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Chrislam

The Deceptive Joining of Christianity and Islam

Imagine, for a moment, one faith and one family. Imagine living in unison with everyone without the hassle of trying to get along. Imagine your family, friends, and coworkers sharing the same convictions with no disputes and no misunderstandings. Discord among the brethern and hurt feelings would be a distant memory. The world would be at peace, and you would be living in a new reality made possible by a unifying faith.

Pope Francis embraces these imaginings and speaks about them often. Many agree with him. He wants to remove barriers of division from among all faiths. This new dream for unity would allow believers, regardless of faith and tradition and nation, to join as soul mates vowing to build one global community sharing one faith.

These are inspiring words from the Pope, and an increasing number of believers feel the tug to unite in singleness of one faith and one fellowship. It would feel so right and so now, a desirable change from the way things are today. As proof of the tug, evangelicals are hearing the call to come home. Last December Kenneth Copeland and other evangelicals (who share the Pope's vision) were so moved by the Pope's appeal they promised to join him in "prayer and spirit" to unite as brothers in Christ (Source).

Advocates of Chrislam agree the call to join in one faith is venerable and even principled, but also essential if all are to walk the same path to rid the world of strife caused by clashing beliefs. Opponents of Chrislam argue a path to oneness in faith is unattainable, citing Amos 3:3 as the reason. Perhaps the opponents fail to recall the Bible says it will happen (Revelation 17:1-18). Chrislam is possible because Revelation says it will happen; and, by the looks of things presently under construction. But, how is such a pathway built to bring so many into one body of faith?

It begins with compromise, which is not always a bad thing. But, what a person chooses to give up or accept could be and herein the need for close examination (Acts 17:11). The Bible warns about compromise and especially when it means giving up the redemptive message of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writes, "Beware lest anyone deceive you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

Chrislam is all about compromise. One high profile leader invested in this movement is Rick Warren. Now the End Begins, a Christian web site exposing Chrislam, posted:

Rick Warren, founder and pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County California, addressed the convention of the Islamic Society of North America. Warren stated that Muslims and Christians must work together to combat stereotypes, promote peace and freedom, and solve global problems. Christians and Moslems — faith mates, soul mates and now work mates! Chrislam! (Source)

The founding principle for justifying compromise, to work together as soul mates, comes from the idea that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. Do they?

In support of this belief:

Pope Francis prayed silently alongside a senior Islamic cleric in Istanbul's Blue Mosque...Francis took off his shoes as he entered the huge mosque, before bowing his head in prayer for several minutes, facing Mecca and standing next to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaran, in what a Vatican spokesman described as a joint "moment of silent adoration" of God. (Source)

Earlier last year, the Pope said in an appeal to Turkey's President Erdogan and others:

To this end, it is essential that all citizens — Muslim and Christian — both in the provision and practice of the law, enjoy the same rights and respect the same duties. They will then find it easier to see each other as brothers and sisters who are travelling the same path, seeking always to reject misunderstandings while promoting cooperation and concord. (Source)

While the call to join is global and includes all faiths, this call is really all about giving up truth that divides to embrace truth that unites. Jesus did not come to unite light with darkness nor believers with unbelievers; he came to divide by calling out a remnant from the world for His name sake (Luke 12:51; Romans 11:5; 2 Corinthians 6:17).

Is Chrislam becoming center stage and a growing reality? Its leaders think so because they are working tirelessly making this new faith a global answer to the woes of humanity. While their cause may be noble, their greatest challenge is to justify the need for one faith by promoting what is common among all faiths.

The problem for the architects of Chrislam is the exclusiveness of the Gospel. They don't like what the Bible says about one way to God. Such an idea is a road block. The Bible says there is one path to God, a truth that is not open for reinterpretation. Some of the verses reminding us of this fundamental truth and its incompatibility with Islam follow.

• Jesus is one with the Father (John 10:30). He is the only Begotten Son of God and the sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29). Islam disagrees, saying that Jesus was a prophet to prepare the coming of Muhammad, stripping Jesus of his Divinity and role as Savior. Stripping Jesus of his divinity began 2,000 years ago when they tore off his robe. Today the stripping continues as they remove his robe of divine claim by promoting movies and television specials that fail to acknowledge him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

• The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). "Islam asserts that Jesus, though born of a virgin, was created like Adam and is not the only way. Muslims do not believe Jesus died on the cross. They do not understand why Allah would allow His prophet Isa (the Islamic word for 'Jesus') to die a torturous death. Yet the Bible shows how and explains why the death of the perfect Son of God was essential to pay for the sins of believers (Isaiah 53:5-6; John 3:16; 14:6; 1 Peter 2:24)." (Source)

• The Bible says Jesus saves by grace through faith and never by what can be done to earn salvation (John 3:16; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8)...Islamic salvation is only possible by obeying the Five Pillars of Islam and then there is no guarantee Allah will show mercy and save you.

• Jesus says love your enemy (Matthew 5:44). Muhammad says kill your enemy (Quran (2:191-193).

• Muslims earn their salvation and Catholics also stress the need for good works to prove one's faith is genuine. But, the apostle James says if faith is real, good works will follow the believer without need for proving it (James 2:18).

These verses (and there are many others not cited) make up the cornerstone of the Gospel. These truths are nonnegotiable. There can be no omissions of these truths from one's faith. These verses are fundamental to the Christian eternal life. To remove or change the meaning of any one verse begins the transformation of the Gospel into another gospel (1 Corinthians 15: 1-2; Galatians 1:8).

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Published 1-7-15