Expert: Brian Ray - 1/3/2007

Question
Do Christians believe in multiple gods? I mean: they believe that Allah is not
the same god as Jehovah, for example (don't they)? But in that case, there are
two gods, even before you add all the other religions - I have a vague
momory of someone telling me Christians call the gods of other religions
'false gods': is this correct? What is a 'false god'? A lesser god (in which case,
would they be part of the creation of Jehovah?), or one that does not exist? If
it is believed that the gods of other people do not exist, or are much less
mighty than believed by those people, how do Christians prevent themselves
having a low opinion of those who believe in them? How do they think false
belief came about?

Even if no other god is included, Christians do at least think they worship the
same god as Jews do, don't they, and vice versa?

Answer
Hi Leila,

Thank you for your question.

First, let's define Christians as those that believe the Bible is what God wanted us to know - about God most importantly, but other things as well. The Bible teaches "the Lord is One God." (You might want to take a look at a previous question regarding the trinity). The Bible teaches that God is exhibited in three personalities - God the Father, God His Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit. Each is individual,  and at the same time One. It's a mystery that Christians simply accept because that is what God says is true.

No, Christians do not believe in multiple God's because the Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God. Arguably by definition, only God can be a god. So, any other "so called god" would be something else than a god. You have rightly stated that other god's other than Jehovah are indeed referred to as "false gods".

No, Allah is not the same as Jehovah. Allah is a false god. The Greeks in the first century embraced many gods. Some endeavored to add Christ to the list of gods they worshipped.

A false god isn't a lesser god, but a non-god. Only God can be God. False god's are the god's of man's invention. Jehovah God or Jesus Christ are revealed to us as the only true God.

Satan is a liar and the original false god. The Bible teaches that Lucifer was the most powerful and beautiful angel. He deceived one-third of the other angels into believing he was equal to the true God. This resulted in God casting these angels from heaven. Satan is seen in the garden of Eden deceiving Adam and Eve into believing they too can be "like God knowing good and evil".  Religion is Satan's invention as well and takes many forms. Satan will always mimic God's truth.

You ask "how do Christians prevent themselves from having a low opinion of those who believe in them (false gods or gods who do not exist)? Knowing that God spared not His Son, Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world, how can I have a low opinion of another who simply has not yet come to know the true God as I have? God Himself placed the highest possible value on all sinners - Romans 5:8 tells us that God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God desires all to come to repentance and saving faith in Him. Satan, on the other hand, is identified as the Father of all lies and is determined to deceive as many away from the simple truth of the gospel as he can.

I think this answers how Christians would be foolish to have a low opinion of those who believe in false gods and the origin of false gods - Satan.

Do Christians think they worship the same god as the Jews?
The Bible has two parts - Old Testament Genesis - Malachi and New Testament - Matthew - Revelation.
Jews recognize the Old Testament, but not the New Testament. Many prophecies in the Old Testament refer to the Messiah which Christians understand to be the person of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your question and let me know if I can clarify anything further for you.

Brian