An Assesment of God the Almighty

For this class we were provided with three different books to help us develop our understanding of the doctrine of God in the Christian faith and Muslim faith. Two of the books focused individually on the two faiths, and the third is how a Christian might explain and understand the Muslim faith from their perspective. The benefit of having all three of the works is that there is full coverage of all topics, including a valuable perspective from an Islamic scholar.

Assessment of God the Almighty

In God the Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love author Donald Bloesch provides a graduate level study of the attributes of God. He is clear in his approach of theology as being “a witness to God’s mighty deeds in a past history.” Dr. Bloesch, as a professor in theology, tends to use more of an academic approach in his writing, forcing the reader to slow down and carefully examine his text. He does not simplify the deep complexities of God, nor does he try to spoon feed the reader his own personal theology. Leaving room for personal interpretation, Dr. Bloesch provides a variety of perspectives. Those include presenting them through Hellenistic, literal theology, and other philosophical understandings. Overall the text proves itself to be effective in its elements but sometimes thick with words.

The driving force behind this work is Bloesch’s determination to show God as not only loving, powerful, and a friend but as completely holy. The holiness of God creates a separation of our ability to completely know his mysteries, a thing the author often references as he scans the deep things of God. Our understanding of “the mystery of salvation” creates for us an understanding of God himself and the way he chooses to present himself to us...

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...a study of theology in depth is purposeful and useful in our Christian faith. “Christianity without theology becomes a self-help philosophy or an empty moralism with no transcendent message.” If we simply read these pieces and do nothing to change our actions or evangelism practices then we have simply gained a knowledge for ourselves. Knowledge without action is useless in the kingdom of God.

Works Cited

Aslan, Reza. No God but God (Updated Edition): the Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. Updated ed.

New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2011.

Bloesch, Donald G. God the Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love (Christian Foundations). Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2010.

George, Timothy. Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? Understanding the Differences between Christianity and Islam. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.