himself" (C.S. Lewis).
In To the Best of My Ability, a history of the American
Presidents, it is interesting reading about the personality and
pursuits of men who take on the biggest job in the world. Concerning
President Lyndon Johnson, we read: "Throughout his life,
LBJ suffered from a painful sense of inadequacy and emptiness.
As is common with people afflicted with such problems, he filled
the holes in his ego with womanizing, overeating, excessive drinking,
and work. He once said of his affinity for work, `I never think
about politics more than eighteen hours a day.' He had little
choice. It was a need. Likewise, Johnson always needed to be top
dog - to be the best, eclipsing all those around him. When people
mentioned John Kennedy's womanizing, he would bang the table and
shout, `why I had more women by accident than he ever had on purpose!'
Even relatively minor triumphs were savored by him… [such
as] the first U.S. Senator to have a telephone installed in his
limousine" (pp. 258-259).
Despite being a tireless worker to achieve his ambitious domestic
political goals, Lyndon Johnson was so unpopular due the U.S.
involvement in the Vietnam War that he declined to run for reelection
in 1968 and within 5 years died, a broken man. He is not remembered
as a greatly successful U.S. President. Did you know that he was
baptized in Texas, as a youth, in the church of Christ?
God made man for Himself. He "has set eternity in their heart"
(Ecclesiastes 3:11). We have an eternal dimension, with a spiritual
God-shaped void that only the God of heaven can fill. It's like
trying to run a car on kerosene; it wasn't designed to work right
on such. Our highest yearnings and deepest desires find refreshing
vitality in a right relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27).
Jeremiah tells God's erring, worldly people where they can find true fulfillment: "Thus says the LORD, `Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24). When we pursue God, He changes us and we find spiritual, ultimate fulfillment. This is the greatest pursuit and most satisfying purpose of life. Anything less will leave us empty.
IN THE WORLD (Selected from The Beacon.)
According to a Wirthlin poll published by the Family Research
Council, more than 80% of all Americans say that they DO NOT believe
that marriage is "an old-fashioned, outmoded institution."
90% say they believe "couples today ought to pay more attention
to the traditional wedding vows." When asked which of the
following they would be most willing to give up if they cannot
"have it all":
- a nice home
- a fulfilling career
- a comfortable retirement
- a good marriage
- happy children
Note: only 5% chose "a good marriage."
Luke 12:15 "And Jesus said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.careydillinger.com/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
GOSPEL MEETING - We are pleased to announce that Jere E. Frost will be preaching for us the week of February 16-21, all services on Sunday and at 7:30 PM each weekday evening.
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published
for the members of, and visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly
Shores, Leesburg, Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com