Roman Catholic Bishop Wants Everyone to Call God 'Allah'
A proposal by a Roman Catholic bishop in the Netherlands that people of all faiths refer to God as "Allah" is not sitting well with the Catholic community. Tiny Muskens, an outgoing bishop who is retiring in a few weeks from the southern diocese of Breda, said God doesn't care what he is called. "Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? ... What does God care what we call him? It is our problem," Muskens told Dutch television.....
...Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, backs the idea as a way to help interfaith understanding...."It reinforces the fact that Muslims, Christians and Jews all worship the same God," Hooper told FOXNews.com. "I don't think the name is as important as the belief in God and following God's moral principles. I think that's true for all faiths."
read the entire story here
here it is, folks. this is what happens when we are not clear and intentional about who we worship. the object of worship for islam, "allah" is *NOT* the same god that christians worship. the god of islam is not triune, nor did he send his son, jesus christ, to provide salvation for all who would believe.
they are NOT the same god. we must be clear about this. it is imperative to getting the gospel right.
i was actually going to blog about a slogan that has been made increasingly popular by U2 singer bono. in case you havent seen it on a t-shirt or bumper sticker, here it is.
the signs of islam, judaism, and christianity put together to form the word "coexist".
insofar as the sentiment is that among diasgreement, we should still strive to live among each other with love, i agree. but where i vehemently disagree is the notion, as it is often presented, that it doesnt matter which faith is yours, they are all equal.
this is simply not true. and the thing is, not one of these three religions, if taken from their orthodox and historic positions, would agree that any other religion is valid. each one claims that it is the only true way to god.
the words of the apostle paul in galations 1 serve us well here...
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (gal. 1:6-9)
let us refuse to further this nonsense that all religions are equal as long as they are sincerely believed. of course we should point these truths out in a spirit of love and with patience. but we are not loving anyone by letting them believe a lie that will send them to hell to endure the wrath of god for eternity.
i would rather offend someone's sense of "tolerance" than further this lie.
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