Dawah To Christians Part II

The Bible

Most Christians have not read the Bible, many have read small parts, most have only heard sections or verses mentioned in Church sermons. Their belief in Christian theology is most often very weak. Often times they have their own interpretations, thus, it is best to find out the status of their beliefs prior to beginning discussion, if possible.

The basic concept of Christianity: God bore a son who was Himself and He allowed Himself to be sacrificed to Himself to free humankind of their sins.

A Simple Approach

Logic: A=B, B=C, therefore A=C

Ask the Christian: “Could you ever become God?”

He should reply: “No, because I am a human being.”

Ask the Christian: “Was Jesus a human being?”

He should reply: “Yes.”

Inform the Christian: “Therefore, he could never be God.”

The Baby God

Christian insists that Jesus was the son of God, but that he and God are one and the same.

Inform the Christian: “Cows have calves; little cows. Cats have kittens; little cats.

Humans have children; little humans. When God has a son, what is he? A little God? If

so, you have two Gods.”

For Catholics (Most Filipinos) who say: “Jesus was the son of God and not God.”

Ask the Catholic: “Don’t you say: Holy Mary Mother of God in your novena?”

He should reply: “Yes”

Ask the Catholic: “If Mary was the Mother of God, what was her son but a god?”

Ask the Catholic: “Where is Mary referred to as Mother of God in the New Testament?”

Ask the Catholic: “Can God have a mother?”

Distinguish between Jesus and God

Ask the Christian: “When Jesus prayed, to whom did he pray? Himself?”

Ask the Christian: “When Jesus was resurrected, according to your beliefs, where is he now? Sitting on the right hand of God? If so, how could he be God?”

If God is able to do anything, He could become a Man and have a Son

Logically speaking, the answer is no because the concept of God becoming man contradicts the basic meaning of the term “God.” People commonly say that God is able to do all things; whatever He wants to do, He can do. In the Bible of Christians it is said, “… through God all things are possible (Matthew, 19: 26; Mark 10: 27, 14: 36).” The Qur’aan of Muslims states, “Indeed, Allah (God) is able to do all things (Qur’aan, 2: 20),” and the Hindu scriptures carry texts of similar meanings.

All the major religious texts contain general expressions regarding the basic concept of God’s omnipotence. He is Greater than all things, and through Him all things are possible. If this general concept is to be translated into practical terms, one has to first identify and understand the basic attributes of God. Most societies perceive God as an eternal being without beginning or end. If, on the basis that God is able to do all things, and it were asked whether God could die, what would be the answer? Since dying is part of “all things,” can it be said, “If He wants to?” Of course this cannot be said. So, there is a problem here. God is defined as being ever-living, without end, and dying means “coming to an end.” Consequently, to ask if He can die is actually a nonsensical question. It is self-contradictory. Similarly, to ask whether God can be born, is also absurd because God has already been defined as eternal, having no beginning. Being born means having a beginning, coming into existence after not existing. In this same vein, atheist philosophers enjoy asking theists: “Can God create a stone too heavy for Him to lift?” If the theist says yes, it means that God can create something greater than Himself. And if he says no, it means that God is unable to do all things.

Therefore, the term “all things” in the phrase “God is able to do all things” excludes the absurdities. It  cannot include things that contradict His divine attributes; things that would make Him less than God, like, forgetting, sleeping, repenting, growing, eating, etc. Instead, it includes only “all things” that are consistent with Him being God. This is what the statement “God is able to do all things” means. It cannot be  understood in the absolute sense; it must be qualified.

The claim that God became man is also an absurdity. It is not befitting of God to take on human characteristics because it means that the Creator has become His creation. However, the creation is a product of the creative act of the Creator. If the Creator became His creation, it would mean that the Creator created Himself, which is an obvious absurdity. To be created, He would first have to not exist, and, if He did not exist, how could He then create? Furthermore, if He were created, it would mean that He had a beginning, which also contradicts His being eternal. By definition creation is in need of a creator. For created beings to exist they must have a creator to bring them into existence. God cannot need a creator because God is the Creator. Thus, there is an obvious contradiction in terms. The claim that God became His creation implies that He would need a creator, which is a ludicrous concept. It contradicts the fundamental concept of God being uncreated, needing no creator and being the Creator.

Jesus’ Miracles

Many Christians are under the impression that Jesus’ miracles were unique to himself and thus constitute evidence for his divinity. However, the majority of Jesus’ miracles are recorded in the Old Testaments as having been done by earlier Prophets.

Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes.	Elisha fed 100 people with twenty barley loaves and a few ears of corn (II Kings 4:44)
Jesus healed lepers.	Elisha cured Naaman the leper (II Kings 5:14).
Jesus caused the blind to see.	Elisha caused the blind to see (II Kings 6:17&20).
Jesus raised the dead	Elijah did the same (I Kings 17:22). So did Elisha (II Kings 4:34). Even Elisha’s bones could restore the dead (II Kings 13:21).
Jesus walked on water.	Moses and his people crossed the dead sea (Exodus 14:22).

Furthermore, there are also texts in the New Testament which confirm that Jesus did not act on his own. Jesus is quoted in John 5:30, as saying: “I can of mine own self do nothing...” and in Luke 11:20, as saying, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you.” In Acts 2:22, Paul writes: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know...”