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Christianity and Islam, though closely related in some aspects, are quite different from each other. Their theological differences have caused quite a stir between religious leaders and their followers. The faith of Muslims is based on the works of accomplishing the five pillars of Islam. Christianity, on the contrary, it based on faith that people can be freed from their sin by the blood of Christ Jesus.
Most Arabs are Muslim, but most Muslims are not Arabs. There are millions of followers who are of Persian and Asian descent. Arabs came from the line of Ishmael (the half bother of Isaac - father of the Jews). However, descendants of Ishmael were a nomadic people who intermarried with the Midianites (Judges 8:1,12,22,24) and others, while the Hebrews largely avoided a racial mix. After Islam violently imposed its doctrines on the Arab world, Muslim men were permitted to take wives of any faith in order to raise the children in Islam. (Mulsim women were obligated to marry only Muslim men.)
Those who practice the "Five Pillars" of Islam worship a god named Allah, who was the chief god of the Quraish tribe that controlled Mecca. This god was selected by Muhammad, from among the 300 plus idols honored at the Ka'aba, and Muhammed tried to modify his moon god to become the God of Abraham. The symbol of this moon god, Allah, is known as the crescent symbol of Islam. Conversely, the Christian god revealed Himself to Moses as "Yahweh" (Exodus 3:14-16). In the Torah and in the Koran, Allah and Yahweh speak in the third person plural, yet the both Judaism and Islam dogmatically proclaim their god to be singular. ("Hear Oh Israel, the Lord your God is One God" Deut. 6:4) As Christianity branched off of Judaism, they saw this as additional evidence for the Trinity.
Muhammad, who was orphaned in early childhood, grew up with various family members, and was also illiterate. Having worked in caravans up until age twenty-five, Muhammad learned bits and pieces of both Christianity and Judaism. After marrying a rich widow, Muhammad had a “vision.” Supposedly, and angel came to him telling him that he should be a “prophet.” Muhammad continued to have these visions, in which he would blurt out “ethereal statements” which later composed the Koran. Some requirements of fulfilling your duties as a Muslim include; praying towards Mecca five times a day, giving alms to the poor, visiting Mecca at some point in their life, and keep a strict diet, especially during the month of Ramadan. The most significant difference is the pillar that admonishes "There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet". Muhammed specified that God does not have a son. Because of this, there is no redemption from sin in Islam. Salvation comes by works which never carry an assurance of being good enough unless one were to die for Allah as a suicide bomber or die killing infidels in battle.
Christianity, on the other hand, follows the Lord God of Israel. Christians believe that God sent His Son to Earth to be the atonement for sin. The entire Bible is focused on the gospel, meaning “good news.” To be a Christian, there is no need to eat a certain type of food, visit a certain place, die in a Jihad, or meticulously follow some sort of ritual washing or prayer. On the contrary, all a person needs to do is accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The Great Commission to all Christians states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV.
In conclusion, Islam and Christianity are very different, not only do they focus on different aspects, but they also worship entirely different gods. It is so good to know that abundant life and salvation does not rest on the human ability to do good works. Salvation is a gift that can never be lost, nor does it expire or become invalid once you do something wrong.
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