INTRODUCTION
Let there be no misunderstanding of our intentions. This booklet is not an
assault on Christianity. Instead, we intend to clarify vagueness, supply
neglected information, and finish incomplete thoughts found in the usual
presentation of the Christian missionary. The Qur'an encourages the discussion
of religious matters but according to a vital principle: both sides are supposed
to discuss truth. (Qur'an 3:61). Where the missionary has left matters vague or
has hidden some information, or has not finished a thought the truth has not
been presented.
Since our goal is a careful analysis, let the reader consider his own response carefully. Any
disagreement must be specified as a disagreement with something actually stated in the following
material . It must also be said that nothing written here can be applied to all Christians. Christian
belief covers a wide range. We are concerned with the style described in the first paragraph.
CHRISTIAN OBJECTIONS
Consider first some common Christian objections to
Islam. The Christian points to corruption and bad behavior in so-called Muslim
lands; he cites the warfare Muhammad waged; he denounces polygamy. In response,
it must be said that bad Muslims condemn Islam only if bad Christians condemn
Christianity; warfare disqualifies Muhammad as God's spokesman only if it also
disqualifies Joshua; polygamy condemns Islam only if it condemns Christianity.
(It is Christian culture, not the Christian religion, which has prohibited
polygamy. In the Bible Paul has recommended monogamy for bishops and Jesus has
spoken of the sanctity of the union but no Bible verse prohibits the
practice.)
Most Christian objections are of this nature. They are the same kind of charges that national
groups or political parties might make against each other. They are built on those things which one
person dislikes about another person. The attacker does not ask the other man to justify his
position. He simply announces his disgust. By contrast, a Muslim is concerned that the Christian
should justify his position.
MUSLIM OBJECTIONS
Christians say that God is "immutable", i.e.
unchanging. How then can it be said that He passed through the state of death? How could He
grow in knowledge? (Luke 2:52). When we forgive a debt it means that we expect no payment.
"The Lord's Prayer" asks God to forgive our debts the way we forgive our debtors. Why then does
Jesus' have to pay a price for our sins? The usual answers: The many paradoxes of a God-man, a
being simultaneously mortal and immortal are said to be resolved by the phrase "with God all
things are possible." The "debt of sin" is explained as a misunderstood
term so that the crucifixion was not so much a payment as a necessary
demonstration of God's justice.
BASIC POINT
As will
be shown, these responses illustrate the Christian difficulty: while he seems to respond to every
question, there is no way to form an explanation consistent with all those things he has said.
Instead, the total of the answers is a contradictory system. This fact is itself incorporated into the
total. That is, where a logical investigation finds a conflict, this is covered over by insisting that
the love of God is more important, doubt is a dangerous tendency, and these difficulties are "divine
mysteries" If a person is satisfied with this kind of rationale, no logical presentation is likely to
change his mind. However, for those who would be motivated by exposure to facts, this booklet
describes the situation in brief. If the Christian feels that a logical discussion is more than we
should expect when considering religious matters, let him be encouraged by the Biblical passage at
Isaiah 1:16: " . . . come let us reason together."
DEMONSTRATING THE POINT
Now consider the responses, the second then the
first. The missionary is most concerned that the non-Christian "take advantage" of the "ransom
sacrifice" of Jesus - otherwise a man is "lost". But this urgency is based on a price being paid. If
we acknowledge that God is just, we do not need a demonstration of His justice. But the Christian
insists that we must acknowledge the crucifixion itself, not God's justice, or be lost. Despite his
answer, we are required to acknowledge a debt as paid not forgiven. Even though the phrase "with God all things are possible" are from the words of Jesus in the Bible, this proposition actually turns against Christian belief. It is self-destructive because it says that God can do "un-Godly" things (act foolishly for example). It demolishes
arguments where it is used. For example:
Missionary Christianity - A Muslim's Analysis
