I keep hearing folks refer to a "Christian God". Do Christians worship a God different than the God of Abraham, whom Hebrews and Muslims also worship?
What is the difference, great or subtle, that I am missing here?
*If you choose to respond, I ask that you explain how this God is "Christian" from within Christian teachings; please refrain from simply using "their God is not our God" claims*
2006-07-28 07:05:28 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
All of the three theologies that have descended from Abraham worship the same God.
The Hebrew name YHWH was a formal name for God, but God was also referred to as "Abba," or "Father." Note that the name for God in the Islamic faith is "Allah," possibly meaning "Father" as well. In the Arabic writing, the letter "L" looks very much like the letter "B." It could be that the name "Allah" was derived from the use of the name "Abba."
The followers of Islam are traditionally descended from Ishmael, the son of Hagar and Abraham. The followers of Judaism are traditionally descendents of Isaac, son of Sarah and Abraham, whom Abraham chose as his legitimate heir. The descendents of Ishmael eventually founded the Islamic theology, under Mohammed, many years later.
Jesus was a Hebrew man, a follower of the traditions of Abraham. The name "Jesus" is in itself a Greek translation of "Yeshuah," or "Joshua." There is much speculation about his "missing years," but it is pretty well known throughout India that he had studied with Buddhist monks in that country. Traditionally, he worshipped the God of Abraham, but he also taught principles of kindness and compassion that are atributed to the Buddhists. There are many writings and sayings that are attributed to Jesus that are remarkably similar to those of Buddhist teachings.
Nonetheless, the three theologies that are descended from Abraham... Christianity, Islam and Judaism... all worship the same God... only the cultural practices of that worship are different.
2006-07-28 07:24:43 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It is the same as the God of Abraham. YHWH is the eternal father. Christians believe Jesus Christ is the messiah and son of God. The Jews are still waiting for the messiah. Christians also believe in the Holy Spirit
which is the spirit of God. So it is a truine view of God. I wonder if the burning bush that Moses saw in the desert would be a Jewish prespective of the Holy Spirit. Islam follows Allah which is a way to worship the God of Abraham as well. Most major branches of Christianity believe in the Trinity though there are groups that focus on Jesus and others that deny the Trinity like the Uniterians.
2006-07-28 07:18:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YHWH is the Hebrew spelling of God's name. I will include a link that talks about the Divine Name.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/na/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
It is widely accepted that YHWH is translated in English as Jehovah.
Jesus was a Jew, and as such, he worshipped Jehovah, YHWH, as the only true God. His followers, Christians, were likewise supposed to worship Jehovah, the Almighty God.
As a good dictionary will show you, “Allah” is a shortened form of the Arabic term meaning “the god.” Obviously, this is not a name.
Since Muslims say they worship the God of Abraham, and Jehovah is also called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, technically, he would be the same God.
However, the question now becomes, does God, no matter what his name is, accept all forms of worship, because there are many differences in these two religions. Many people believe that all religions are pleasing to God. I don't know what the Quran teaches, but the Bible does not teach that. It is not even enough just to claim to be a Christian. Jesus said: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.” To have God’s approval, therefore, we must learn what God requires of us and do it. Jesus called those who do not do God’s will “workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23) Like counterfeit money, false religion has no real value. Even worse, such religion is actually harmful.
2006-07-28 09:13:51 · answer #3 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We worship the God of Abraham which is the same God of the Muslims, but we believe in the Trinity.. God the Father (Yahweh or Allah) God the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We believe they are all one, and all separate at the same time.
Jews do not believe Jesus is the son of God, and Muslims believe in Mohammad as the sole prophet of Allah.
Also Jews have the Torah, very similar to the books of Moses, Muslims have the Koran, and Christians have the Bible, but mainly the New Testament. That is the main difference.
2006-07-28 07:11:52 · answer #4 · answered by ice_sickle007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jews, Muslims and Christians all worship the God of Abraham. Anyone who says otherwise is mistaken.
The difference is Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jews do not. Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet and there is no need for a Messiah.
Muslims also believe that man has corrupted the Holy Word which is the Judeo-Christian Bible. They believe the Archangel Michael dictated the correct version of the Holy Word (The Koran) to Mohammed.
2006-07-28 07:11:11 · answer #5 · answered by wiregrassfarmer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YHWH is simply the hebrew name of God (it means I AM; Exodus 3:14). If I remember right Allah is the aramic word for god. The God Christians and Jews worship is one and the same. The difference is in who they recognize as the Messiah.
2006-07-28 07:18:12 · answer #6 · answered by pax_rock2004 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem is not that we have started from the same ancient texts in Genesis the problem is that around 500AD a demon (called a Djinn) came to a man in the desert and forced him to RECITE some things that CONTRADICT these teachings (at first he tried to fight it but his wife seeing the PROFIT in it forced him to go back and consort with this Demon/Djinn some more) this demon did this to cause a BRANCHING off from the truth wich was that God had set a plan in motion that started with Abraham and Ends with Jesus. The Demons don't like this plan and have created many false religions to try and stop it but they keep failing . The Islamic Heresy is the best effort they have ever made but it is still just that a Lie of Satan. Remember a Lie always works best if you start with some sort of Truth to hang it on. In this case they started with the story of Abraham and the Promise made to him. They just Twisted that promise to divert attention away from the true plan.
Of course the Mohamadens pretty much say the same thing about Christians. So...
2006-07-28 07:13:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is too easy.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLAH.
Allah is NOT compassionate. Allah is NOT a living God. There is ONLY one true living God. Allah teaches violence to spread his religion. Now, don't get this mixed up by the Catholics that went on rampages. This IS NOT the God of the Bible.
There are Jews that have come to know Jesus Christ the Son of God - the Messiah. These are called Messianic Jews. The rest are still awaiting the Messiah. I pray for them that they come to understand Christ's purpose. Allah would not send his only son to die so that we don't have to live an eternal death.
You can easily derive this answer from a one day study of the Bible and the Koran.
Allah is a god but he is NOT God.
2006-07-28 07:13:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So here it is, Christians believe that God is the Father of Jesus our Savior wh came to earth to take the place of our sin. Hebrews do believe in the same God but do not believe in Jesus. They thought that when His coming was prophesied as a King and an Prince then he would not come to a lowly carpenter (Joseph and Mary) but that He would show up as a rich man with jewlery and power. They missed his coming and are still waiting for it. Now as for Yahweh it is God personal name and the Jehovah Witnesses believe that it is the only namefor God. They too do not believe that Jesus is God but a person who came and died on a cross for our sins (not devine). And for Muslims, I'm not too sure but I think that Allah is what they call God and they worship Muhammed who was a huge prophet to them.
2006-07-28 07:21:25 · answer #9 · answered by blinky1369 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians (most) believe that the God of Abraham and Isaac is the same God as is represented in the Trinity. In the Old Testament, if you're talking about Yaweh (YHWY) or Jehovah they are the same God, the Almighty, Abba Father. And the Father, Son and Spirit are one. (Trinity)
I don't know who the muslims worship. allah is not in the Old Testament, unless the name is translated differently than allah.
2006-07-28 07:16:28 · answer #10 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is different from the God of Judaism and Islam. The Christian God is made up of the Trinity, which consists of God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. "The Father" is probably the God of Judaism and Islam. The God of Judaism and Islam is One and Only One. This is stressed in Islam, there's even a whole chapter (but a relatively short one) on it, which is Al-Ikhlas, which states:
"Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. "
(112:1-4)
Oh, and please don't believe the lies of the other answers before or after mine about Allah. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
2006-07-28 07:14:29 · answer #11 · answered by haterhater 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋