Question 35 – Do We Pray With Them To The Same God As The Muslims and Are Muslims Children Of God?

Transcript:

There is a lot of confusion about these notions. Christians, Jews, and Muslims do not share the same ancestors as Abraham's descendants. The Jews are the carnal descendants of Abraham; they are the descendants of the flesh, and maybe a part of the Muslims, but not all. 

For Christians, we need to look at the letters of Saint Paul to the Galatians, where he said, "Now the promises were made to Abraham and his descendants." It does not say, "And to descendants," as referring to many, but as referring to one, "And to your descendant," who is Christ. Being a descendant of Abraham is not an assurance of salvation. St. Paul assured us. Christians are the true children of Abraham because of our faith in Christ.

According to the Gospel of St. John, Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." Therefore, if the basis of your salvation is being a descendant of Abraham, there is no need for further argument because Christ came to be before Abraham.

There is a beautiful prayer in the Eastern rite during the Easter Vigil. One of the readings focuses on the church as a nation, and all shall receive the grace of baptism through faith, thereby receiving us as children of Abraham. We become true children of Abraham when we receive baptism and have faith in Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it adds that all nations will receive Israel's dignity and be reborn, not of Abraham's flesh but of faith in Christ Jesus.

We have to distinguish this carefully to prevent complete relativism. It is indeed contradictory if we believe in the same faith and the same God. We need to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ; it is written in the Scriptures that whoever believes in him shall receive eternal life. So, it is clear: we cannot change the Scriptures to be politically correct. It would be a betrayal to the Gospel that the Jews, who are the descendants of the Rabbis of the Talmud, the Muslims, and Christians all have the same faith and that Abraham is the father. This contradiction is directed at the Gospel and Church teachings. Relativizing our Lord Jesus Christ and putting him on the same level as Moses and Muhammad. 

We look to the example of Peter when asked by our Lord, "Whom do people say I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”