What is the Difference between Islam and Christianity?
First Christian Church 10-21-07
1. 9-1-1 is the number for emergencies.
a) Since September 11, 2001 America has been in a state of emergency.
b) Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard that Islamic radicals attacked the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon?
c) Americans have learned a new vocabulary that includes words like Islam, Muhammad, Allah, Jihad, Taliban and Al Qaeda.
d) More Americans were killed in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on 9/11 than the Japanese killed at Pearl Harbor.
e) Osama Bin Laden gloating with his followers over the destruction said: “We were overjoyed when the first plane hit the building, so I said to them, ‘Be patient. More is coming.’”
f) Mohamed Atta, is the father of the Islamic ringleader of the 9/11 attacks.
• His son died when he flew his hijacked airplane into the World Trade Center.
• Instead of mourning the death of his son, Mohamed Atta said, “My son is a living hero in the eyes of the great prophet Muhammad. History will record that it was my son that lit the fire that started the destruction of the infidels, the Jews and the Christians.”
2. Chuck Colson commented: “The truth is that Bin Laden and his followers did not hijack Islam; they simply took it seriously.”
a) One US senator said, “For centuries we believed the two great oceans of the world secured our safety from our enemies but that is no longer the case. Our enemies now live in our own neighborhoods, waiting for the order to strike.”
b) Melanie Phillips writing in the Times of London describes Muslims as “an army within, waiting for an opportunity to destroy the society that sustains them.”
3. We hear frequently that Islam is a gentle, peace-loving religion that should be welcomed by all.
They say that terrorist’s acts represent only a tiny fringe of radical Islam.
Anyone who may believe otherwise is labeled as intolerant and hateful.
Many Americans don’t know what to believe because they don’t know anything at all about Islam.
4. “What is the difference between Christianity and Islam?”
a) If Christians and Muslims both worship one God, isn’t he the same God?
b) Aren’t both religions merely different paths that lead to the same destination?
5. There is a vast difference between Christianity and Islam.
a) Two religious systems cannot contradict each other yet both be true.
b) They are 100% different from each other!
c) Both paths lead to totally different destinations.
6. Not everything I’m going to say today is going to be pleasant.
a) My task is not to be politically correct but to share with you the truth.
b) Ephesians 4:15 says that we are to speak the truth in love.
c) I don’t claim to be an expert in the Muslim faith.
d) I am trying to become an expert in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I. What Is Islam?
1. Before I outline the differences between Christianity and Islam I want to say:
a) Our faith teaches us to pray for and love those who would be our enemies.
b) As Christians we must show Christ’s love toward Muslim people.
c) God loves Muslim people so much that he sent His Son, Jesus, to die for them.
d) So, pray that this message will prevent people from being swept away by the lie that “there is no difference between Christianity and Islam”.
e) Pray that Muslims who may hear this message will consider the benefits of belonging to Jesus Christ.
2. Some of you had as little knowledge of Islam as I had growing up.
a) When you think about Islam, what do you think about?
b) The media constantly report on terrorists and Suicide bombers.
Do you think about how their women are treated?
Their oppressive, joyless society?
Are Muslims all crazed fanatics?
3. Ironically, Muslims have a similar view of Americans.
a) In their minds, America is a Christian nation.
b) They believe Hollywood movies are a picture of all Americans and all Christians.
c) So they are convinced that Christians are a deadly moral evil.
II. There Are Two Main Sects of the Islamic Faith.
1. Sunnis and Shiites
a) About 9/10ths of the Muslim world are the Sunnis.
b) They are the conservative or moderate Muslim faction.
c) The smaller group, about 1/10th, are Shiite Muslims—the extremists, those who believe in jihad—or holy war against the infidels.
Militant Shiite is the fastest growing segment of Islam, now numbering 120 million.
They believe that every nation in the world should be
• an Islamic state,
• under Islamic law
• and in subjection to Allah and the Quran.
Iran, the #1 hater of America and Israel is militant Shiite.
They are on a mission to make sure that Islam dominates either through conversion or by conquering the nations.
Voice of the Martyrs says that 160,000 Christians are killed each year primarily in Muslim countries.
2. Islamic-extremists strap explosives and rifles on their children.
a) If their child gets killed in battle—the Quran says he is ushered immediately into paradise.
b) And, if they live and win the war, they believe Allah will reward them.
III. Islam’s Beginning
1. We tend to think of Islam as a completely different religious system from our own.
a) Like Hinduism, Buddhism or Shintoism.
b) Yet Islam’s roots came out of Judaism and Christianity.
c) It all began six centuries after the resurrection of Jesus.
d) Muhammad was familiar with the Bible, with Judaism and Christianity.
e) Combining parts of Judaism, Christianity and many of the religious traditions and practices in Saudi Arabia (where he was born and raised) he came up with a new religion.
f) That new religion became Islam.
2. The founder, known as Muhammad was born in 570 A.D.
a) He was born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia to a poor family.
b) He was orphaned at the age of six and lived in poverty traveling with his uncle along the trade routes of the Middle East.
3. At 25 Muhammad married a rich widow, fifteen years his senior.
a) This gave him the leisure to envision and plan an exalted future for himself.
b) In his extensive travels, he met many Christians and Jews.
c) He picked up bits and pieces of both Judaism and Christianity.
4. At the age of 40, Muhammad told his wife that he had a revelation.
a) He told her the angel Gabriel told him he was an apostle and prophet of God.
b) That this angel-guide took him through 7 heavens where he visited great prophets sent by God.
Abraham was in the 7th heaven.
Moses was in the 6th heaven.
Other great prophets were in the 5th 4th and 3rd heavens.
And Jesus was in the 2nd heaven.
Muhammad calls himself the “last prophet” after Jesus.
He claims he was brought into the world to bring all mankind to Islam.
5. Muhammad could neither read nor write.
a) It is likely that he never totally understood the Jewish or Christian faiths.
b) So over the next 23 years, Muhammad dictated to his followers the visions he claimed an angel gave him while meditating in a cave.
c) The Apostle Paul said to those who would add-to or distort the Bible: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Galatians 1:8 New International Version (NIV)
6. The recorded visions of Muhammad became known as the Quran.
a) Muslims are converting many African Americans to Islam, but, Muhammad says, “Only people with white faces will be saved. People with black faces will be damned.” [Surah (which means chapter) 106 of the Quran]
b) Surah 551 commands Muslims not to take Jews or Christians as friends.
c) The Quran (Surah 265-266) refers to Jews as apes and swine to be despised and rejected.
d) (Our Bible refers to the Jews as God’s chosen people.)
7. The Quran has obvious biblical and historical inaccuracies.
a. The Quran says the mother of Jesus was the sister of Moses.
b. It places Noah’s flood in the time of Moses.
c. It says Abraham offered Ishmael as a sacrifice in Mecca.
d. Our Bible says that Abraham offered Isaac on Mt. Moriah/Jerusalem.
8. Muhammad began to preach his revelations in Mecca.
a) The Arabic Jews and Christians in Mecca didn’t accept it.
b) They quickly and easily recognized the distortions of God’s Word.
Even today, there are cults that had their start in Christianity but have deviated from the Bible’s pure teachings.
Some also claim that an angel from God gave them their new gospel.
2 Timothy 3:5, 8-9 says, They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! These teachers oppose the truth…They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are... 2 Timothy 3:5, 8-9 New Living Translation (NLT)
9. By 622 increasing opposition forced Muhammad to flee with his followers to the city of Medina 250 miles away (modern-day Saudi Arabia).
a. He fiercely turned against those who rejected him. In effect, he became the first terrorist of Islam.
b) Muhammad led a gang of 300 fighters and constantly raided the trading caravan trains from Mecca.
c) In 626 A.D. a 10,000 man army from Mecca attacked him, but he and his followers were able to hold out.
d) By means of the sword, he was able to increase the number of his followers. As each tribe fell to his armies they were either forced to submit to him or die.
e) In 630A.D, Muhammad led a force of warriors from Medina and conquered Mecca — the city that had rejected him.
f) Today Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia are two of the major strongholds of the Islamic world…trophies of Muhammad’s vengeance.
IV. Islam’s Beliefs
1. The word Islam means “submission” which tells us a lot about the attitude of its followers.
a) There is no room for question or doubt, only submission.
b) Islam claims to be a religion of peace…but only for those who convert.
c) Their Quran, says, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya (Pronounced: DIJAH) with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Surah (which means chapter) 009.029
2. * Jizya - is a religious fine imposed on non-Muslims taxing them into poverty until they submit and admit they are defeated by Islam.
a) Their Quran also says, “… when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)...” Surah 009.005
b) No one has ever found words of Jesus that justify the slaughter of others for not believing in Him.
The Crusades and Inquisition contradicted the teachings of Jesus.
Yet Muslim suicide bombers are acting in full accord with the teachings of their holy book.
3. Muslims claim that Allah is their god.
a) The word “Allah” comes from al-ilah which was the term for all of the gods in Saudi Arabia.
b) During the days of Muhammad, each Arab tribe used the word Allah to refer to its own particular high god.
c) Before Islam began, the moon god was the central focus of prayer and worship at the Kabah.
That moon god was worshipped by praying toward Mecca several times a day.
The crescent moon also became Muhammad’s symbol.
d) Gathering on Fridays for prayer and giving of alms to the poor were all part of the pagan rites practiced by the Arabs long before Muhammad was born.
4. The mosque became the gathering place where Muhammad taught his Islamic religion along with his own personal views of social, political, and economic issues.
a) Muhammad “borrowed” these common pagan practices, as he borrowed from Christianity and Judaism.
b) Islam is a combination of several faiths and practices.
V. The Five Pillars of Islam
1. THE FIRST PILLAR IS CREED.
a) The creed they recite is called the “Shahada.”
b) They are required to state passionately and publicly: “There is no other God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.”
2. THE SECOND PILLAR IS PRAYER.
a) A Muslim has five set times to pray each day.
b) They will pray facing Mecca—the prophet’s birthplace.
3. THE THIRD PILLAR IS ALMS GIVING.
a) Muslims must give 2.5% of their income to the mosque to support the poor
b) and for Islamic expansion.
4. THE FOURTH PILLAR IS FASTING.
a) Fasting occurs in the middle of Ramadan—the 30 days between September 13 and October 12.
b) During the fast Muslims go without water, food, or sexual relations from sun up to sun down.
5. THE FIFTH PILLAR IS PILGRIMAGE.
a) A Muslim is supposed to visit Mecca at least once in his lifetime.
• On the Day of Judgment the observances of the five pillars in a man’s life will be weighed and, if there are enough of them, they will cancel out all the evil deeds of the man and allow him to escape from punishment.
• Salvation in Islam is unsure because a man can never be sure if his good deeds outweigh his evil deeds.
• There is a sixth tenet held by many in Islam. Salvation can be earned through dying in jihad, or holy war against unbelievers and enemies of Islam.
VI. The Differences between Islam and Christianity.
1. Islam and Christianity are not even close.
a) We are commanded by our God to ‘love our neighbors’ and pray for our enemies.
b) Islam says “eradicate (destroy) your neighbor” unless they believe what we believe.
2. The way to heaven differs greatly between Christianity and Islam.
a) Islam says you cannot know you are going to Heaven.
b) Our Bible teaches that we can know for certain.
c) 1 John 5:12-13 Whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life. New Century Version (NCV)
d) In Islam a man must observe the five pillars of his religion to be saved, and hopefully when he dies Allah will let him into heaven.
3. Hell is mentioned in our New Testament 74 times.
a) But, the Quran warns of hell 783 times (Islam is fear-motivated).
b) The Muslim heaven is not a place of worshiping God but a place of eternal self-indulgence and sexual pleasure.
c) The martyr, who reaches Paradise, will be awarded 500 female companions, 4,000 virgins and 8,000 divorced women.
d) Does that sound like heaven to you?
4. Islam strongly denies that Jesus is God’s Son.
a) The Quran states, “God is but one God. God forbid that He should have a son!” (4:171).
b) Jesus repeatedly claimed to be the Son of God.
and proved it in front of tens of thousands of people
by healing the sick and raising the dead.
1 John 2:23 says, No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. New International Version (NIV)
5. When Muhammad’s followers asked him to perform miracles like other prophet’s from God, he told them he could not.
a) Muhammad refers to Jesus as a prophet.
b) Jesus said he was equal with, and the only way to God!
In John 8:58 Jesus said, I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am.”
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
6. Muslims live by the Quran.
a) They do not believe the Bible is the true source of God’s word.
b) They do not believe in God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
c) Their God is not a God of love.
d) But our Bible says …the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV)
e) They don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
f) Our Bible says, “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17
g) The writings of Jesus’ Apostles stand in contradiction and opposition to the teachings of Muhammad and Islam.
7. There is a huge difference between Islam and Christianity.
VII. Differences between Muhammad and Jesus Christ
1. Muhammad mentions Jesus (called Isa) almost 100 times in the Quran.
a) The Quran teaches that Jesus was not crucified but ascended into heaven.
b) Muhammad writes about Jesus, “They slew him not, nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them.” Surah 4:157
• But 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, …the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. New International Version (NIV)
• 1 Peter 2:24 says, He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. New Living Translation (NLT)
c) If Jesus didn’t die on the cross for our sins then the world does not have a savior.
2. Did Muhammad or Jesus meet all the prophecies—from the Old Testament describing the one-and-only Messiah from God?
a) Muhammad claimed to be the greatest and last prophet of Allah.
He was born in Arabia.
But, Moses said the Messiah would be born in Israel
b) Jeremiah said the Messiah would be a descendent of David
(Jeremiah 23:5).
c) Malachi said Messiah would be preceded by a “voice crying in the wilderness”
d) Zechariah 9:9 said He would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.
e) David said Messiah would
teach in parables (Psalm 78:2),
that his hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16)
and that He would be betrayed by someone he ate with (Psalm 41:9).
d) Isaiah said Messiah would
heal the blind, the deaf and the lame (Isaiah 35:5),
that He would work quietly, without fanfare (Isaiah 42:1-4),
that the people would reject him (Isaiah 49:7),
that He would not protest (Isaiah 53:7, 12),
that Messiah’s back would be beaten (Isaiah 50:6),
that He would be spit upon and disfigured (Isaiah 50:6)
that Messiah would die among criminals (Isaiah 53:9, 12).
And that he was sufficient to take away our sins.
3. These and 60 other Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in the life of only one man—Jesus Christ!
Messiah!
Son of God!
Savior!
4. Only one man is so significant that all of human history is identified by what happened before and what happened after HE came to earth!
a) 1 Timothy 2:5 says, …there is ONE God and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. New International Version (NIV)
VIII. Muhammad did not live a sinless life.
1. The Quran, based on Muhammad’s visions, allowed Muslim men 4 wives.
a) However, Muhammad allowed himself 13 wives (some sources place the total as high as 16).
b) Muhammad died at the age of 62 deeply in debt (a result of too many wives?).
2. Muhammad was a man of war; Jesus is the Prince of Peace
(Isaiah 9:6-7).
a) Muhammad was the taker of life;
Jesus is the giver of life (John 10:27-28).
b) Muhammad and his followers murdered thousands;
Christ killed none but sacrificed Himself to give life to billions! (Compare John 12:48).
c) Muhammad practiced FORCE;
Christ preached FAITH (John 6:29, 35).
d) Muhammad was a WARRIOR;
Christ is a DELIVERER (Col. 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
e) Muhammad was swift to shed the blood of others (Romans 3:15-17);
Christ shed His own blood for the salvation of all who believe (Ephesians 1:7).
f) Islamic terrorists take their inspiration from Muhammad and wage war in the name of his god;
Christians give their lives as missionaries modeling the One who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9)
g) The Muslim’s only guarantee for eternity is to die as a martyr in jihad; Jesus promised eternal life to everyone who will trust Him as Savior. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
h) Muhammad preached "Death to the infidels!”
From the cross, Jesus prayed "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34),
i) Muhammad’s mission was to conquer the world for Allah;
Christ’s mission is to conquer sin, death and hell through His love and self-sacrifice (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).
3. If you visit the tomb of Muhammad in Medina, it contains his bones.
a) If you go to Christ’s tomb outside of the walls of Jerusalem you will discover it is empty!
b) Because, …Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 New International Version (NIV)
c) Christ is Risen! [“He is Risen Indeed!”]
d) Excuse me? Christ is Risen! [“He is Risen Indeed!”]
IX. The Conclusion of the Matter
1. Christianity is the world’s largest religion
a) Islam is the world’s second largest religion with over one billion Muslims in the world today.
b) It is the world’s fastest growing religion.
c) Their recruitment methods are pretty hard to say no to!
2. There are 7 million Muslims in America. That is triple the number of 20 years ago.
a) Each one of them matters to God. Christ died for them too!
b) Right now there is a Muslim mosque being built in Yuma.
3. Pray for them.
a) Engage them in conversation.
• Speak to them about the relationship possible with God through Jesus (someone they know as Isa).
• Show them Jesus in your life.
• Give them a Bible. Many Muslims have been converted by simply reading the Bible.
4. Christ offers you a RELATIONSHIP
a) Muhammad coerces you into a RELIGION.
b) US Attorney General John Ashcroft once said, “Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for God; Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you.”
5. This is what makes Christianity different than Islam.
a) Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 New International Version (NIV)
b) Peter said, Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us." Acts 4:12 New Century Version (NCV)
c) What do you say?
