Attributes of God
Senior 2 · Religion and Ethics
Attributes of God
Lesson 5 of 5
18 min
It is easy to say "God is merciful". It is harder to be merciful to a classmate who has insulted you. Christianity and Islam both teach that believing in God's attributes should change the way a person lives. This lesson shows how believers try to reflect God's qualities at home, at school and in the community.
Some attributes belong to God alone. No human being can be all-powerful, all-knowing or eternal. But believers are called to reflect God's moral qualities in a human way.
In Christianity. Jesus taught:
"Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful." (Luke 6:36)
The prophet Micah summed up what God asks of people:
"He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
Christians also teach that love for God must be seen in love for other people: "We love him, because he first loved us. If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4:19–20). Jesus even taught love for enemies, because God "makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good" (Matthew 5:44–45).
In Islam. Muslims try to show in human measure the qualities named in the Most Beautiful Names, above all mercy and justice. The Qur'an commands justice even towards people one dislikes:
"O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty." (Qur'an 5:8)
Equity means fairness. Seduce you here means "lead you". Justice must be kept even against oneself and one's family: "Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred" (Qur'an 4:135).
Because Allah is near and answers prayer (Qur'an 2:186), Muslims practise tawakkul, trust in God after doing one's best. The Qur'an says: "when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah" (Qur'an 3:159). Christians express the same trust: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
| Attribute of God | How a believer reflects it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Merciful | forgiving, helping people in need | paying the mutuelle de santé contribution for a poor neighbour |
| Just | fairness, honesty, refusing bribes | a trader in Nyabugogo using honest scales |
| Loving | caring for others, including strangers | visiting sick classmates; taking part in umuganda |
| Holy | clean living and respect for one's body | refusing drugs and alcohol abuse |
| Faithful | keeping promises | repaying a loan to a savings group (ikimina) on time |
| All-knowing (belief in it) | honesty when nobody is watching | refusing to cheat in an exam |
Question: Keza is a class monitor. Her best friend has made noise in class, and the teacher asks Keza who was responsible. Using one text from the Bible or the Qur'an, explain how Keza could live according to God's attributes. (3 marks)
Model answer: God is just, and believers are called to reflect this (1 mark). Qur'an 4:135 says believers must be "staunch in justice … even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred", and Micah 6:8 calls people "to act justly" (1 mark). So Keza should tell the truth fairly, without favouring her friend, and she can also show mercy by speaking to her friend kindly afterwards and helping her to do better (1 mark).
Tip
Exam technique. "How can believers live according to God's attributes?" questions need three steps: name the attribute → quote or refer to a text → give a concrete action. An action with no attribute, or an attribute with no action, earns only part of the marks.
Name two attributes of God that human beings cannot copy, and two that they can reflect.
Answer: cannot copy: all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, present everywhere (any two). Can reflect: mercy, justice, love, holiness, faithfulness (any two).
What three things does Micah 6:8 say the LORD requires?
Answer: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.
What does Qur'an 5:8 teach about how to treat people we dislike?
Answer: hatred of any people must not lead a believer to act unjustly; believers must deal justly with everyone.
What is tawakkul? Give a Christian verse with a similar teaching.
Answer: tawakkul is trust in Allah after doing one's best (Qur'an 3:159). A similar Christian teaching is Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart".
Suggest one way a student can show God's mercy at school.
Possible answer: forgiving a classmate who has insulted him or her, sharing lunch with a hungry student, or helping a student who is behind with schoolwork.
Remember
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