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Christian and Muslim?

A recent article in the Seattle Times yielded an interesting and unique proclamation by the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, an Episcopal priest in the Seattle area.  The title of the story, “I am both Muslim and Christian,” speaks for itself.  In the article, Rev. Redding confesses to be both an Episcopal priest and a practicing Muslim.  She states that her conversion as a Muslim has given her insights into Christianity.  In essence her claim is that becoming a Muslim has made her a stronger Christian.  Redding says, “At the most basic level, I understand the two religions to be compatible. That’s all I need.” 

There are many issues concerning Rev. Redding’s confession of faith.  Contrary to her belief, Christianity and Islam are not compatible.  It is true that they share a few historical figures in Abraham and Jesus.  According to Islam, Jesus is merely a prophet, not the Son of God who was sacrificed for the sins of humanity.  To a Muslim, Jesus is not the only way to God the Father.  For Christians, Jesus is God in the flesh.  He came down and sacrificed himself to bear our punishment for sin and reconcile humanity to God.  He is the only way to God the Father.  This fundamental difference cannot be reconciled between the two belief systems.  The very core of their identity puts them at odds with one another.  Leaders in both religions have spoken out in the same manner. 

“There are tenets of the faiths that are very, very different,” said Kurt Fredrickson, director of the doctor of ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. “The most basic would be: What do you do with Jesus?”

“The theological beliefs are irreconcilable,” said Mahmoud Ayoub, professor of Islamic studies and comparative religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. Islam holds that God is one, unique, indivisible. “For Muslims to say Jesus is God would be blasphemy.”

This profession by Rev. Redding is not a great work of logic, reason, or reconciliation between two opposing belief systems and worldviews.  Redding admits this herself.  “It wasn’t about intellect,” she said. “All I know is the calling of my heart to Islam was very much something about my identity and who I am supposed to be.”  How can you be two things that cannot coexist?  Naturally there is always something behind a statement of this sort.  Something has to give.  That something is often the person of Jesus, the character of God, or the view of God’s Word.  As the article reports:

She believes the Trinity is an idea about God and cannot be taken literally.

She does not believe Jesus and God are the same, but rather that God is more than Jesus.

She believes Jesus is the son of God insofar as all humans are the children of God, and that Jesus is divine, just as all humans are divine — because God dwells in all humans.

To make matters worse, Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner (Redding’s bishop) says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting.  There is nothing exciting about her profession.  It does reveal many things.  It makes clear the state of the Episcopal church in America.  It is a sign of the culture and world we live in today.  It also reveals the anti-intellectual attitude that some people take in regards to Christian faith (as if you can separate the head from the heart).  It also shows disregard for the Word of God.

It is a sad story.  Dr. Al Mohler has some great commentary on this issue as well.  As this article reveals, we must be prepared for anything.

0 Comments

  • Bryan D

    Before you start reading this sorry for making this so long but I wanted to have exact information to destory this crazy idea. I sent the following message to The Seattle Times I just hope they read it. Please spread this information on to any other person that is curious about this topic. I spent a long time on this.
    I am a devout Christian and am friends with a devout Muslim. We have many discussions about our holy books and how they do have similarities but also important differences. I will show your direct Scripture from The Holy Bible(NAS) and from The Qur’an(translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali) that will prove Rev. Ann Holmes Redding can’t be a Christian and a Muslim. The very backbone of both religions, which is Christ’s Resurrection for Christianity, and Isma’il’s(Ishmael) life and discovery of the Ka’bah for Islam, is different in The Holy Bible and The Qur’an.
    The first major difference between The Holy Bible and The Qur’an is Christ’s death. According to the Qur’an Christ didn’t die.In The Qur’an 4:157 it states, “That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;- but they did not kill him, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them,and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they did not kill him,” .Also from the Qur’an 5:110 claims Jesus did not die. This directly contradicts Mark 15:37, “And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.” along with the very basis of Christianity. Christianity is based on Jesus’ Resurrection from the DEAD showing his power over Satan and ultimately being the living sacrifice needed for all creation to repent of their sins. Since he bore our sins on the cross and DIED so we could be saved. This alone would make it impossible to be a Christian and Muslim believer.
    The Holy Bible also contradicts a major passage of The Qur’an. The Qur’an states in 2:127, “And remember Abraham and Isma’il raised the foundations of the House (with this Prayer): “Our Lord! accept (this service) from us: for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” The foundations of the House this refers to is the Ka’ba. The Ka’bah(also called Black Stone) is the place where a rock had water run out of it because Allah sent Gabriel to save Isma’il from dying from thirst. Obviously this is of great importance to all Muslims. So important The Qur’an states all Muslims must take a Hajj( Pilgrimage to the Ka’bah) in their Five Pillars of Islam. The Holy Bible states in Genesis 21:19, “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.” According to Christianity God just opened Hagar’s(Isma’il’s mother) eyes and she saw a well, no mention of Gabriel at all.
    Another difference between The Qur’an and The Holy Bible is about who was sacrificed by Abraham. According to The Qur’an 37:102-106, “Then, when (the son) reached (the age of)(serious) work with him, he said: “O my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: now see what is your view!” (The son) said: “O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing patience and constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead(for sacrifice), We called out to him, “O Abraham! “You have already fulfilled the vision!”- thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial-” When the Qur’an talks about “the son” it is talking about Isma’il. According to The Holy Bible in Genesis 22:1-2, ” Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” This yet again complicates combining the two religions since you have to say either the Bible is right or the Qur’an is right. If one is right the other must be wrong.
    The Qur’an in 2: 135 states, “They say: ” Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (to salvation).” You say: “Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.” This basically means when a Christian asks a Muslim to become a Christian he should say Nay! If The Qur’an says this then how could she join the two religions when one clearly states not to accept the other.
    Therefore through evidence from both The Qur’an and The Holy Bible it is impossible to combine the religions and say you are a follower of both when they contradict themselves.
    I got all my Bible scriptures from a New American Standard Bible and all of my Qur’an scriptures from The Qur’an translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, Inc. 80-08 51st Avenue Elmhurst, New York 11373, http://www.koranusa.org
    You can check all my scriptures yourself if you do not trust me that is why I included the above paragraph.

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