Always Be Prepared To Give An Answer

I recently attended a briefing on Islam given by Professor Irfan Shahid from the Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. The briefing was given to the FBI Headquarters personnel to further our understanding of Islam and Muslims. The professor led us through the history of Islam from the days of Muhammad until the present. He briefly explained the difference in the various Islamic sects.

One of the themes of the briefing is that the similarities and common origins of Islam, Christianity and Judaism should be the basis for reconciliation between the three religions. The professor started by stating that Islam is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion and shares a common origin with Christianity and Judaism. It traces its lineage to Abraham through Ishmael, Abraham’s first born son.

Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad and born into a culture of jihad, that jihad was an invention of Christianity and Judaism. Christianity was the state religion of the Roman Empire at the time, a conquering force in the world. Judaism has a biblical history of invading and conquering other nations. Therefore, today’s Islamic jihad is the response to the atrocities committed by Christians and Jews throughout history. At least, that was the opinion of the professor.

The professor went on to say that Jesus is the most exalted Prophet in the Qur’an, that Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a Messenger and Prophet of God, but do not recognize Him as God. (Nor do the Muslims recognize the Trinity as a valid monotheistic view.) The professor pointed out that Muhammad lived at a time when certain Christian theologies, such as Arianism, may have influenced his beliefs. The professor said this is not unusual as there are many Christians today who hold the same belief.

Lastly, when a question was asked about suicide bombers, the professor said that these martyrs are giving their lives for what they believe in, that they just don’t throw the bomb and run, but that they give their lives for their beliefs.

I was watching the briefing through a webcast and was unable to ask questions of the professor. But I had several concerns as there are some significant errors in what the professor said. The first concern was whether the professor was expressing his personal views or the common beliefs of Muslims. If he expressed common beliefs among Muslims, we have a major cause for concern because of the errors in what he said.

The first error is that a Christian can believe that Jesus was a very good man, and even a prophet, but not God. Belief in the deity of Jesus as the eternal person of the Trinity, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, begotten and not created, is not up for debate. It is the essential belief of the true Christian who will confess with his mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believes in his heart that God raised Him from the dead. To believe otherwise is not biblical and a distortion of the truth.

The second error is that the professor implied that giving one’s life for his beliefs makes one a martyr and his act of martyrdom justified before God. When it comes to suicide bombers, where is the honor in the indiscriminant killing of innocent human lives? Of God’s commandments, murder makes the top ten. What is murder other than the unjustified taking of an innocent life? The suicide bomber is committing murder, not the will of God!

Some may say that God is using the suicide bomber to fulfill His Will. I say that is unbiblical and contrary to God’s revelation of Himself to us through scripture. To God, life is precious. Does the Bible record mass destruction? Yes. But whenever God has chosen to destroy en masse, it has been through His own Hand, not the hand of man. The notion that it is fulfilling God’s will to indiscriminately kill innocent human beings is a falsehood promulgated by the father of destruction. Suicide bombers are the unwitting instruments of the devil.

Why is this important to understand? It's important that we read the Bible and understand the differences and similarities in our beliefs. It's important that we do not become deceived by clever arguments. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15