The question has been posed elsewhere whether Christians and Muslims believe the same God. Since the issue is a contentious one and has a history of sparking more than enough bloody crusades, it is one worth deliberating on.
This is my take on the subject.
No question, Christianity and Islam have two very different and at times conflicting theologies. And very different sacred texts.
The issue for me is the question of who answers when either a Christian or a Jew (who likewise don't believe Jesus to be God's Son) or a Muslim, or an atheist cries out to God.
I believe in all instances, the living God responds, not because he is correctly identified by the one crying out, but solely because of God's person, infinite mercy and love.
If having the right theology were a pre-requisite to God's answering our prayers, it would be a rare thing that anyone's prayers would be answered.
But we all know people who despite not sharing the same theology as ours, have their prayers answered.
We all know people who despite not having the right theology have the capacity to love in a way only the Holy Spirit can.
True we do well to know Jesus, to draw on his example, witness and Spirit to encounter and reflect the Living God, but if God is truly the God of all nations, and his house the house of prayer for all nations (see Isaiah 56 verses 6,7,8) - open to all who genuinely cry out for his help, then we can say, despite conflicting theologies, that the God who answers is the one true God.
There is no other.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment