February 2010 Archives

Are "Allah" and "God" the same?  This is one of the questions I receive the most as I travel and speak across the United States.  This question is asked by Christians and Muslims.  In Malaysia it is presently a hot topic that has even invoked violence.  In January, 2009 the government of Malaysia declared that Christians could not use the word "Allah".  On September 11, 2009 over 15,000 Bibles were confiscated for translating "Allah" for "God".   The Catholic Church appealed the decision and on December 31 the court ruled that "Allah" was legal for Christians to use in referring to the "God" of the Bible.  Since that decision some fundamental Muslims have burned, ransacked or completely destroyed eleven churches.  Fundamental Muslims argue that "Allah" of the Qur'an is not the same "God" of the Bible.

Christians have also divided sides on this issue.  There are some who argue for "Allah" being the same and others who say no.  The title "Allah" is not found in the Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek texts.  The revealed name of God is YHWH and is usually rendered as Yahweh.  So what is the answer?

"Allah" was a name for "God" in pre-Islamic days.  In fact Muhammad's father's name was Abd-'allah'.  There is some evidence that Christians of pre-Islamic Arabia even used the title.  Therefore, "Allah" is a legitimate pronoun for a supreme being.  

When the Arabic Bible was first translated it used the Hebrew  "Elohim" (self exsistant one) for "Allah" and the Greek "Theos"(supreme being) for "Allah".  In the same way the English word "God" is not found in the original texts of scripture.  The word comes from Anglo Saxon and Germanic roots as a generic pronoun to mean supreme being.  In the scriptures "Elohim and Theos are translated as "God" for English.

When I was in Iraq visiting the Christians and Muslim background believers in Jesus, I heard them use the word "Allah" in their worship and prayers.  I worshiped with them as I recognized this Allah as the Son of Righteousness and they quoted scriptures from the Bible. 

Historically "allah" and "god" were titles referring to pagan or idol deities. Man has created many "gods" or "allahs" in the world.  The translation of these words for Elohim and Theos were actually a redemptive work by connecting the idol names to the God of the Bible.  The real issue is which allah is a person referring to? The Allah of the Bible or the Allah of the Qur'an.

While there are many similarities between the Allah of the Bible and the Allah of the Qur'an the ultimate issue is what are the differences and can they be reconciled?  The real problem is the difference in their character.  Allah of the Qur'an demands that Muslims fight (jihad) on behalf of Islam while Allah of the Bible commands that vengeance is His and that followers of Christ should not seek revenge.  Allah of the Qur'an commands Muslims to resist their enemies.  Allah of the Bible commands believers to love, bless and pray for their enemies.  Allah of the Qur'an cannot be known.  Allah of the Bible is known and reveals himself in the form of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Allah of the Qur'an is a war god and his greatest commandment is obedience.  The Allah of the Bible is love. The greatest commandment of Allah of the Bible is to love God and love others.  

These differences cannot be reconciled.  Therefore, the Allah of the Qur'an is a different God of the Allah of the Bible.  Next time someone asks you if "Allah" is "God," ask them which "Allah"?  The Allah of the Bible or the Allah of the Qur'an?

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Muslim worldwide are seeking an eternal hope

Hope comes to every soul who is born of the spirit of God through Jesus Christ.  Muslims are experiencing a new hope across the world by finding faith in the Son of God.   "Muslim" means slave or obedience to Islam.  Muslims are obedient to Islam out of fear of Allah.  Fear is the spirit that perpetuates Islam.  According to the Qur'an the weapon of Allah is to inflict "terror" upon the infidels. (Surah 3:151)  Islam teaches that a Muslim cannot have assurance that they are going to heaven, so all Muslims fear judgment day before Allah.  When Muslims become a new creation through Jesus Christ the old spirit of fear is replaced with a new spirit of HOPE.

"If the spirit of fear was removed from the Islamic world today half of the Muslims worldwide would become a Christian." shares Mujahid El Masih, a Muslim background believer from Pakistan.  An American worker to the Muslim world shares that former Muslims testify they enjoy the colors and smell of flowers for the first time after being born again.  This report may sound random, but a divine hope gives a new perspective on life, even the enjoyment of flowers.

Romans 8:24  "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"

SOM has supplied camels to transport the gospel

What exactly is the hope that Muslim background believers are finding?  These new believers share their answer with me all the time. In essence they testify that it is the love of God demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.  Like a woman waking from a coma is the Muslim who comes to faith in Christ.  Their world is changed.  The hope they hold is too great to hide.  It must be shared with others.  These believers begin witnessing their faith to other Muslims.  They experience rejection, torture, imprisonment and all sorts of persecutions but the hope they have is greater than their suffering.  They are truly martyrs of love with a growing fearless hope.

Abraham is a Christian I meet in Egypt.  He had little hope because peace with God had evaded him.  He was desperately seeking God reading the Bible and the Qur'an.  Both books conflict with each other on the nature of Jesus.  In his testimony he shares, "All these thoughts bombarded my mind and fought in my heart.  I was afraid of God's wrath that came upon infidels.  Whenever I knelt down for prayers, I cried from the bottom of my heart, Oh, God, show me the truth.  If Mohammed is right, I will follow Him until I die.  If Christ is right, I will follow Him until I die. I would give my whole life to you and serve You at whatever the cost may be.  I kept repeating this prayer until Christ came to me in a vision.  He said to me in His kind voice, I love you."

"...I was so happy, dancing like a small child and praising God.  Being a fair judge, God sentenced His Son to die in our place so we don't have to spend eternity in hell." Into the Den of Infidels, with permission from The Voice of the Martyrs. {This book is available at our outreach web site}  Abraham has experienced much persecution for his faith.  He is a faithful witness of Christ and continues to share his testimony with others.

Spirit of Martyrdom, in partnership with The Voice of 

the Martyrs, Youth 4 the Kingdom and other ministries, support the living martyrs like Abraham.  We serve by providing testimonies to encourage the underground Church. Spirit of Martyrdom is engaged in equipping the Church to courageously witness the gospel to Muslims.  We do this through speaking engagements, materials, and web education.

 

Thank you for your relationship with us through prayers, advocacy, and support.  What can you continue to do?  Foremost our brothers and sisters in Christ need your prayers to stand strong in the midst of persecution. Second, help your church family grow in their passion for God's worldwide work by inviting us to come speak.  God is advancing His kingdom.  Consider being a partner with us in ministry.  Your monthly sponsorship empowers us to increase the eternal hope to a hurting world.