Defending Christianity: Engaging with Islam Through Apologetics

 

Summary

In this talk, I delve into the task of Christian apologetics, particularly in relation to Islam and our interactions with Muslims. Apologetics, derived from the Greek word "apologia," means a reasoned defense of the faith, not an apology. The apostle Peter emphasized the importance of being ready to make a defense for the hope we have, and this is especially relevant when engaging with Islam, which challenges many of our core beliefs about God, Jesus, the Bible, sin, and salvation.

Christian apologetics involves both defense and offense. In defense, we address objections to the Christian faith, while in offense, we demonstrate why opposing views are mistaken. I highlight four common objections Muslims have against Christianity and provide responses to each. First, the misconception that Christians believe in three gods, which stems from a misunderstanding of the Trinity. We believe in one God existing in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Second, the objection to the idea of God having a son, which arises from a misunderstanding of divine Sonship. Third, the claim that Jesus never professed divinity, which overlooks the ways Jesus claimed equality with God. Fourth, the belief that the Bible has been corrupted, while the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved, which is countered by evidence of textual variants in both scriptures.

On the offense side, I present four major problems with the claims of Islam. The Qur'an undermines itself by both affirming and contradicting earlier scriptures, creating a fundamental contradiction. It denies the crucifixion of Jesus, contradicting historical evidence. It misrepresents Christian doctrines, such as the Trinity, and shows little knowledge of the New Testament. These issues challenge the credibility of the Qur'an's claims.

Ultimately, when comparing the Bible and the Qur'an, the historical and theological credibility of the Bible stands out. Our task is to engage in apologetics with love for God, truth, and our fellow humans, aiming to remove obstacles to belief in the good news.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding Apologetics: Apologetics is about providing a reasoned defense of the Christian faith, not apologizing for it. It involves engaging with opposing views, particularly in the context of Islam, to clarify misconceptions and present the truth of Christianity. This task is rooted in love for God, truth, and others. [00:19]

2. Defense and Offense in Apologetics: Effective apologetics requires both defense and offense. Defense involves addressing objections to Christianity, while offense involves demonstrating the flaws in opposing views. This dual approach helps in presenting a comprehensive case for the Christian faith. [02:25]

3. Misunderstandings of the Trinity: A common objection from Muslims is the belief that Christians worship three gods. This stems from a misunderstanding of the Trinity. Christians believe in one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Clarifying this can help address misconceptions. [04:30]

4. Historical Evidence of Jesus' Crucifixion: The Qur'an's denial of Jesus' crucifixion contradicts historical evidence. Even skeptical scholars affirm the historicity of the crucifixion. This discrepancy challenges the Qur'an's credibility and highlights the reliability of the New Testament accounts. [16:45]

5. The Qur'an's Misrepresentation of Christian Doctrines: The Qur'an not only contradicts but also misrepresents Christian doctrines, such as the Trinity. This misrepresentation raises questions about the Qur'an's divine inspiration, as it fails to accurately portray core Christian beliefs. [18:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:19] - Introduction to Apologetics
- [00:52] - Biblical Basis for Apologetics
- [01:25] - Apologetics and Islam
- [01:59] - Motivation for Apologetics
- [02:25] - Defense and Offense in Apologetics
- [02:58] - Common Muslim Objections
- [03:28] - Misunderstanding the Trinity
- [05:00] - Divine Sonship Clarified
- [06:38] - Jesus' Divinity in the Gospels
- [08:45] - Preservation of Scriptures
- [11:12] - Problems with Islamic Claims
- [12:47] - Qur'an's Contradictions
- [16:45] - Historical Evidence of Crucifixion
- [18:12] - Misrepresentation of Christian Doctrines
- [19:39] - Qur'an's Knowledge of the New Testament
- [21:38] - Conclusion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Observation Questions:

1. What does the term "apologia" mean, and how is it relevant to Christian apologetics? [00:19]
2. How does the sermon describe the dual approach of defense and offense in apologetics? [02:25]
3. What are the four common objections Muslims have against Christianity as mentioned in the sermon? [02:58]
4. How does the Qur'an's portrayal of the Trinity differ from the Christian understanding? [04:30]

Interpretation Questions:

1. Why is it important for Christians to understand and clarify the doctrine of the Trinity when engaging in apologetics with Muslims? [04:30]
2. How does the historical evidence of Jesus' crucifixion challenge the claims made in the Qur'an? [16:45]
3. What implications does the Qur'an's misrepresentation of Christian doctrines have on its credibility as a divinely inspired text? [18:12]
4. How does the lack of New Testament knowledge in the Qur'an affect its claim to be a continuation of previous scriptures? [19:39]

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you had to defend your faith. How did you approach the conversation, and what would you do differently now? [01:25]
2. How can you prepare yourself to engage in apologetics with love and respect, especially when discussing sensitive topics like religion? [01:59]
3. What steps can you take to better understand the doctrine of the Trinity so you can explain it clearly to others? [04:30]
4. How can you use historical evidence to strengthen your faith and share it with others who may be skeptical? [16:45]
5. In what ways can you address misconceptions about Christianity in your community or social circles? [18:12]
6. How can you ensure that your discussions about faith are rooted in truth and understanding rather than confrontation? [19:39]
7. Identify a Muslim friend or acquaintance. How can you engage them in a respectful conversation about faith, focusing on common ground and understanding? [01:59]

Devotional

Day 1: The Essence of Apologetics
Apologetics is not about apologizing for one's faith but about providing a reasoned defense of it. This involves engaging with opposing views, particularly in the context of Islam, to clarify misconceptions and present the truth of Christianity. The task of apologetics is rooted in love for God, truth, and others. It requires a deep understanding of one's own beliefs and the ability to communicate them effectively. By doing so, Christians can help remove obstacles to belief and invite others to explore the hope found in the gospel. [00:19]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: How can you prepare yourself to give a reasoned defense of your faith in your daily interactions with others?


Day 2: The Dual Approach of Apologetics
Effective apologetics requires both defense and offense. Defense involves addressing objections to Christianity, while offense involves demonstrating the flaws in opposing views. This dual approach helps in presenting a comprehensive case for the Christian faith. By understanding and responding to common objections, Christians can engage in meaningful conversations that challenge misconceptions and highlight the truth of the gospel. This approach is not about winning arguments but about lovingly guiding others toward the truth. [02:25]

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV): "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

Reflection: What are some common objections to Christianity you encounter, and how can you lovingly address them in your conversations?


Day 3: Clarifying the Trinity
A common objection from Muslims is the belief that Christians worship three gods, which stems from a misunderstanding of the Trinity. Christians believe in one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Clarifying this can help address misconceptions and open the door to deeper discussions about the nature of God. By explaining the Trinity in a clear and compassionate manner, Christians can help others see the unity and diversity within the Godhead and the relational nature of God. [04:30]

Colossians 2:9 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."

Reflection: How can you explain the concept of the Trinity in a way that is both clear and compassionate to someone unfamiliar with it?


Day 4: The Crucifixion and Historical Evidence
The Qur'an's denial of Jesus' crucifixion contradicts historical evidence. Even skeptical scholars affirm the historicity of the crucifixion. This discrepancy challenges the Qur'an's credibility and highlights the reliability of the New Testament accounts. By understanding and presenting the historical evidence for Jesus' crucifixion, Christians can engage in meaningful conversations that affirm the truth of the gospel and the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. [16:45]

Acts 2:23-24 (ESV): "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."

Reflection: How does the historical evidence of Jesus' crucifixion strengthen your faith, and how can you share this evidence with others?


Day 5: Addressing Misrepresentations of Christian Doctrines
The Qur'an not only contradicts but also misrepresents Christian doctrines, such as the Trinity. This misrepresentation raises questions about the Qur'an's divine inspiration, as it fails to accurately portray core Christian beliefs. By addressing these misrepresentations, Christians can engage in conversations that clarify misunderstandings and present the truth of the gospel. This involves a commitment to understanding both the Christian faith and the beliefs of others, fostering respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. [18:12]

Jude 1:3 (ESV): "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

Reflection: What steps can you take to better understand and address misrepresentations of Christian doctrines in your conversations with others?

Quotes


In the defense, we are answering objections to the Christian faith. In the offense, we're showing why our opponents' views are mistaken. Now in one short talk, I can't cover all the objections that Muslims level against the Christian faith, nor can I discuss all of the objections that we could level against the claims of Islam, so I am going to have to be quite selective here. [00:02:46]

I'm going to mention four common Muslim objections, and I'll give a brief response to each one, and then I will outline what I think are four very serious problems with the claims of Islam, which show it to be a false religion. So let's start with the defense, answering objections. Here's the first objection one hears from Muslims: "Christians believe in three Gods. They're polytheists." Christians believe in three Gods. [00:03:07]

Now where do Muslims get this idea from? Well, the Qur'an. The Qur'an says this. I already read from sura 4, verse 171: "People of the book," addressing this to Christians, "believe in God and his messengers and do not speak of a Trinity," literally say not three. "Stop this. That is better for you. God is only one God." And then in sura 5, verse 73: "Those people who say that God is the third of three are defying the truth. There is only one God." [00:03:41]

So you see how the Qur'an perpetuates this idea. Elsewhere the Qur'an identifies these three Gods as Allah, Jesus, and Mary. Now, if you are a Muslim and that's what you think Christians believe, then no wonder you think that Christians are polytheists and idolaters and guilty of the sin of shirk. But all this is based on a misunderstanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. [00:04:13]

And so in order to answer this objection, we simply have to help Muslims to understand what Christians really believe about the Trinity. We believe that there is only one God, but that one God exists in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So we don't believe in three gods, and we don't join partners with God. Jesus isn't a second god; He is the same God as God the Father. [00:04:41]

Here's a second objection that Muslims raise: "It's ridiculous and blasphemous to suggest that Allah would have a son," ridiculous and blasphemous to suggest that Allah would have a son. Well, this arises from another misunderstanding of Christian beliefs, specifically a misunderstanding about the nature of divine Sonship within the Trinity. [00:05:19]

When Muslims, especially Arabic-speaking ones, when they hear the title Son of God, they typically think of "son" in biological, procreative terms. They think that Christians believe that Allah somehow procreated with a woman, Mary, and produced a son, Jesus. No wonder they think it's ridiculous and blasphemous. So would we. But again, our response should be to help Muslims understand that is not what Christians believe, or have ever believed. [00:05:57]

The relationship between God the Father and God the Son is a unique, eternal, spiritual relationship that bears only an analogical relation to human father-son relationships. Here's a third objection that one hears: "Jesus never claimed to be God. The idea that Jesus was divine was a later development." Muslims have been taught that Jesus never claimed divinity for himself, but that was an idea that developed centuries later and was probably forced on the church by the emperor Constantine at the Council of Nicaea. [00:06:15]

And they'll point to the four Gospels in our New Testament, and they'll say, "Where does Jesus ever say, 'I am God.'" And the answer is of course, nowhere. We don't find those words on his lips. The odd thing is that Christians, or rather Muslims, are also taught that Christians have corrupted their Gospels and have introduced their own aberrant teachings about the deity of Jesus, in which case you might want to ask them, "Well, why don't we find Jesus saying 'I am God' in the Gospels? [00:06:51]

If we've changed the Gospels to add the deity of Jesus, why wouldn't we put that in there?" But what we really need to explain is that there are other ways of claiming divinity without uttering the words, "I am God," which would actually have been utterly confusing to people at that time and quite counterproductive to Jesus' mission. What we do find in the Gospels is Jesus claiming to be equal with God in power and authority. [00:07:20]

That is, Jesus ascribes to Himself divine attributes and divine prerogatives. To put it in Muslim terms, it looks like Jesus in the Gospels commits shirk, and the Jews of Jesus' day recognized that because they accused Him of blasphemy for proclaiming Himself to be equal with God. So we need to encourage Muslims to take a closer, more careful look at what Jesus says. [00:07:59]

Here's a fourth objection, a very common objection one hears from Muslims: "The Bible has been changed, but the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved." The Bible has been changed, but the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved. Although the Qur'an affirms earlier scriptures given to Jews and Christians, it also suggests that Jews and Christians have twisted and corrupted their own scriptures. [00:08:41]

Over time, this became a major component of Muslim polemics, that the Christian scriptures have been corrupted so that they now teach falsehoods about Jesus and contradict the Qur'an. This is often reinforced by Muslims reading the work of skeptical scholars like Bart Ehrman, who argued that the text of the Bible has been changed at points by the scribes who copied it, sometimes accidentally, sometimes intentionally, so that we now have thousands and thousands of different versions of the biblical text. [00:09:06]

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Transcript
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