I often get random ideas in my head, things I want to study on, like:

What does “Allahu Akbar” that Muslims shout really mean?

Why do some Bible verses say Jesus died on a tree instead of a cross?

Well, as I started to write these two posts, I found other blogs who have already done the legwork and churned out some pretty good stuff. I’ll just create a craving real quick, then send you off to the main courses.

“Allahu Akbar” Might Refer to Lucifer

Allahu Akbar = “Our God is the Greatest.” Hm, greater than…who? Well, it has a lil’ something to do with Lucifer getting all uppity in Isaiah 14:12-14…

“How you have fallen from heaven,
O star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations!
¹³ “But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
¹⁴ ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

…and how that fallen angel said he would be like God, actually above the stars of God. This Muslim chant is often heard during terrorist acts and other jihad-esque episodes. It’s no secret Islam hates Christianity, and they hate the U.S. because it used to be a Christian nation (arguably) and they think it somehow still represents Christianity around the world (for some reason.) If anything, this country gets more secular, if not downright atheist, by the day. But that’s another post altogether…

If, indeed, this chant refers to Allah being Lucifer, it makes sense really. They claim that their God is higher than our God. They deny Jesus was the Son and visible image of God. They think the Trinity means we’re polytheistic. (So do Jews, by the way.) We certainly don’t worship the same God if they deny Jesus.

Which makes it confusing concerning the Jewish faith and their staunch denial of Jesus’ divinity. In that instance though, I believe we worship the full revelation of YHWH/Yahweh/God/El Shaddai, whereas the Jews are blinded to it until God deems it necessary to open their eyes once again (Jesus told us that Abraham’s eyes were open long ago in John 8:56-58.)

But as far as Allah being the God of Abraham? It’s feeling more like a square peg, round hole scenario.

Read this article from Prophe.site for much more about God versus Allah.

A Tree is a Tree, a Cross is a Cross

So, which is it? Did Jesus get crucified on a cross, or hung on a tree? Well, it’s both. Sorta. Compare…

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. – 1 Peter 2:24 KJV

…with…

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. – 1 Peter 2:24 NLT

Same exact verses, different translations. Jesus was actually crucified on the cross, which was made of, you guessed it, wood (which comes from trees.) The confusion stems from the word usage in the various texts. And I’d say the confusion is rampant because I’ve seen pictures of Jesus literally crucified on a tree. Looked to be a Maple if memory serves. The image is burned in my brain to be honest, but I can’t find it anywhere now.  Maybe the people deleted it after re-reading the Bible? I think it was also on a Christian music video, but here I go off on a tangent so…

I guess there’s something to be said about taking every word literally literal in the Bible. It’s all true, it’s all inspired, it’s what God has His church reading, but when different languages get involved and translations go awry, enter chaos stage right.

Read this article from CARM about the linguistics behind the whole tree vs. cross ado.