Define “worship”, not “god”

Justin Taylor probably has the most helpful post I’ve seen yet about the Wheaton controversy and whether Christians and Muslims worship the same god. I think Justin’s comments cut through a lot of the word smithing that goes on in this discussion.

His post is rather thorough so I’ll highlight what I think is his core contribution.

In short, it may be helpful to reframe the conversation around the meaning of “worship”, not the word “god.”

Much of this discussion has been in the language of philosophy rather than of exegetical theology.

Here is my proposal: Can we agree that the answer to whether or not Christians and Muslims “worship the same God” has a yes-and-no answer, depending on the meaning, but that Jesus taught that the following is true of all people, whether professing Jews, Christians, or Muslims?

He then draws from various biblical texts to make the following points.

1. If professing Jews, Christians, and Muslims do not honor God the Son, then they do not honor God the Father. (John 5:23)

2. If professing Jews, Christians, and Muslims do not receive God the Son, then they do not have the love of God the Father within them. (John 5:42-43)

3. If Jews, Christians, and Muslims do not know God the Son, then they do not know God the Father. (John 8:19; cf. John 7:28; 14:7)

4. If professing Jews, Christians, and Muslims deny God the Son, then they deny the God the Father. (1 John 2:23)

5. If professing Jews, Christians, and Muslims do not come to God the Son, then they have not heard and learned from God the Father. (John 6:45)

6. If professing Jews, Christians, and Muslims reject God the Son, then they reject God the Father. (Luke 10:16)

In other words, if one’s definition of “worship” includes denying and rejecting God as well as not honoring, loving, knowing, nor hearing God, then perhaps someone might conclude that Christians and Muslims “worship” the same God.

But then again, it’s highly doubtful that anyone would actually  agree that these things are a part of the meaning of “worship.”