religion

The Personal God of the Bible vs. the Transcendent Allah of the Quran

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Al Ngu  February 2025– Paper for Christian encounter with Islam

**Introduction & Thesis** 

The defining contrast between Christianity and Islam lies in the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, rendering the God of the Bible profoundly personal and relatable, while the Quran presents Allah as a transcendent sovereign emphasizing submission to His will. I argue that Christianity’s appeal stems from the incarnation, where God entered the world to share in human experiences, contrasting with Allah’s transcendence, which prioritizes a structured framework of obedience for attaining paradise. This doctrine of the incarnation—Immanuel, “God with us”—fundamentally distinguishes Christianity from Islam, as evidenced by the Bible and the Quran.

**The Incarnation of God into This World** 

The incarnation of Christ was prophesied throughout the Old Testament, culminating in Jesus as the Logos, the Word of God (John 1:1). Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) declares, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” The concept of a transcendent God humbling Himself to become human is transformative. Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV) states, “Though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” 

This act of humility shatters self-centered ambitions. William Barclay notes that Paul urges the Philippians to emulate Christ’s selfless service, shedding pride and desire for prominence (Barclay, 2003, p. 45). In contrast, Islam rejects the incarnation, viewing it as incompatible with Allah’s absolute transcendence (Quran 4:171), highlighting a key theological divide. For Christians, Jesus as Emmanuel, “God with us,” offers a uniquely personal relationship with God.

**Islam’s Highest Purpose: Submission to God’s Will** 

In Christianity, humans are created in God’s image (Imago Dei, Genesis 1:27) and relate to Him through covenants, aiming to glorify and enjoy Him forever (John 17:3). In Islam, humans are not created in Allah’s image, as He is utterly unlike any creature (Quran 112:1–4). The Quran emphasizes submission (*islam*) to Allah’s will as humanity’s purpose (Quran 51:56). Fazlur Rahman explains, “The Qur’an insists on God’s absolute uniqueness… He is not a father or a friend but the Sovereign Lord” (Rahman, 1980, p. 6). Kenneth Cragg adds, “Allah’s sovereignty in Islam lacks the narrative intimacy of the Bible… His will is law, not a dialogue” (Cragg, 2000, p. 68). 

However, some Islamic traditions, such as the *mithaq* (covenant of Alast, Quran 7:172), suggest a primordial relationship between Allah and humanity, and Sufi mysticism emphasizes experiential closeness to God through practices like *dhikr* (remembrance). Nevertheless, these differ from Christianity’s incarnational intimacy, as Allah remains transcendent, not immanent.

**Achieving Virtue in Islam: Obedience vs. Empowerment** 

The Quran promotes virtues like unity, justice, and compassion, modeled by Muhammad, which align with biblical principles. Muslims view the Five Pillars (e.g., prayer, fasting) as fostering *taqwa* (God-consciousness), a form of spiritual discipline (Quran 2:183). However, Islam lacks a divine figure empowering believers, unlike Christianity’s Holy Spirit. Ephesians 3:16 (ESV) speaks of God strengthening believers “with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” enabling internal transformation. In Islam, the focus on outward observance, as Gary Corwin notes, prioritizes “public observance and social structure” over inner renewal (Corwin, 2004, p. 12). 

While Islamic practices cultivate devotion, they rely on human effort without the personal divine empowerment central to Christianity. Muslims strive to balance good and bad deeds (Quran 21:47), a framework that contrasts with Christianity’s reliance on Christ’s redemptive work.

**Divine Justice and Forgiveness: Atonement vs. Divine Will** 

Christianity and Islam diverge sharply on divine justice and forgiveness. In Christianity, God’s holiness requires atonement to satisfy His justice, fulfilled by Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 2:17). James White critiques Islam’s approach: “How can Allah be holy and just and yet forgive sins arbitrarily, without reference to sacrifice or the fulfillment of his own law?” (White, 2013, p. 89). Islamic theology, rooted in divine voluntarism, holds that Allah’s will determines justice, as Al-Ghazali argues (Anderson, 2013, p. 23). Quran 112:1–4 reinforces Allah’s unknowability, leading to theological agnosticism about His character. 

However, Muslims emphasize Allah’s mercy (*Ar-Rahman*, *Ar-Rahim*), believing He forgives based on repentance and righteousness (Quran 7:156). Muhammad Asad notes, “The Quran underscores the universality of divine forgiveness… a direct relationship between the sinner and God” (Asad, 2003, p. 45). This contrasts with Christianity’s atonement model, where Jesus’ sacrifice fulfills God’s justice, offering a consistent basis for forgiveness absent in Islam’s reliance on divine prerogative.

**The Power of God’s Love in Christianity** 

The Bible portrays Jesus as a High Priest who empathizes with human weaknesses, having been tempted yet remaining sinless (Hebrews 4:15). Romans 8:34 (ESV) affirms, “Christ Jesus… is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” This love, epitomized in John 3:16—“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son”—culminates in the cross, a proactive act of redemption. During the Transfiguration, God declares, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7), emphasizing love as Christianity’s core. 

In contrast, the Quran ties Allah’s love to obedience. Surah Al-Imran (3:31) states, “If you love Allah, then follow me [Muhammad], Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.” Fazlur Rahman explains, “God’s love is not an unconditional blanket over humanity but a response to righteousness and repentance” (Rahman, 1980, p. 25). While Islam’s *fitra* (innate disposition toward God) suggests a universal capacity for divine connection, Allah’s love remains conditional, unlike Christianity’s unconditional initiative.

**Union with Christ** 

The incarnation enables an intimate union with Christ. John 17:23 (ESV) states, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” N.T. Wright describes this as “the astonishing truth that Christians are drawn into the life of God Himself” (Wright, 2006, p. 102). This relational union, likened to a bridegroom and bride in Revelation, contrasts with Islam’s view of Allah as a sovereign master (Quran 51:56). While Muhammad is a moral exemplar, he is not a divine mediator, unlike Jesus, the sinless God-Man (John 14:6).

**The Hypostatic Union of Christ** 

The hypostatic union—Jesus as fully God and fully human—underpins Christian atonement theology. John 1:1 affirms His divinity, while Hebrews 2:17 highlights His humanity as a “merciful and faithful high priest.” Only a sinless God-Man could atone for human sin. Tim Keller notes that John 1:14’s “tabernacled” signifies Jesus as God’s dwelling place among us, bridging humanity to God (Keller, 2013, p. 45). Islam, rejecting divine-human unity (Quran 4:171), lacks a comparable mediator, raising questions about how Allah’s forgiveness aligns with His justice without atonement.

**Conclusion** 

The personal nature of the Christian God, revealed through Christ’s incarnation, life, and love, offers grace and intimacy unmatched by the Quran’s transcendent Allah. The Bible’s God empathizes with human struggles, intercedes for believers (Romans 8:34), and sustains the universe (Hebrews 1:3). In contrast, Islamic theology, as Al-Ghazali notes, emphasizes Allah’s unknowable will over His character, prioritizing submission over relational intimacy (Anderson, 2013, p. 23). While Islam’s focus on mercy and *taqwa* fosters spiritual discipline, it lacks the incarnational redemption of Christianity. The Bible’s personal God, revealed in Jesus, radiates grace and love, drawing humanity into a transformative relationship distinct from the Quran’s transcendent framework. [Comment: Replaced “moralistic Allah” with “transcendent Allah”; added *taqwa* for balance.]

**Bibliography** 

– Anderson, James. *Christian Encounter with Islam*. Reformed Theological Seminary Global Lectures, 2013. 

– Asad, Muhammad. *The Message of the Qur’an*. The Book Foundation, 2003. 

– Barclay, William. *The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians*. The New Daily Study Bible, 3rd ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003. 

– Chapman, Colin. *Cross and Crescent*. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007. 

– Corwin, Gary. “Ten Things Worth Knowing About Islam.” *EMQ*, 2004. 

– Cragg, Kenneth. *The Call of the Minaret*. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1956; repr., Oneworld Publications, 2000. 

– Abdel Haleem, M.A.S. *The Qur’an*. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. 

– Keller, Timothy. *Encounters with Jesus*. New York: Penguin Books, 2013. 

– Rahman, Fazlur. *Major Themes of the Qur’an*. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980. 

– White, James. *What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Quran*. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013. 

– Wright, N.T. *Simply Christian*. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006. 

–

Christian Thought & Philosophy

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This is really my first time studying philosophy in a Christian seminary context. I’ve always been used to systematic theology, biblical theology but it is really interesting to be able to intersect that with philosophy. This class covered the Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and I think the most influential is Plato who influenced people well known theologians like Aquinas and to a little extent even Augustine. I come to appreciate that Greek philosophy has capitalized some kind of abstract conceptual almost divine being that is being the master of all kinds of things and thoughts, the initiator of them all. They move so close to who God is conception is but just can’t get there, and hence it is very sad. This truly speaks of the vanity and frustration of the worldly wisdom and forces in this world to try to mimic God or try to reach the ultimate transcendent. In vain their attempt by some of the greatest worlds philosophers known as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle. They all have come to some kind of conceptualization like the ruler of all rules kind of thing but have just fallen short of it.

The biggest problem is that their supreme conceptual idea it’s only an idea but not a being and hence cannot communicate, they cannot love, and interact with humans as the God in Christianity. I think that kind of situation will bring civilization to annihilation simply because it cannot land but it floats in the thin air forever. Therefore it becomes a breeding ground to some of the great influencing philosophers of the modern age like Nietzsche, like a lot of French and other philosophers in trying to deny God but come up with a substitute which is totally devastating and self-defeating. Their philosophies unfortunately have influenced a lot of our schoolbooks and colleges and writings for example Karl Marx thought about communism and a host of others. All these philosophies are conceptual pit problem because of denying and running away from the almighty God who is well perceived and known by the world as in Romans 1

Romans 1:18–21 (ESV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Did you see the unleashing of the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men it’s God’s judgment upon all the philosophical work so they’re trying to detract or distract human beings from knowing and following the only God the creator of the world? As a matter of fact the wrath of God specifically against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and that is a direct product of any philosophies centering on anything outside of Christ and that is defined as godlessness. Godlessness is commonly understood as doing things that are very ungodly and that is the result of not focusing on the only one true God Jesus Christ and God the Father. And not only that these people not only practice ungodliness, but they actually suppress the truth about Christ as well as exactly what these philosophers are doing like Plato, French Foucault and all these guys.

You can see how the intersection of Christianity’s biblical and systematic theology comes in really powerful together with the worldly and ungodly philosophies of the world. If you don’t have enough grounding on the philosophy like in this class, you won’t know exactly how to engage them by knowing their strengths and weaknesses and how to portray Christ and the gospel as the answer to human brokenness.

Reflections on Jesus in Quran

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Given some of the things that Quran has written about Jesus, if the reverse were done in the other way round in the Bible regarding Muhammad, big row would have broken out. I find it astonishing the false heretical accusations thrown at Jesus the revered son of God in Christianity in all his glory as the Messiah of the world who died on the cross for humanity, been pushed around in Quran. Surah 5 verse 72 says Christians claim Allah the third of the three wrongly. Christians never claim God is the third of the three they have no understanding of the Bible and yet begin to point finger at the Bible. Trinity is 3 persons , one God.

Surah 4 verse 159 says Jesus will witness against Christians on the last day. I find this incredulous that they have the audacity to rewrite the holy book of Christianity that was already established some 600 years before Quran was written. So Muhammad claimed the revelation from Allah in the Quran that Jesus Christ will come back to this world on his return and witness against Christians on the last day? Really? When Christians are a part of the church which is the body of Christ himself! And Christ died for the church! Christ died for Christians! That’s total nonsense.

And I heard from the lecture that Quran Surah 4 and Surah 5 talked about Jesus a son of Mary told the people to worship Allah God alone.

And now they put on notice regarding Christians and Jews as Muslims’ enemies, Sura 5 verse 51 says Muslims should not take Jews and Christians as allies or friends. More astonishingly, in Surah 9 verse 29 says Muslims should fight Christians who do not believe in Allah and agree to submit! Can you imagine a so-called holy book calling for war against Christians because we Christians don’t believe in the Allah of Quran? Let’s turn it around do we ever say in our Bible or rather did the Lord ever said in our holy scripture the Bible that Christians should fight against Muslims who do not believe in Christ and agreed to submit? You see they don’t seem to understand submission comes in the form of Jesus the Lord of all washed the feet of his disciples and that is the master who washes the feet of his followers. Can you imagine the hearts of the followers how they are melted and submission it’s not even a question because it comes in so much love and adoration and that is Christianity!

From the intellectual point of view, for the Muslim scholars, my question is how do they analyze Quran that was written 600 years after the Bible, starts accusing the truth of the holy book of Christianity in a way to dispute the recorded teachings of Christ and the recorded Christ death and resurrection, they are not only disputing it but they are actually rewriting some of the major parts of the holy Bible and when they touched the son of God Jesus Christ in Quran in depicting him as mere man and a messenger prophet, how do Muslim scholars intellectually reconcile the validity of such assertions in Quran? The experiential part of the death and restoration can be taken care of quite easily, whether to believe and dispute, I get that as many sciences and modernity dispute that, but to reword and rewrite the teachings of Christ as to even label Christ to tell people to worship Allah (Islam god) alone, isn’t this almost feels like a fantasy talk of a recorded worldwide event that happened 600 years ago by Quran? Because this teaching has nothing to do with Quran per se, but it’s like taking an attack mode on another religion in middle East? You can disagree with Bible’s words on teaching of Jesus, but to change what Jesus actually teaches in the Bible is another thing!

Islam & Christianity’s Response to the decadent morality of the West

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Al Ngu,   December 25, 2024

Peter Riddell has written on page 159 in his groundbreaking book “ Islam in context past, present, and future”, a hugely interesting perception and understanding of the interaction between western culture and Islam, and in some ways you can apply that to Christianity. What I’m trying to bring up is there is some similarities and contrast between Christianity and Islam in facing the Western culture.

Riddell expounded,  “the perception among Muslims on Western culture would be decadent and debased is fueled by regular statements in the Muslim media, both in the Middle East and among mostly minorities in the west, that reflected and often exaggerated moral decay in Western society.”[1]

The following quote from Invitation to Islam encapsulates the view: “Man in the West feels no obligation to protect women from the harms of society. This is why a man will allow his wife to be a stripper, a call girl, and even a prostitute. Honor knows no place in the West.”

A startling alarming cutting statement of the West. What we see is not representative of the Western society at all of course, but nonetheless, these films are spread all over the country, continent, and in reality the followers of these movie culture FAR exceeds the number of Christ followers, Christians today! The point is, it’s gigantic influence mental, cognitive, intellectual on the society is beyond the grip of society perception and understanding of Christian influence hands down. Imagine in Genesis 11-God told Abram to “Walk before me faithful, and be blameless”, and here we are in our generation or before, we totally butchered many of the commandments of God thru Moses, and ‘blameless’ is a vocab that’s hard to find.

Genesis 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

Now there is some truth to it that it is true Western culture has become so liberal that especially in the Hollywood movies and media that actually promote promiscuity of women and movies essentially play on the lustful desire of men in our society. What’s worse media like Disney who has been famed to promote children’s wholesome activities, now promote LBGTQ agenda and themes on that line. Go figure? That is a degradation of moral values. Of course we are not talking about regulating movies so that none of those will come forth, but excessive sensual stuff needs to be curtailed to say the least. In fact, the wind of Hollywood depends on the mood, political power, and the Christian influence on the society as a whole. They are all interlinked. The last straw is the blasphemous show what they did in the Olympics opening ceremony 2024 in Paris, totally obliterated any sense of good faith and sense in France, with putting the abomination figures on the most holy sacred “The Last Supper” of Christ to be turned into some LBGT transgender table! It’s that dark and irreverent to God that’s akin to the abominatio figure that’s prophecies to stand in the most holy place in the Temple as prophesied by Jesus himself in the bible.  You can only believe when you see that. Try that on the Islamic faith teaching with Paris done to Christan faith, there will be uproar even a jihad! I heard that some decent actors like Mel Gibson and the like are putting together a new Hollywood broadcast to challenge the downright filth of the present.  What we are seeing is just not good to promote a healthy wholesome society. So in that sense, I will agree with what invitation Islam mentioned.

Riddell writes, “ no doubt Hollywood has a significant role in this process of stereotyping through his worldwide distribution of films, including sexually explicit material. However, this does not justify the broad extent of negative stereotyping on the west of the media around the world.” [2]

To ascend you at the point that the movie and films influence on the minds of the population, including the Christians has far reaching impact and effect. We will be naïve to think they’re going to this movies will be just fine because for the majority of this movies they are all lean towards very, very liberalthinking and philosophical war view.

The Bible says in Phil 4: 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

That’s it! Whatever is true, noble, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Do you see a lot of this in modern movies? That’s a problem because the Bible emphasizes think about things that praiseworthy not to think about the decadent morality lifestyle stories as we encounter in most of the movies. That is a huge impact upon a mind of emotion in self to go to such movies for example unfortunately, we are surrounded all over us and bombarded with such things, and if men are not cautious and careful will fall into the traps of this immorality unholiness. And that’s why it is important to stay far from this things for the focus on praise worthy and excellent things in the Lord. And you won’t be able to find them in Hollywood largely not available. So on the contrary, seeing those movies with such decadent movie moralities, we are doing a huge disservice to ourselves in our families and our church.

Everything is a balance, right? Yes I agree that the cultural backdrop of the west does not justify a total negative stereotyping on the West but mostly media around the world however there is definitely valid point, which in contrast Christianity has remained very silent and feeling helplessly in actuality in reality pretty much catapulted to the vast influence of Hollywood.

Riddell writes, “Western phobia refers to entrenched and endemically hostile attitude to the West, and to perceived cultural traits of the West.” He is right to say that this hostility to the West because of the downfall of moral values precisely.

Riddell  writes, “ The phenomenal phobia is encapsulated in common printed in common sense, the newsletter of Islamic party of Britain: “there’s nothing in western societies… The remotely resembles good behavior. They all walk in Haas, vanity and pump: insolent, arrogant and boastful.”

So I just thought about what Jesus said on exposing them.

Eph 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Granted Paul was talking about having nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, but rather exposing the deeds of darkness amongst God’s people in the context of Ephesians 5. But if you look into it, it’s not going to be too big to extrapolate that to this world outside the church, although I wouldn’t do it in the exact same format, nevertheless, the principle of doing that remains unchanged. Jesus rebuked Pharisees of their hypocrisy with some strong blatant words:

Matt 23 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

This is definitely something good serious reflection for all Christians today you find that the one is protesting about immoral deeds of a society mostly from the Catholic Church if there’s anything, for example the abortion issues on the public arena, bravo to them, as much as evangelical disagree their doctrines. But we Evangelical have remained pretty quiet sadly. But take it to a step further looking at what Islam has done even though the principle of such is definitely a doctrine issue. We are disagreeing with them on a whole host of things and how God is different from theirs, nevertheless, there’s something to be applauded in the conviction and bold speaking out in the public square, which is sadly much of a silence among the evangelicals, and reformed world.

[1] Peter Riddell, Islam in Context, (Baker academic, Grand rapids, Michigan:2003)  159

[2] Ibid

Religious faith’s view of moral values of the West

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Al Ngu,   December 25, 2024

Peter Riddell has written on page 159 in his groundbreaking book “ Islam in context past, present, and future”, a hugely interesting perception and understanding of the interaction between western culture and Islam, and in some ways you can apply that to Christianity. What I’m trying to bring up is there is some similarities and contrast between Christianity and Islam in facing the Western culture.

Riddell expounded,  “the perception among Muslims or western culture would be decadent and debased is fueled by regular statements in the Muslim media, both in the Middle East and among mostly minorities in the west, that reflected and often exaggerated moral decay in Western society.”[1]

The following quote from invitation to Islam encapsulate the view: “Man in the West feels no obligation to protect women from the harms of society. This is why a man will allow his wife to be a stripper, a call girl, and even a prostitute. Honor knows no place in the West.”— startling alarming cutting statement of the West. What we see is not representative of the Western society at all of course, but nonetheless, these films are spread all over the country, continent, and in reality the followers of these movie vulture FAR exceed number of Christ followers, Christians. The point is, the gigantic influence mental, cognitive, intellectual on the society is beyond the grip of society perception and understanding an beats Christan influence hands down. Imagine in Genesis 11-God told Abrahm to “Walk before me faithful, and be blameless”, and here we are in our generation or before, we totally butchered many of the commandments of God thru Moses, and ‘blameless’ is a vocab that’s hard to find.

Genesis 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[a]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

Now there is some truth to it. It is true Western culture has become so liberal that especially in the Hollywood movies and media that actually promote promiscuity of women and movies essentially play on the lustful desire of men in our society. What’s worse media like Disney who has been famed to promote children’s wholesome activities, now promote LBGTQ agenda and themes on that line. Go figure? That is a degradation of moral values. Of course we are not talking about regulating movies so that none of those will come forth, but excessive sensual stuff needs to be curtailed to say the least. In fact, the wind of Hollywood depends on the mood, political power, and the Christian influence on the society as a whole. They are all interlinked. The last straw is the blasphemous show what they did in the Olympics opening ceremony 2024 in Paris, totally obliterated any sense of good faith and sense in France, with putting the abomination figures on the most holy sacred “The Last Supper” of Christ to be turned into some LBGT transgender table! It’s that dark and irreverent to God that’s akin to the abominatio figure that’s prophecies to stand in the most holy place in the Temple as prophecies by Jesus himself in the bible.  You can only believe when you see that. Try that on the Islamic faith teaching with Paris done to Christan faith, there will be uproar even revolution! I heard that some decent actors like Mel Gibson and the like are putting together a new Hollywood broadcast to challenge the downright filth of the present.  What we are seeing is just not good to promote a healthy wholesome society. So in that sense, I will agree with what invitation Islam mentioned.

Riddell writes, “ no doubt Hollywood has a significant role in this process of stereotyping through his worldwide distribution of films, including sexually explicit material. However, this does not justify the broad extent of negative stereotyping on the west of the media around the world.” [2]

Everything is a balance, right? Yes I agree that the cultural backdrop of the west does not justify a total negative stereotyping on the West but mostly media around the world however there is definitely valid point, which in contrast Christianity has remained very silent and feeling helplessly in actuality in reality pretty much catapulted to the vast influence of Hollywood.

Riddell writes, “Western phobia refers to entrenched and endemically hostile attitude to the West, and to perceived cultural traits of the West.” He is right to say that this hostility to the West because of the downfall of moral values precisely.

Riddell  writes, “ The phenomenal phobia in capsule in common printed in common sense, the newsletter of Islamic party of Britain: “there’s nothing in western societies… The remotely resembles good behavior. They all walk in Haas, vanity and pump: insulin, arrogant and boastful.”

So I just thought about what Jesus said on exposing them.

Eph 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Granted Paul was talking about having nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, but rather exposing the deeds of darkness amongst God’s people in the context of Ephesians 5. But if you look into it, it’s not going to be too big to extrapolate that to this world outside the church, although I wouldn’t do it in the exact same format, nevertheless, the principle of doing that remains unchanged. Jesus rebuked Pharisees of their hypocrisy with some strong blatant words:

Matt 23 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

This is definitely something good serious reflection for all Christians today you find that the one is protesting about immoral deeds of a society mostly from the Catholic Church if there’s anything, for example the abortion issues on the public arena, bravo to them, as much as evangelical disagree their doctrines. But we Evangelical have remained pretty quiet sadly. But take it to a step further looking at what Islam has done even though the principle of such is definitely a doctrine issue. We are disagreeing with them on a whole host of things and how God is different from theirs, nevertheless, there’s something to be applauded in the conviction and bold speaking out in the public square, which is sadly much of a silence among the evangelicals, and reformed world.

[1] Peter Riddell, Islam in Context, (Baker academic, Grand rapids, Michigan:2003)  159

[2] Ibid

“The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact.”

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Lewis writes, “Myth transcends thought, incarnation transcends myth. The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. The old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens- at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by a definable historical consequence. We passed from history to our historical person crucified under Pontius Pilot. By becoming fact, it does not cease to be myth; That’s a miracle. I suspect the men have sometimes derived more spiritual sustenance from myths they did not believe then from the religion they’re professed”. That’s a huge insight to the call not to stop at Easter resurrection, but truly dwell on the mystery of a resurrected Christ bodily, I see Lewis’s exhortation of dwelling in the myth of Christ must be grasped by Christians today to be able to truly walking in the Spirit.

Lewis writes, “ A man who disbelieved the Christian story is fact but continually fed on it as myth would, perhaps, be more spiritually alive than one who assented” and did not think much about it”. There is so much truth to that because there are many people who just intellectually assented to the story of salvation and even believed in it but did not think much about it and which means it never changes their lives much at all. Compared to a person who disbelieve the Christian story but believe in the myth that came with it is, definitely potentially more spiritually alive person in a spiritual sense.

Lewis rightly says that those who do not know this great myth became fact when the virgin conceived or, indeed, to be pitied. I think America today is awash with people who don’t believe in the myth of Christianity but merely assented to it intellectually on a superficial level and that’s why we have this Easter bunnies overwhelming the resurrection of Christ. To the point that even White House refused any religious themes to Easter celebration this year.

Lewis writes, “Christians need to be reminded that what became fact was a myth, that it carries with it into the world of fact all the properties of a myth. God is more than a god, not less; Christ is more than Balder, not less. We must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting on our theology. We must not, in false spirituality, withhold our imaginative welcome. If God chooses to be mythopoeic- and it’s not the sky itself a myth- shall we refuse to be myopathic? For this is the marriage of heaven and earth; Perfect myth and perfect fact; Claiming not only our love and our obedience, but also our wonder in delight, addressed to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar, and the philosopher”.—I think Lewis just make Christianity so much more alive and personal, something not only to be obeyed and followed in obedience, and with love, but indeed with wonder and delight. That’s a huge contribution to humanity understanding of Christianity because no one, even though rejecting Christianity or just being ignorant, will reject delight and wonder in a religion. To deprive Christianity of wonder and delight is to make the God of miracles and love and passion into a stoic idle that doesn’t speak or move.

(Lewis, God in Dock, “Myth Became Fact.”)