Should Christians tolerate Muslims?
This question is sparking heated debates worldwide with proponents of "Chrislam," or the combination of Christianity and Islam, claiming that the Islamic term "Allah" translates as "god."
However, they fail to point out that Allah and the Christian God are not the same deity, according to Charisma News.
The debate gained more fuel when Wheaton College in Illinois, which is run by evangelical Christians, suspended Christian professor Larycia Hawkins for boldly claiming that Muslims and Christians worship the same god. Hawkins even wore a hijab for the holidays this year to show solidarity with Islam.
Hawkins is definitely not alone in her beliefs. In fact, even Pope Francis, the head of the 1.2-billion Roman Catholics in the world, publicly stated in his recent visit to Africa that Muslims and Christians are "brothers and sisters."
Following terrorist attacks in Paris, San Bernardino and other cities, millions of people adhering to various religions gathered for "interfaith" services.
However, many evangelical leaders believe that "tolerance" of Islam and promoting "Chrislam" are simply wrong.
Promoting this concept, they say, would spell doom for America as they ignore the truth of the Gospel.
Evangelist Franklin Graham, one of the foremost evangelical leaders, is firmly against "Chrislam."
In a recent Facebook post, Graham wrote: "Can you believe this Wheaton College professor who says she's going to wear a hijab for the holidays this year to show solidarity with Islam? Shame on her!
"She said that Muslims and Christians worship the same god. Well she is absolutely wrong—she obviously doesn't know her Bible and she doesn't know Islam."
Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said it cannot be denied that the three major monotheistic religions in the world — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — share some major theological beliefs, according to Charisma News.
"All three religions affirm that there is only one God and that he has spoken to us by divine revelation. All three religions point to what each claims to be revealed scriptures," he said, adding that "historically, Jews and Christians and Muslims have affirmed many points of agreement on moral teachings."
However, that is where the comparison ends, Mohler said.
What needs to be pointed out, he said, is that there is no genetic link between Christianity and Islam.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born to a virgin to fulfill God's promises. He was crucified, resurrected and will return once more. Jesus is one of three in the trinity, therefore, He is God, as well.
Muslims totally reject these beliefs and consider those who utter them to be guilty of blasphemy against their Allah, Mohler said.
