This past week at a prominent Bible college, controversy erupted over the suspension of a political science professor. This Christian professor had worn a hijab (traditional Muslim head scarf) as a sign of solidarity with Muslims that are experiencing persecution.
It’s a difficult time to be a Muslim in America. For some reason when Christians commit acts of terror, such as the Oklahoma City bombing or the deadly church shooting in South Carolina, no one thinks that all Christians are terrorists. Yet when a terrorist who happens to be Muslim commits an act of terror, people start arguing we should ban all adherents of Islam from entering the country.
Much of this has to do with the fact that Christians are the established majority in this country while Muslims are not. But the misunderstanding goes even deeper. What really got the Bible college professor in trouble was her declaration that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
Theologically there are a lot of things at stake in the question of whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. There are clearly differences between our concepts of God, particularly in regards to the Trinity. Muslims reject the Trinity, while for Christians it is a deeply important, albeit often misunderstood, part of our faith.
But despite the Christian idea that God is both three and one, we are still monotheists. So if we believe there is only one God, how could it be possible for Christians and Muslims to not worship the same God?
The difference between Christians and Muslims is not in the God we worship but rather our conceptions about the nature of God. God’s nature is a really important theological issue, but it doesn’t mean the object of our worship (God) is different – that would make God dependent on our perceptions.
This is a time when Christians are called to stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters against the hatred and bigotry being leveled against them. It’s not the comfortable or popular thing to do. It may even cause others to criticize us. But we have to get past the notion that complete theological agreement is a prerequisite for acceptance.
After all, Jesus stood with those on the outside regardless of their theological beliefs or their worthiness. Isn’t it time for us to do the same?
