Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God?

When I was brainstorming ideas for a “Theology Thursday” short, I came across an interesting question in a book I’ve been reading: Urban Legends of Theology: 40 Common Misconceptions by Michael Wittmer. One of the misconceptions Wittmer addresses is the belief that “Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worship the same God.”

It got me thinking, and I wanted to share some of his insights along with my own perspective (which largely agrees with his). If you're curious about how I structure my content rotation, I’ll include that at the end.

What Does “Same” Even Mean?

Wittmer begins by addressing the word “same” from a philosophical standpoint, and I think that’s the right place to start.

There are two ways to understand “sameness”:

• Reference – The actual object being referred to.
  
  

• Sense – The way we perceive, describe, or understand that object.
  
  

To illustrate, Wittmer uses Superman as an example—but I prefer Spiderman. Think about it: Peter Parker and Spiderman refer to the same person (reference), but people describe or understand them differently (sense). You could be talking about Spiderman and not realize you’re actually talking about Peter Parker.

Do Jews and Christians Worship the Same God?

This question is harder to answer than you might expect. Christianity came out of Judaism, and both faiths hold to the God revealed in the Old Testament. So let’s break it down into reference and sense again.

Same in Reference?

Yes—and no.

Jews and Christians both refer to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But Christians believe in the fuller revelation of that same God through Jesus Christ and the New Testament. Wittmer uses the analogy: Judaism is like a square, and Christianity is like a cube. Christianity builds upon and expands what came before—it’s still composed of "squares," but it’s not just a square anymore.

So while we can say Jews and Christians reference the same God in part (especially when thinking about God the Father), Christians believe they have a fuller, more complete picture.

Same in Sense?

I would say not really. Wittmer leans toward “partially,” but here’s where I differ slightly. Jews reject Jesus as divine, and Christianity teaches that Jesus is God. If someone rejects Jesus, they’re rejecting the God Christians worship. As Jesus said in John 14:6, "No one comes to the Father except through me."

Therefore, while there’s overlap in reference, the way God is perceived—His nature, His work through Christ, and His revelation—is so different that we can’t say Jews and Christians worship the same God in the full sense.

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

This one’s much more straightforward. Islam and Christianity have very different foundations and texts. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, pulled ideas from Christianity and Judaism, but also introduced new teachings that directly contradict core Christian beliefs.

Same in Reference?

I would say no. Muslims deny the Trinity and reject Jesus as God. In fact, many Muslims believe Christians are polytheists because of the Trinity—something they consider a serious theological error. Since the reference point is fundamentally different, it’s hard to say we’re even pointing to the same being.

Wittmer puts it this way: if Christianity is a cube, and Judaism a square, then Islam is a circle. It's an entirely different shape altogether.

Same in Sense?

Still no, although there are superficial similarities. Both Islam and Christianity believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator. Both are monotheistic (though Muslims would argue Christians aren't). But the similarities stop there.

Christianity teaches that God is personal, relational, and redemptive—offering grace through Jesus. Islam, by contrast, teaches that salvation comes through works, not grace. In Islam, God (Allah) is unknowable in a personal sense. The relational love, mercy, and salvation offered in Christianity is not found in Islamic theology.

So, again, the perception and understanding of God is fundamentally different.

Conclusion

Christians, Jews, and Muslims do not worship the same God. While they may share certain concepts—like belief in one Creator—their understandings of who God is and how He has revealed Himself are drastically different.

Wittmer says, “To worship God is the successful adoration of God.” You can’t truly adore or worship God without knowing who He is. And from a Christian perspective, knowing God means knowing Jesus. Without Him, you’re not worshipping the God of Christianity—you’re worshipping your own idea of God.

This isn’t a universally accepted statement—it’s our perspective as Christians. But it’s an important one to understand and wrestle with as we navigate conversations about faith in a pluralistic world