A continuation of the Evangelical/Mormon dialogue started with the book “How Wide The Divide” by Craig Blomberg and Stephen Robinson and continued in “Bridging The Divide” by Robert L Millet and Gregory C.V. Johnson.

Dr. Robert L. Millet is professor of religious education at BYU and Dr. Gerald R. McDemott is professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College and teaching pastor at St/ John Lutheran Church.  <<Read my review>>        *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -“Jesus, The Final Days”

One of my major concerns in this issue is that the two religions have major differences in their theological definitions of God. Using the Islamic name would not bring clarification but rather confusion from my perspective. Many Christian teachers question whether we are even talking about the same God when Muslims refer to Allah and Christians to the God of the Bible.

The Arabic name ‘Allah’ started out as a designation for the ‘Moon god’ before Muhammad appropriated it and used it in the Koran. While it is true that Muslims claim that it is a designation for the God of creation portrayed in the Bible, Allah of the Koran seems to have many characteristics which are different than God in the Bible, and vastly different than the Triune God of Christianity.

While missionaries working among Arabic speaking or Islamic populations may need to use ‘Allah’ when refering to God and even in Bible translations; that does not mean that the name ‘Allah’ should be used world wide as a substitute for the God of the Bible. Christians should be particularly careful in this regard, to avoid a syncretistic definition of God.

Here is a link to an article where Dr. Albert Mohler is quoted on this issue. He has similar concerns and makes several good points.                 *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Dueling Jesuses: Isa of Islam Vs. The Son of God of Christianity

While Christians believe that God The Father is a Spiritual Being that transcends our universe and has universal presence.  Mormons teach that God the Father has a more physical presence. A ‘spiritual body’ similar to what Jesus received at the resurrection. A presence that can be seen and even touched.   Bruce McConkie states it this way:

God the Father is a glorified and perfected Man.  A Personage of flesh and bones (D.& C. 130:22), in which tangible body an eternal spirit is housed.  It is in this sense that God is a Spirit.” (Mormon Doctrine, pg 318-19)

Evangelical Christians believe what Jesus taught in John 4:21-24, that God the Father is a Spirit that is not limited to any particular location.  Mormons counter that the passage was not ‘translated’ correctly and changes were probably made to the text.

Some LDS point to Joseph Smith’s own ‘translation’ of the Bible (though not an official LDS church book) which reads substantially different (See: Inspired Version, John 4:25-26).  However, a study of Smith’s work clearly shows that he did no real ‘translating’ but merely made changes in his copy of the King James Version, crossing out words that he disagreed with, and adding new words and passages that agree with his own teaching and understanding.  To be fair, Mormons believe that he was ‘inspired’ by God to make the changes.

For a good understanding of the Evangelical Christian view, see: Grudem, Systematic Theology pgs 186-190

Click here and see: ‘Sources‘ -For a bibliography of the references in this article.

*Top