Happy Reformation Day (500)!
WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.
Chapter One:The Fantacizers Cont.
The Danger of Islam
Mr. Wallace writes that Muslims too have a great commission in their Scriptures. (6). But it is much different than the New Testament, great commission. (6). Mr. Wallace quotes from the Qur'an and I will cite the same verse from my online source. The author explains that these were Muhammad's final instructions on his death bed. (6). Muslims are to convert these people, enslave them or force them to pay jizya. (6). Jizya is a protection tax extorted from non-Muslims. (163).
This reads like an act of thuggery. More like the mafia than a religion of peace. Enslaving people is even worse, morally.
Sahih International
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
Surah 9;29 (This verse has been quoted twice in this series, previously)
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
Mr. Wallace writes that Muhammad was mildly partial to Christians in Surah 5:82. (6). Below.
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah ; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.
But on his deathbed, Muhammad declared Christians as polytheists. and not monotheists (7).
As has been discussed in this review series so far, in regard to Jihad/Holy War, it appears that orthodox Islam and radical Islam have significant agreement. Although as I have noted, the orthodox position claims Jihad and Holy War is more so, defensive. A trillion dollar question is how many Muslims in North America and the West would attempt to follow these instructions from Muhammad very literally? Especially if politically allowed to do so?
I do not have a clear, specific answer.
More importantly to me, at least at this point in time, as a Christian theologian and philosopher is the Islamic confusion in regard to the Trinity. Islamic theology confuses the Christian doctrine of Trinity, three divine distinctions/persons of one infinite, eternal, ontological nature as God, with polytheism, a belief in three Gods with distinct natures.
Colossians 2:9-10 (Him is Jesus Christ) 'New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made [a]complete, and He is the head [b]over all rule and authority;
Footnotes:
Colossians 2:10
Lit full Colossians 2:10
Lit of ' N.T. Wright explains in regard to Colossians 2: 9-10, it is an continuation of 1:19 (109), 'for all the fulness to dwell in him.' (NASB).
'He is uniquely God's presence and his very self'. (109). Wright reasons that Paul is teaching monotheistic doctrine here and not that Jesus Christ is a second deity. (109). Christ is the embodiment of full deity. (109).
Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1) remains infinite, eternal God, and became God incarnate.
Acts 2: 24 states that God raised Him (Jesus Christ) from the dead and in the process defeated death.
From Hebrews 1; Greek scholar Walter Bauer defines 'Hupostasis' the original ὑπόστασις, εως, ἡit from the Greek as substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality. In the context of Hebrews 1: 3 the Son of God is the exact representation of God’s real being. (page 847).
Erickson further explains that each member of the Trinity is quantitatively equal. Erickson (1994: 337). Matthew 28: 19-20 and Acts 5 are two examples from the New Testament demonstrating the Holy Spirit as God.
Matthew 28:19-20
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”
Footnotes:
Matthew 28:19 Or Having gone; Gr aorist part.
Matthew 28:20 Lit all the days
Acts 5: 2-6
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
It is stated that one can lie to the Holy Spirit (verse 3) and therefore lie to God. 'You have not lied to men, but to God.' (verse 4).
All three distinctions within the trinity are infinite, of one ontological (existence and being) essence and nature, and yet with distinctions. In speculation, a philosophical critique might be that the infinite nature of God requires no distinctions or differently that God being infinite, should exist as infinite distinctions. Finite, sinful and imperfect humanity needs God's enlightenment from revelation to reasonably know God and to have significant intellectual understanding. God is Scripturally revealed in three distinctions and three persons, properly biblically defined. This is not completely understandable for the finite mind, but it is reasonable to the finite mind. To suggest that God as infinite must have infinite distinctions is not necessarily true, theologically, is not necessary philosophically, and is highly speculative philosophy of religion.
The incarnation of Jesus Christ has the infinite, eternal Word of God (John 1) take upon a finite human nature without the infinite divine nature and finite human nature, mixing. Therefore, Jesus Christ remains infinite, eternal God, but with two natures as both deity and incarnated man. God as trinity is relational in nature and therefore humanity is made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).
Humanity is therefore specifically relational and rational in the context of being made in the image and likeness of God. The infinite God could create finite creatures capable of relationship and communication in rationality, because being relational and rational is also an aspect of God's nature.
BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.
WRIGHT, N.T., Colossians and Philemon, (1986)(1989), IVP, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.
