The Christian Doctrine

Submitted by Servant of Christ (United States), Nov 16, 2006 at 17:51

Dear brother:

Thank you for your prompt reply. We shall proceed as follows:

In my mid teens, I decided to become an agnostic. It took me twenty eight years to believe and have faith in God.

Yes, agnosticism is where it usually starts.

Before I decided to become a Muslim, I read and re-read many different versions of the Christian Bible as well as the Jewish scriptures.

I read the mainstream bibles as well as some of the offshoots, such as the Jehovah's Witness's version.

Coming to the topic at hand, I will not be using the Qur'an or any non mainstream Bibles for that matter. My case will not depend on these books since you do not believe in them.

Very well.

The Qur'an says in Surah 2, verse 111 the following: [And they say, "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." These are their own desires. Say (O Muhammad (pbuh), "Produce your proof if you are truthful."]

You have produced your proof, the Christian Bible. Based on my careful analysis of the same and not on the Qur'an or the Jehovah's Witness's (more on that soon **) book, I do not believe that Jesus Christ is God.

What do I believe then?

I believe, that Jesus was one of the mightiest messengers of God, that he was born miraculously-without any male intervention, that he gave life to the dead by God's permission, and that he healed those born blind and the lepers by God's permission. I affirm that no Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (pbuh). Of course, I also believe in his return before the Day of Judgment.

Do you believe that he is without sin?

In Surah 5, verse 82 of the Qur'an, we read: [Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are Al-Mushrikoon (idolaters, polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, pagans), and you will find nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud (arrogant)].

5:54 "O ye who believe. Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust."

** To serve their purpose I'm told by mainstream Christianity, the Jehovah's Witness's New World Translation of the bible change and omits few words in John1:1. Since they believe Jesus (pbuh) to be the Son of God rather than God Himself, they change the capital W in the "Word" to a small w and replace the last word of the verse "God" with "a god" instead.

Jehovah's Witness is a cult. Their doctrines differ greatly from 'mainstream'.

However, to me as a Muslim who believes in the absolute Oneness of God, John 1:1 (left as is in the mainstream Bible) provides a major hurdle to the Oneness of God. You see if I was to understand it from a Christian point of view, than we have at least two Gods in the beginning. I will leave John 1:1 for you to explain and clarify and we'll make that our starting point if you would not mind.

The Trinity is a very difficult concept to grasp. I, a Christian, must believe that God is one. After all,

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:8)

This is what the LORD says—
Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

So what does this mean? God is one in nature but yet distinct. The Trinity says that the Son, Father, and Holy Spirit make up the Godhood.

Let's examine those verses. The word 'one' in Hebrew which is used here is 'echad'. This word means 'composite unity'. Like, "man will become echad with his wife". Which makes plenty of sense when there is a Trinity. The word 'yachid', meaning complete unity, is never used when describing God.

So how can all of them be God? Think of space. Space is made up of the dimensions of length, width, and height. Without one, they are all useless.

If on the other hand you wish to put forward another verse or verses, I have no objection.

I think we both acknowledge the existence of God the Father right?

Verses in the OT for the Holy Spirit-

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) my emphasis

The Holy Spirit was present when the universe was being created.

Jesus, the Son- For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) my emphasis

So Jesus, the son, was born and called "Mighty God." I will expand on this if you wish.

May God guide us all closer to the truth. Amen.

May God bless you and your family brother.

And yours as well.

Fadi.

God Bless You

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