Tuesday, November 10 2026
More Bible Studies Available @ http://www.marktabata.com. To Receive Free Bible Studies and updates via email, contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (SMS Only) or mailto:markatabata@gmail.com (Email). Follow me on Substack: http://substack.com/@marktabata. Also, please visit my author page: http://amazon.com/author/marktabata
Psalm 119:104-Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
There is a dangerous pendulum swinging in America, especially among Christians, that needs to be identified and thoroughly investigated. It is in regard to the religion known as Islam.
On the one hand, there is an extreme position that suggests Islam is a peaceful religion that has been hijacked by extremists who would use it for violent reform and attacks upon people in our nation who are opposed to its’ message. According to this viewpoint, Christians who speak negatively about Islam must be opposed because (it is argued) they are prejudiced, ignorant, and fundamentalists who must be called out. Those who embrace this viewpoint often see all religion as manmade, so that there is no true Word from God to mankind. Each person simply accepts whatever religion suits him and his fancy, and any claims of exclusivity in regards to salvation is repudiated and rejected with all swiftness. Sadly, the name “Christian” will be attached to this perspective in order to lend credibility to such a position.
Yet the pendulum swings also to the opposite extreme, identifying all Muslims as the enemy who should be belittled, rejected, and treated with extreme suspicion. Under no terms, it would be argued, should adherents of this religion be trusted. Many in this category would quickly support putting all Muslims on a watchlist, perhaps even deported without due process in the name of “the greater good.” “America must be defended, and Muslims are the enemy,” would be the battle cry of many in this camp. It is absolutely necessary to protect America, since it is a “Christian Nation,” would be further examples of the positions of the ones in this demographic.
Sadly, the name “Christian” would be attached to these attitudes and actions also.
Truth, as is often the case, is found between two extreme positions.
In this series of lessons, we are going to investigate with precision and care the religion of Islam. It will not be done primarily through the framework of non-Muslims looking at the religion. Instead, effort will be made to carefully examine Islam from the vantage point of those with great experience regarding this religion. We will be examining the original sources of Islam, studying it’s history, looking at the testimony of both Muslims and also those who have turned from Islam to embrace Christianity, and others.
We will not give in to either extreme positions mentioned above.
Islam must ultimately be judged-not by the belief and actions of its’ practitioners-but by its’ claims to Divine truth. As New Testament Christians, we are commanded to examine all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21), test all spirits and prophets (1 John 4:1), search the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and prepare ourselves to give a logical and rational defense of Christianity especially to unbelievers (1 Peter 3:15). As we work through Islam’s basic tenants, we need to keep in mean that ultimately these matters are fundamentally about the Bible and the Quran (the holy book of Islam). Our primary focus is not first Americans, but as followers of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Recently, a brother from Apologetics Press made the importance of this distinction especially clear.
Islam is not to be judged on the basis of how its devotees have conducted themselves over the centuries. Members of virtually every religion and philosophy, including Christianity, have committed terrible atrocities. Buddhists have set themselves on fire. People claiming to be Christians instigated the Inquisition, went on murderous crusades for land, and continue to kill each other in Northern Ireland and beyond. Muslims have hijacked planes and committed suicide bombings. The credibility, validity, and divine authenticity of any system of belief must not be determined on the basis of the failures, misconceptions, and weaknesses of its practitioners. Instead, whether a religion has a supernatural origin must be ascertained on the basis of its sources of authority—its foundational fountainhead( s) from which its practice and dissemination are spawned. If a person wants to ascertain the legitimacy of Mormonism, one must study the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. If a person wishes to consider the validity of Hinduism, one must examine the Vedas. The credibility of Christianity hinges solely on the authority of the Bible, particularly the New Testament. For Islam, the matter is equally simple. Islam’s validity stands or falls on the question of the inspiration of the Quran…Hence, if the Quran possesses attributes and characteristics that are contradictory to the nature of divine inspiration, then its claim to be of supernatural origin is discredited, and it is shown to be nothing more than another book among many produced by mere humans unguided by divine agency. The superstructure of Islam erected on the Quran collapses if the Quran is not the Word of God, even as the Christian religion would be discredited if the New Testament claim to be the Word of God is proven to be erroneous. (Dave Miller, Ph.D., The Quran Unveiled: Islam and New Testament Christianity in Conflict, 10-11 (Kindle Edition): Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press, Inc.
No matter what we learn on our journey of studying Islam, we remember as Christians that we must treat all of our neighbors-and even our enemies-with love and kindness. As such, we always seek to avoid attitudes and actions fueled by bigotry and hatred.
Leviticus 19:18-You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Matthew 5:44-45-But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
May God be gloried, souls saved, and the church uplifted as we study these important subjects.
Father, give us wisdom, discernment, and compassion as we turn our attention to studying these important subjects. Help us look to Jesus as our ultimate Example. In His name we pray, Amen.