What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?

I don't normally listen to BBC Radio 2!  However, I awoke very early this morning and, for some reason, my MP3/Radio, that had been left on Radio 4, was on 2.  I hadn't even realised that from 0600 to 0800 there is a 'Sunday programme' but, there it was - the 'God-spot'!

It was the end of a report on a training day on Discipleship and Diversity to be held, next month, under the auspices of Scripture Union - a well-known Christian (and evangelical) organisation.  What surprised me was learning that it was part of Youth Encounter - designed to help Christians and Muslims learn about and reflect on youth work in a multi-faith context. 


Now it must be admitted that Christianity and Islam do have certain things in common.  Both believe in the existence of a Creator God; both hold the written Word of God in high regard; both give a special prominence to Jesus of Nazareth; both anticipate a 'heaven' and a 'hell'. 

However, the differences are very important.  The Allah (not, by the way, a name; but simply the Arabic word that I would translate into the English language as 'god') is not the God of the Bible.  The Islamic conception of Allah is of a distant deity who has arranged the fate of every human being - a fate that cannot be avoided.  In Islam, it is the Qur'an that is claimed to be the final written revelation of God.  In Islam, Jesus is an honoured prophet  - but no more than that (and, of course, second in importance to Mohammad).  In Islam, it is my actions in life that determine whether I spend the after-life in heaven or hell.


The Gospel provides a totally different picture.  Almighty God is not a distant deity.  He is One Who is intimately involved in His creation.  For the Christian, it is the Bible - both the Old Testament and the New Testament - that contains His written Word.  Jesus, of course, is God incarnate - God 'clothing' Himself in human flesh.  He is the pre-eminent One; "... the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him [Father] God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through Him and for Him.  He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.  Christ is also the Head of the church, which is His body.  He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.  For [Father] God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Jesus, [Father] God reconciled
everything to Himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." (Col 1:15-20).

The Gospel also makes clear that I can never earn my salvation by my own good works.  "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." (Eph 2:8-10).


So, while I am all for dialogue with anyone, I am concerned that someone in S.U. may have forgotten that clear injunction given to the early church in Corinth: "Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?  What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?  And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: 'I will live in them
and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says YHWH.   Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says YHWH Shaddai.'" (II Cor 6:14-18).


If S.U. is encouraging an involvement with Muslims, then surely it should be, not to work together, but to work (and pray) for their salvation!   It should be to introduce them to Jesus, not merely as a prophet, but as Saviour, and Lord, and God.  It should be to lead them to the One Who said, "I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).

I plan to send this post to S.U. headquarters for comment.  I will report, at a later date, on any response that I may receive!