VOP: Allah Is Not Abba

ALL>> There is a strange notion proffered by some theologians that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. This is precisely the teaching of Miroslav Volf, author of Allah – A Christian Response. In remembrance of the December San Bernardino terrorist attack, he will speak at the University of Redlands, Wednesday Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. as the Redlands Area Interfaith Council will host the event "Bridges to Peace from Ashes of Grief". Although we share a collective grief for the lost lives of December 2, it should be clearly understood that Allah is not Abba. Jesus prayed to God the Father as “Abba”, Aramaic for “daddy”, reflecting an affectionate and intimate relationship with God. The Apostle Paul taught that Christ-followers are not enslaved to God and need not fear God, but can pray to God as Abba (Romans 8:15). Abba loves sinners and offers forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. Although Allah is described in the Koran as merciful and compassionate, he hates sinners (Surah 2:276). His believers are considered as slaves whose deeds will be weighed on a scale with no certainty of forgiveness (Surah 23:101-103). Compare the fruits of Muhammad, the greatest prophet of Allah, and Jesus. Jesus never exempted Himself from the law, but perfectly lived by it. Muhammad frequently exempted himself from the law by virtue of convenient revelations from Allah. Jesus understood that the law was about love and urged mercy. Muhammad was a strict legalist who rarely showed mercy to those who violated the law. Jesus taught His followers to love and pray for their enemies. Muhammad taught his followers to kill, enslave, and torture their enemies (Surahs 9:29, 33:50, 5:33). Jesus never avenged insults or injuries and asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him. Muhammad routinely avenged insults and injuries. Jesus died to free and save the adversaries of God. Muhammad enslaved and killed those who were adversaries of Allah. Even Muhammad taught that Christians and Muslims do not worship the same god (Surah 10:104-106). To contend that Allah and Abba are the same is an insult to both religions. Dale Broome, Redlands Lawrence Paul Hebron, author of Islam Exposed