I.

Keith Small: Introduction

Muslims and Christians, though they have different views of God, are united on appreciating the significance of tonight’s topic. For us, having a correct understanding of God puts all of the rest of life in perspective. It is what provides a sure anchor in times of trouble and gives us a hope for the life to come after death. Also, many have noted that people become like the God they serve. There is an intrinsic link between the character and nature of what we worship, and the character and nature we in turn come to have. The answers to questions like, “What kind of a world do we want to live in?" "How do we want people to treat each other?" "What is right and what is wrong?" all, in the end, come to be based on the view of God that we hold. This is one of the truly fundamental issues of life that each of us ought to wrestle with. It is a question that determines the shape of your life, as well as the shape of cultures we live in.

One man has wisely said,

"Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold(ed), as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul."[1]

Tonight, we have the opportunity to wrestle in our minds with the two conceptions of God offered to us by the two great historic religions, Islam and Christianity. Though many facets of their view of God are similar, in the end, they come to be views of two different beings; beings with different natures and characters, and beings that differ in how they relate to mankind. It is the responsibility of each of us to consider both views of God and consider as best as we can, which is the truth.

We must use our best abilities of critical thinking and address each view with the hardest and best questions possible. Also, we would do well to ask our questions with sympathy, respect, and sensitivity to each other’s views. Christians and Muslims both have strong senses as to what constitutes blasphemy, and too easily in our zeal we can offend and inflame emotions. We must each decide to not be offended easily, to be patient and calm if we hear something offensive. Recent events have reminded us that many Muslims take great offence at criticism concerning Muhammad. Christians likewise take great offence at denials of the divinity of Christ. Let us listen to each other with patience and sympathy, and learn.

As a Christian, I believe that

"Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God’s attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are. We must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. It is for this purpose that revelation was given, and it is to this use that we must put it."[2]

 I am here to give you a Christian view of God from the Bible, with the hope that it will bring you closer to Him..