Seven Contrasts that Give Focus for Prayer

These seven contrasts between Christianity and Islam will give insights into how we pray and live. This list guides the final seven days of the 30-day prayer challenge and is a way to see how the God of the Bible differs from the deity of the Quran.

1 – Contrasting the Nature of Deity

The God of the Bible differs from the Deity of the Quran, and I do not mean in what we call him – God or Allah. The Holy Oneness in Trinity reflects a unity that does not rival nor seek division. God does not compete with His Word nor with His Spirit. They are one in a way that defies human understanding. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29, ESV). While Allah, in his Absolute Oneness, remains totally alone, wary of rivalry without displaying a divine Spirit.

2 – Contrasting Inspiration

The Oneness in Trinity reveals from within or near to the messenger through inspiration. His communication methods encourage a personal, horizontal manner in delivery.

The Word says, “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” God’s Word directs our prayers – let’s look at it and see how he wants us to pray.

Notice the difference between how God gives His Word and how Islam views the giving of their book.

Does our heart long for His love letter or just a download? Pray that many will read his letter of love.

3 – Contrast in Anthropology

How God made us, determines how we relate to him.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27, ESV

Read the Word – pray. Walk with God today – Pray. God’s Spirit leads us. How he made us enables for dwelling to occur. God made us in His image to connect to him. The prayer process shows his intimate interacting with us. This contrasts with Islam where mandated prayers at mandated times and direction detail their process. They believe humanity was created to submit, not relate to God.

4- Sin Contrast

How we view sin affects our prayers. Do we pray as forgiven sinners and thankful in the divine-human connection that we have? Or praying to somehow gain God’s favor? This contrast will determine who we pray and how we live. Let’s notice how the Bible and the Quran view sin differently.

The Bible says we sin because we are sinners. We have a sinful nature that means we are totally dependent on God to save us. In which we can praise God for the Savior who has come, he is the lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29)

However, in Islam sin is viewed differently. One mosque put it this way, “You are welcome here and no one will call you a sinner.” The reason they say this is tied to the belief that all humanity has been given Guidance and only their environment/society turns them away from submitting to Allah. In this thinking, a Muslim can deliver himself by doing Namaz, remembrance and fasting.

5 – Which Advent?

The Lord’s prayer in John 17:23 says, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” Our faith focuses on Christ’s advent. He loves us and has promised so much to us. We unite in Him and let him abide within us. Let’s pray that Christ’s sacrificial love will be made known to those who focus on an advent of a book.

Our focus is on the Advent of Christ and his resurrection. In him we are one and promised eternal life. This life is now abundant with God’s Spirit indwelling us and our hope is a future dwelling with God for eternity.

In Islam, they focus on the advent of the Quran on the 27th night of Ramadan. Yet, they have no oneness with God, nor any future guarantees.

6- Sanctification or Conformity

For Christians prayer and sanctification join together. Romans 12:12-13 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (ESV). We approach prayer differently than others. Our rejoicing, patience and consistency will lead our prayers to see the needs of others. Our prayers lead to acts of compassion.

In Christianity, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to transform us to be more like Christ. Prayer is connecting our heart to God’s heart.

However in Islam, their Namaz prayers, especially on Friday conforms to their Ummah community. Their identity aligns with how much they follow the Islam code of behavior.

Variance in Purpose

Contrasting purpose will directs our life and prayers. Ps. 138:8 says:

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of your hands.” ESV

We live in Christ, so his purpose is ours. Abiding in his presence and for his benefit will lead to a life of blessing. Christ promises eternal life and based on this we have an assured hope. Others religions seek conformity for their lives. Their hope depends on their own actions but have no promised assurance. God has plans for them when they come to him and depend on him for salvation.