McDowell - Understanding Islam and Christianity

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Verses marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

All emphasis (italics) in Scripture passages has been added by the authors.

Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

Copyright 2013 by Josh McDowell Ministry and James Walker

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McDowell, Josh.

Understanding Islam and Christianity / Josh McDowell and Jim Walker.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7369-4990-3 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-4991-0 (eBook)

1. Christianity and other religionsIslam. 2. IslamRelationsChristianity. 3. Apologetics.

I. Walker, Jim, 1956- II. Title.

BP172.M393 2013

261.2'7dc23

2013002418

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To my wife, Gods greatest gift to me.

Thank you for being who you are and loving me through all these years.

Jim Walker

I want to thank Scott, Haythem, and Diane, who helped make this book possible. I also want to thank Jonathan Kendall for his New Testament support and input.

Jim Walker

CONTENTS

I slam and Christianity interact considerably today. Millions of Muslims have immigrated to the West in search of a better life and many evangelize for Islam. They have found converts, built mosques, and established communities. Many have become good citizens, performed beneficial duties, and served well in the armed forces. Likewise Christianitys efforts in the Islamic world have borne fruit, and meetings of Muslims and Muslim converts to Christianity occur in every Muslim country.

Usually their interactions are pleasant and enjoyable but at times they can be confrontational as one challenges the others faith. Many Christians know their faith but know little about Islam. On the other hand, Muslims have many misconceptions about Christianity. The aims of this book are to provide answers for the body of Christ in their interactions with their Muslim friends and provide thought-provoking material for interested Muslims as they examine and evaluate the Christian faith.

A Crucial Question: Who Is Jesus?

Muslim and Christian dialogue often delves into Jesus identity. Was He just a great prophet? Was He the Messiah, the Son of God? Certainly He was a great man, but He claimed to be more. During His life on earth others realized that indeed He was more.

Who is Jesus? This same question was asked during Jesus life.

[Jesus] asked His disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is?

They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

But what about you, who do you say I am?

Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matthew 16:13-21).

Who is Jesus?

Later in Jesus life a similar but more intense question-and-answer exchange occurred. Jesus was on trial before the Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin. Jesus was being examined and His life was in the balance. Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, led the interrogation and those that sat in judgment were predisposed to put Jesus to death. They were striving to find some excuse, some justification, to pronounce a death sentence upon Him. They hated Him. Why did they hate Him?

The interrogation wore on but it was not going well for Caiaphas. Trite accusations yielded paltry results. Caiaphas became frustrated and his anger grew. Jesus was outwitting them at their game and Caiaphass fury rose. Finally, when he could contain himself no longer his heart cried out and his voice exclaimed the point that enraged him most: I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!

Again the question is asked: Who is Jesus? Was He the Son of God?

With that question, Caiaphas challenged Jesus to reveal His true identity. Who are You, Jesus? Do You claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God? That is why they hated Him. Jesus answer was the most crucial answer of that day. Pain, suffering, and death awaited one answer. Behind this farce of a trial the fundamental question, Who is Jesus? was thrown down as a gauntlet and Jesus was challenged to answer.

And answer He did!

I am, said Jesus. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

The Sanhedrin reacted violently! The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death. Some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, Prophesy!

Jesus had answered them boldly and truthfully! He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Jews howled in anger. But Jesus went further! He told them that He was the one foretold by the prophet Daniel: And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. Jesus told them that it was He who would fulfill that messianic prophecy!

Jesus proclaimed that He was more than a prophet. He proclaimed Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, as foretold by the prophets.

Answering the Question

This question, Who is Jesus? has been asked throughout history and is still asked today. It is one of the most important questions of all time. Billions of people have asked and answered it and their answer affected their lives, their cultures, and their history.

The subject of Jesus identity is a challenging one. According to Jesus it is also a spiritual one. Jesus told Peter that His true identity was revealed to him by God. This was not a lucky guess, this was not deductive reasoning, this was not the teaching of men, but rather Jesus true identity was revealed to Peter by God:

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Who is Jesus?

Islam answers exactly like many of the Jews of Jesus time, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. While Islam answers that Jesus was a mighty prophet, Christianity answers that He was far more.