A Precursory Look at What Chrislam is & What it Teaches
In American Christianity and Christianity outside the United States there is a movement to try and bring two polar opposite religions together; Christianity and Islam. There is an attempt to synchronize their basic tenants of beliefs into one. As amazing as this attempt to ecumenicalize the two might seem to a true follower of either Christianity or Islam, who knows what their faith teaches, this movement is gathering momentum and warrants some serious looking into from both followers of Christianity and Islam alike.
Before we get into the what, where, why and who of Chrislam there is a simple logical proof that can disprove this attempted synchronization of these two religions. This prove is as follows; All religions can be false but not all religions can be true. Hence making only one religion true. Which as Christians we know Christianity it that one true religion and not Islam. Therefore when we try and synchronize any two different opposing religions together including Christianity and Islam to make the new religion of Chrislam it will automatically fail because only one of them can be true and not both of them or both of them mixed together to make one. Him
Now to understand what Chrislam is we must first know what the word Chrislam means in the context in which we are defining it as. The word Chrislam has several different meanings depending on its cultural context. First it can mean “The Will of God Mission” or “The True Message of God Mission.” Secondly It can mean “Oke-Tude” which means “The Mountain of Loosing Bondage found in Yoruba or Ifeoluwa Mission (Ifeoluwa is a Yoruba word meaning "God's Love").[1] The Third option is what we will be focusing our concerns on for this article. Chrislam in this third meaning of the word is a Nigerian synergetic religion which mixes elements of both Christianity and Islam.
Now that we have deciphered the correct cultural textual meaning of Chrislam and its origins in a religious nature lets take a brief look at where it got its roots and where it is now. While it began in Nigeria in the 1980’s, the Chrislamic ideas have spread throughout much of the world by the later part of the century. It can be found being taught in major epicenters in Western European countries and cities. It as also spread to parts of Africa and South America. With the spreading of this movement to various parts the world it is now trying to gain a foot hold here in the United States. Chrislam is being introduced within the United States by via seeker friendly mega Churches like Northwoods in Keller TX. Who back in September 18, 2011 held a Chrislam gathering at their church (See actual bulletin here http://www.northwoodchurch.org/event_details.php?id=261.) This movement has also been popularized by Pastors like Rick Warren founder and pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County California. While Warren will outwardly deny the support of Chrislam when questioned about it in the open, his actions speak otherwise. Just recently Warren addressed the convention of the Islamic Society of North America. In which Warren stated that Muslims and Christians must work together to combat stereotypes, promote peace and freedom, and to solve global problems. Christians and Muslims we are faith mates, soul mates and now we are work mates! He than went on to say in his speech to Muslims; “Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.” We can see that the spread of Chrislam in the United States is forthcoming and deliberately being marginalized by popular pastors like Bob Roberts of NorthWoods church and Rick Warren as just a “social outreach” towards others in the community. While they marginalize this movement as a “social outreach” there is something much more sinister going on here. That is in what Chrislam teaches at it core.
To fully understand what Chrislam is we must understand what Chrislam teaches. Chrislam uses both the Bible and Qur’an and sees them both as holy texts. During the worship service, verses are read from both the Bible and the Qur'an. According to Ebenezer Edohasim, a man who worshipped with the Chrislamic people, there was no friction between the two religions and both texts were accepted by the congregation as true. The people of the congregation are also free to shout out the name of Allah or God in worship. The Chrislamic people believe that Muhammad, Moses, and Jesus were all great prophets and we need to love them all.[2] During the times of Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, and other Christian and Islamic religions celebrations, both are accepted and celebrated without judgment or hostility. Inside their place of worship there is an altar similar to those built by Abraham where the worshippers pray and seek the face of God. There are prayers going on here most of the day. [3] Question to be asked here is what god are they praying to? It is sure not the God of the Bible, it’s a very different god a demonic one at best.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this article not all religions can be true they can all be false. This is where that logical proof I mentioned earlier comes into play. We know that all religions can be false but not all can be true, so that mean logically only one can be true (Christianity.) Both Christianity and Islam at their very core are different religions one is of peace (Christianity) and the other rooted in violence (Islam). Hence both are not compatible at their basic rudimentary theological standings one must be true and the other false. They can not be compatible as preached by Chrislamic supporters. We can see in Islam’s own teachings the two can never be reconciled. First of all Islam adamantly rejects the deity of Christ. The Qur’an declares the idea that Jesus is God to be blasphemy (5:17). Belief in the deity of Christ is considered shirk (“filth”) to Muslims. Further. Secondly, Islam denies the death of Christ on the cross (4:157-158). The most crucial doctrine of the Christian faith is rejected in Islam. As a result, the two religions are absolutely not compatible, making Chrislam a concept both Christians and Muslims should reject.[4] So if in the Muslims very own Qur’an it takes swipes at the Christian religion and declares it to be false than how can it be compatible with Christianity? The answer is simple; it can’t. Islam gives lip service to the Bible as a holy book, but it undermines and denies every fundamental doctrine about sin and salvation taught in the Bible. Clearly, Islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive. Both claim to be the only true way to God, but both cannot be right. There is no atonement in Islam, no forgiveness, no savior, and no assurance of eternal life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a savior, and eternal life. Islam is a religion of hopelessness and laws where salvation is never know. This
It looks like for now Chrislam is on the move in the world and is growing popularity here in the United States, sadly with the help of our own so called “Evangelical” churches. Even with this being the case, as true followers of Christ we should not be afraid to confront those who teach this false religious movement of Chrislam and stand of the truth of the Word of God as our Rock in the defense of our faith in the one true triune God. Jesus Christ is the way to the Father, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” John 14:6. Islam and Chrislam only leads to death and to eternity in hell.
[1] http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0126/p01s04-woaf.html
[2] Marloes,Janson. Chrislam’s Healing School in Lagos. p. 3
[3] Ibid
[4] http://www.gotquestions.org/Chrislam.html
Before we get into the what, where, why and who of Chrislam there is a simple logical proof that can disprove this attempted synchronization of these two religions. This prove is as follows; All religions can be false but not all religions can be true. Hence making only one religion true. Which as Christians we know Christianity it that one true religion and not Islam. Therefore when we try and synchronize any two different opposing religions together including Christianity and Islam to make the new religion of Chrislam it will automatically fail because only one of them can be true and not both of them or both of them mixed together to make one. Him
Now to understand what Chrislam is we must first know what the word Chrislam means in the context in which we are defining it as. The word Chrislam has several different meanings depending on its cultural context. First it can mean “The Will of God Mission” or “The True Message of God Mission.” Secondly It can mean “Oke-Tude” which means “The Mountain of Loosing Bondage found in Yoruba or Ifeoluwa Mission (Ifeoluwa is a Yoruba word meaning "God's Love").[1] The Third option is what we will be focusing our concerns on for this article. Chrislam in this third meaning of the word is a Nigerian synergetic religion which mixes elements of both Christianity and Islam.
Now that we have deciphered the correct cultural textual meaning of Chrislam and its origins in a religious nature lets take a brief look at where it got its roots and where it is now. While it began in Nigeria in the 1980’s, the Chrislamic ideas have spread throughout much of the world by the later part of the century. It can be found being taught in major epicenters in Western European countries and cities. It as also spread to parts of Africa and South America. With the spreading of this movement to various parts the world it is now trying to gain a foot hold here in the United States. Chrislam is being introduced within the United States by via seeker friendly mega Churches like Northwoods in Keller TX. Who back in September 18, 2011 held a Chrislam gathering at their church (See actual bulletin here http://www.northwoodchurch.org/event_details.php?id=261.) This movement has also been popularized by Pastors like Rick Warren founder and pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County California. While Warren will outwardly deny the support of Chrislam when questioned about it in the open, his actions speak otherwise. Just recently Warren addressed the convention of the Islamic Society of North America. In which Warren stated that Muslims and Christians must work together to combat stereotypes, promote peace and freedom, and to solve global problems. Christians and Muslims we are faith mates, soul mates and now we are work mates! He than went on to say in his speech to Muslims; “Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.” We can see that the spread of Chrislam in the United States is forthcoming and deliberately being marginalized by popular pastors like Bob Roberts of NorthWoods church and Rick Warren as just a “social outreach” towards others in the community. While they marginalize this movement as a “social outreach” there is something much more sinister going on here. That is in what Chrislam teaches at it core.
To fully understand what Chrislam is we must understand what Chrislam teaches. Chrislam uses both the Bible and Qur’an and sees them both as holy texts. During the worship service, verses are read from both the Bible and the Qur'an. According to Ebenezer Edohasim, a man who worshipped with the Chrislamic people, there was no friction between the two religions and both texts were accepted by the congregation as true. The people of the congregation are also free to shout out the name of Allah or God in worship. The Chrislamic people believe that Muhammad, Moses, and Jesus were all great prophets and we need to love them all.[2] During the times of Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, and other Christian and Islamic religions celebrations, both are accepted and celebrated without judgment or hostility. Inside their place of worship there is an altar similar to those built by Abraham where the worshippers pray and seek the face of God. There are prayers going on here most of the day. [3] Question to be asked here is what god are they praying to? It is sure not the God of the Bible, it’s a very different god a demonic one at best.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this article not all religions can be true they can all be false. This is where that logical proof I mentioned earlier comes into play. We know that all religions can be false but not all can be true, so that mean logically only one can be true (Christianity.) Both Christianity and Islam at their very core are different religions one is of peace (Christianity) and the other rooted in violence (Islam). Hence both are not compatible at their basic rudimentary theological standings one must be true and the other false. They can not be compatible as preached by Chrislamic supporters. We can see in Islam’s own teachings the two can never be reconciled. First of all Islam adamantly rejects the deity of Christ. The Qur’an declares the idea that Jesus is God to be blasphemy (5:17). Belief in the deity of Christ is considered shirk (“filth”) to Muslims. Further. Secondly, Islam denies the death of Christ on the cross (4:157-158). The most crucial doctrine of the Christian faith is rejected in Islam. As a result, the two religions are absolutely not compatible, making Chrislam a concept both Christians and Muslims should reject.[4] So if in the Muslims very own Qur’an it takes swipes at the Christian religion and declares it to be false than how can it be compatible with Christianity? The answer is simple; it can’t. Islam gives lip service to the Bible as a holy book, but it undermines and denies every fundamental doctrine about sin and salvation taught in the Bible. Clearly, Islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive. Both claim to be the only true way to God, but both cannot be right. There is no atonement in Islam, no forgiveness, no savior, and no assurance of eternal life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope, a savior, and eternal life. Islam is a religion of hopelessness and laws where salvation is never know. This
It looks like for now Chrislam is on the move in the world and is growing popularity here in the United States, sadly with the help of our own so called “Evangelical” churches. Even with this being the case, as true followers of Christ we should not be afraid to confront those who teach this false religious movement of Chrislam and stand of the truth of the Word of God as our Rock in the defense of our faith in the one true triune God. Jesus Christ is the way to the Father, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” John 14:6. Islam and Chrislam only leads to death and to eternity in hell.
[1] http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0126/p01s04-woaf.html
[2] Marloes,Janson. Chrislam’s Healing School in Lagos. p. 3
[3] Ibid
[4] http://www.gotquestions.org/Chrislam.html
