Dear friends,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
The talks about Anti-conversion Bills, and the attempts of certain groups to reconvert
Christian believers to Hinduism, in the recent months, have obviously upset us. The reaction
of the Church to these moves is varied. As a Bible Teacher I started looking at the Bible
afresh to find out what the Christian response should be to the subject of “Conversion &
Reconversion.” I would like to share with you some of those insights.
God the Creator is the God of the Bible. He has compared Himself to a Shepherd (Isa
40:11; Jer 31:10; Ezek 34:12). One of the outstanding claims of Jesus was, “I am the Good
Shepherd” (Jn 10:14). He is also called the “Great Shepherd” and the “Chief Shepherd” (Heb
13:20; 1 Pet 5:4). The Bible says, “All of us like sheep have gone astray; everyone of us has
turned to his own way” (Isa 53:6). The repeated call of God in the Bible is, “Return to Me!”
(Isa 44:22; Jer 3:12; Ezek 18:23). Presenting Himself as the “Good Shepherd,” Jesus said, “I
have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My
voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd” (Jn 10:16). Addressing those who have come
to Jesus, Apostle Peter said, “You were straying like sheep but have now returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet 2:25). Therefore we conclude, on the basis of
what the Bible says, that “Homecoming,” in the strict sense, is the created human beings
returning to God the Creator, and all of us who are sinners turning to Christ the Saviour who
paid the penalty for all our sins in His atoning death on the Cross. It is over this “Homecoming”
there’s great joy in Heaven. Jesus illustrated this by three parables: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin,
and Lost Son (Lk 15).
By creation, all are the children of God. But when we choose to disobey God and listen to
Satan, the archenemy of God, we become enemies to God. However, God demonstrated His
love towards us by sending His sinless Son into this sinful world and sacrificing Him on the
Cross for our sins (Rom 5:8,10). Through the death of Christ, man can now be reconciled to
God (2 Cor 5:18-21). That’s why the Gospel of Christ is called the “message of reconciliation.”
By this act of reconciliation we, the enemies of God, are given the “right” to become the
children of God (Jn 1:12). That is, we become the members of the family of God. About this
privilege the Bible says, “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19). “Now in Christ Jesus
you, who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v13). True
“Homecoming!” This is Reconversion.
The Creator God becomes the Father of all those who leave fellowship with darkness to
come to light, and break agreement with the devil to come to Christ (2 Cor 6:14-18). Apostle
John exclaims, “See what kind of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God!” (1 Jn 3:1). How has this become possible? The lofty God became a
lowly man in the Person of Jesus Christ when Jesus was born as a Babe in Bethlehem (Jn
1:14). Great indeed is this mystery (1 Tim 3:16). When Jesus the Heavenly Son of God took
on earthly form, He was not ashamed to call those who have become God’s children as His
“brothers” (Heb 2:11; Jn 20:17). Just like we have prodigal children in our families who rebel
against parents and go their way, there are children of God who forsake God the Father and
become enslaved by Satan who is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). Such are called backsliders.
They go after the “cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and pride in possessions” whichare against God the Father (1 Jn 2:15-17). But the Father keeps calling them and waiting for
their return. When they come back to the Father whom they have deserted, He embraces
them with eternal love (Lk 15:11-24). This is “Homecoming.”
No one can be a Christian by birth. Prophet John who came as a Forerunner of Jesus told
this straight on the face of the people of Israel: “Do not presume to say to yourselves, we have
Abraham as our father; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for
Abraham” (Mt 3:9). Jesus said exactly the same thing to Nicodemus, a religious leader in
Israel: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit (of God)
is spirit ... You must be born again” (Jn 3:6,7). Any man or woman becomes a Christian only
by this Rebirth, a new birth, a spiritual birth. This happens when a person repents of his
sins, turns to God, and receives Christ as his Sin-bearer and Saviour and Lord (Mk 1:15;
Rom 10:9,10). Without this heart experience of repentance and faith, Water Baptism (infant
or adult), Holy Communion, and the like are mere rituals (Mt 3:7,8). There are thousands
who worship God with their “lips,” but their “hearts” are far away from Him (Isa 29:13; Mk
7:6). These are nominal Christians and they simply are too many. Pastors and Preachers
must preach forthrightly in Churches to bring the nominals to the experience of personal
repentance and rebirth. They must not live on false hopes. This will be a “Homecoming”
experience for them. Unless this happens, huge numbers will fall away from Christ during
persecution. He compares their hearts to rocky ground (Mt 13:20,21).
How come there are so many nominal Christians in our Churches? By AD 400, the Roman
Empire, from being 4% Christian, grew to 80% Christian with NO CONVERSIONS, when
King Constantine made Christianity the State Religion. It became fashionable to become
Christians. A man of God calls this “the worst disaster since Noah!” Dear friend, if you are a
member of a Church without a heart experience of Repentance and Rebirth, don’t postpone
this matter any further. Getting your name registered in Heaven is more important than
having it on the Church register (Rev 20:15; Heb 12:23). Confess your sins to God right now.
Repent of them genuinely. Believe that Christ died for your sins, and rose again. Receive
Him as your Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit will give you an inner assurance that you are
a child of God (Rom 8:16). Once you have tasted that the Lord is good, you will not go after
the sinful things of the world (1 Pet 2:1-3). Meditate on the Bible regularly so you may grow
in your new life. Commune with God daily in prayer. Welcome Home to enjoy the privileges
in the family of God!
I believe that the present attempts for “Reconversion” by Hindu religionists are ordained
by the Sovereign God to purify His Church. John the Baptist said concerning the ministry of
Jesus, “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing
floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire”
(Mt 3:12). The Church history proves that the fires of persecution have always been fires of
purification. God hates doublemindedness. Apostle James wrote, “Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you ... Purify your hearts, you doubleminded” (Js 4:8). King Ahab
reigned over Israel between 874 B.C. and 853 B.C. Prophet Elijah challenged him to gather
all the pagan prophets for a confrontation between God and Baal the most common Canaanite
deity. The Prophet told the people, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the
Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Ki 18:21). The same challenge comes
to all the cat-on-the-wall Christians today!
God would never stop us from going away from Him. He delivered the people of Israel from
Egyptian bondage through the leadership of Moses. But when they rejected Moses and turned
back to Egypt in their hearts, God gave them up to worship idols. They made a calf and
offered sacrifice to it (Acts 7:39-42). God laments for those who forsake Him, the fountain of
living waters, and hew out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water
2(Jer 2:13). But He is never frustrated. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, He laid some
difficult conditions for those who wanted to follow Him. Because of this, many of His disciples
turned back and no longer walked with Him. Only the Twelve Disciples were standing with
Him. He asked them, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!” (Jn 6:60-68). In a similar instance,
the religious leaders were offended over what Jesus taught. But the reaction of Jesus was
cool: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted!” (Mt 15:12,13).
God respects the free will of man and He never forces anyone! The Indian Constitution has
given “freedom of conscience” to every citizen. Neither Conversion nor Reconversion should
be against one’s conscience, that is, wholeheartedness.
The incidents in the paragraph above give us Christians, especially Christian Preachers,
an important lesson: We must never dilute the Bible truth. There are certain absolutes with
which we cannot compromise. Here are some of them —
(a) The God of the Bible is the only true God. This is what He has repeatedly said in the
Bible: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; there’s no God besides Me. ... Look to Me,
and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isa
45:5,6,22).
(b) Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me ... I am the Door” (Jn 14:6; 10:7).
(c) The disciples of Christ, in the first century, while preaching about Him, declared,
“There is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
(Acts 4:12). Christ alone died for our sins; therefore He alone has the authority to
forgive us (1 Pet 2:24; Mk 2:10).
The above statements are not fabricated by us, but they are exact quotes from the Bible
which we believe is the very “Word of God.” Anyone who does not live with these basic
convictions cannot be a Christian. He will buckle under slightest pressure and deny Christ.
Huge crowds followed Jesus to hear His teaching and to receive healing from sicknesses.
He was moved with compassion for them and met their needs. However, He did not relax the
conditions of discipleship with a desire to keep lots of people with Him. In no uncertain
terms He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk 9:23). To emphasize this condition He added, “Whoever does
not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:27). He also said, “Enter
by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and
those who enter by it are many. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to
life, those who find it are few” (Mt 7:13,14). This is part of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.
The Church must do all that’s possible to strengthen believers, especially the new ones,
in their faith (Acts 15:36). Praise God for the fruits of evangelistic programmes. But we are
poor in follow-up. Conduct regular Discipleship Courses in the Churches. Teach the basic
doctrines of the Bible. It’s not enough if Creeds are recited every Sunday. The Church members
must be imparted a working knowledge of the Scriptures. The weekly 20-minute sermons
are not enough. No wonder Christians are suffering from spiritual starvation. Even within
those 20 minutes how many stories! Because not many come to the midweek Bible Studies,
give atleast an hour of solid teaching in the Sunday Services for which large numbers gather.
If you are a Pastor, free yourself from building construction works and administrative matters
so you can spend long hours on knees for sermon preparation (Acts 6:3,4). Only then there
will be “freshness” when you speak. This is the meaning of the shepherd leading the sheep
to “green pastures” and “still waters” (Psa 23:1,2). The sermons in Sunday Services must not
be evangelistic, but they must edify the believers to grow into maturity and equip them for
the ministry (Eph 4:11-13; Col 1:28).
3Dear Pastors, give your congregational members enough and more. John the Baptist,
besides baptizing the repentant, “preached to the people with MANY other exhortations” (Lk
3:18). After preaching long sermons (Jn 14,15,16) Jesus told His disciples, “I still have MANY
things, to say to you” (Jn 16:12). The Apostles exhorted people “with MANY other words”
besides calling them to repentance, baptism and reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:40).
Even in a Breadbreaking Service, Apostle Paul preached an all-night long sermon! (Acts
20:7-11). Let Biblical illiteracy leave our Churches. The Apostles mourned that folks were
not growing from “milk” stage to eat “solid food” (Heb 5:12-14). But we don’t even feed them
with “milk” but only “watery milk” and sometimes “milky water!” Jesus turned water into
wine, but we preachers turn wine into water! Our sermons must be rich in Biblical content.
Let’s repent of taking the pulpit ministry lightly! Strong Christians will withstand the storms
of persecution. If they know how to recognize the voice of Jesus the Shepherd, they will not
follow the voice of strangers (Jn 10:3-9). When certain men with hardened hearts spoke
against “The Way,” that is the Christian faith, Apostle Paul took the new disciples to a school
building and conducted daily Bible Classes for them for two long years (Acts 19:8-10).
I urge Church leaders to motivate Christians read Biographies of Missionaries and Martyrs,
especially Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Give the people details of persecuted Churches inland and
overseas for regular prayer. Atleast one of the Sunday Sermons every month must be on
Missions, and another Sunday Sermon should address youngsters. Dr. Oswald J. Smith
(1889-1986), that world-famous Founder-Pastor of the Peoples Church, Toronto, Canada,
used to say, “The best diet for a sick Church is a missionary diet!” Conduct Soulwinners
Training Classes and make every member of the congregation a soulwinner. Teach them
how to bring non-Christians to Christ. Have regular gatherings to pray for the anointing of
the Holy Spirit in order to receive power to witness boldly for Christ (Acts 1:8; 4:31). Witnessing
Christians will hardly backslide and deny their faith. Missions should not be a “department”
in the Church; the entire Church must be a Mission. John Wesley (1703-1791) rightly said,
“The Church is the only Society that functions mainly for the welfare of its non-members!”
Popular Evangelists with their Prosperity (Health & Wealth) message have brought into
our Churches more goats than sheep. “Jesus will heal all your diseases ... Jesus will solve all
your problems ... Jesus will wipe away all your tears” — This is not the Gospel. Our message
should be, “Jesus will save you from your sins” (Mt 1:21; Lk 24:27; Gal 1:4; 1 Jn 1:7-9). For
a “definition” of the Gospel, study 1 Cor 15:1-4 carefully. Salvation from sin is guaranteed to
anyone who believes on Christ (Mk 16:15,16; Acts 16:31). Healing or other blessings are not
so guaranteed for now in the New Testament (Rom 8:22,23). We have projected the secondary
benefits over the primary blessing. In Gospel Meetings there are more tears for “earthly
sorrow” than the tears of repentance (2 Cor 7:9,10). Conversions therefore are shallow, not
deep enough (v11). As a result, “because-of-blessings” Christians outnumber “in-spite-ofsufferings”
disciples. The Apostles “strengthened” the new believers saying, “We must through
many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Jesus rebuked those who followed
Him primarily for earthly blessings (Jn 6:26,27). Such people are a liability for the Kingdom
of God. They are like “a reed shaken by the wind!” One day they will shout “Hosanna,” and
the next day, “Crucify Him!”
Christian Missionaries are accused of “alluring” people and converting them by works of
charity. Some clarification is necessary here. Charity is not necessarily Christianity; but
Christianity is certainly charity. The God of the Bible is a God of the poor. Here’s the Bible
definition of “pure and undefiled” religion: “(a) To visit orphans and widows in their troubles
and (b) to keep oneself undefiled by the world” (Js 1:27). Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as
yourself.” To explain who our “neighbour” is, Jesus told the Story of the Good Samaritan (Lk
10:29-37). Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, taught first about charity, and then followed
4prayer and fasting (Mt 6:1-4,5-15,16-18). God condemned fasting that was void of charity
(Isa 58:5-7), and prayers without charity (Isa 1:15-17), and offerings to Him without charity
(Mt 23:23). See His warning: “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry
himself and not be heard” (Prov 21:13).
The God of the Bible is not so cheap to bless people just in order to induce them to follow
Him. By coming to Him or worshipping Him we don’t add anything to His being (Acts 17:25).
Here’s what Jesus said: “The Father in Heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the
good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45; Acts 14:16,17). He is a God of
compassion. Therefore there can be no missionary work without charity. At the same time
we must never use charity as a bait for evangelism. The only reason for helping the poor
should be that he is poor and needy (Dt 15:11). Don’t mix up relief and belief. Acts of charity
of course will attract non-Christians towards the Christian faith. But when that’s not our
primary motive, and if antichristians misunderstand us and accuse us falsely, we need not
bother about it. God knows the hearts and He will fight for us. India cannot so easily forget
a Graham Staines and Mother Teresa.
What the Christian Missionaries have done thro’ the centuries all over the world to
improve the lot of people through social works cannot easily be erased from history. Take
India for example. Do we know that most Indian languages were developed by the early
Christian Missionaries — from alphabets to grammar, to phonetics, dictionaries, everything?
Do we know that these very people helped eradicate inhuman evils like sati, child marriage,
infanticide and others, and even worked in laying down our Nation’s Constitution? Based on
an analysis of over 100 Indian languages, Dr. Babu K. Verghese in his 750-page book, “Let
there be India!,” 2014, proves that Bible Missionaries as pioneers developed 85 Dictionaries,
116 Grammar books and 45 Newspapers in these languages between 150 and 200 years ago
when India had nothing of these. The first Printing Press was established by Missionaries in
1556 in Goa. The first vernacular newspaper was published in Bengali and Hindi by Serampore
Missionaries in 1818, besides an English Journal, Friend of India. Who can measure the
contribution of Christian Schools, Colleges and Hospitals in India? The Christian Medical
College Hospital (CMC) in Vellore, Tamilnadu, is a national pride. India comes here. The list
is endless. It was the Bible that created modern India, bringing it from traditions to modernity,
from insular to global, and from national to international. Therefore, dear Christian friend,
don’t believe the lie that Christians are foreigners and that Christian Missionaries have
destroyed the Indian culture. We actually open the eyes of the tribespeople and the ignorant
against exploitation by businessmen and politicians. We free the enslaved. We uplift the
downtrodden. We embrace the untouchables. We love the unloved and the unlovables. We
civilize cannibals and head hunters. We treat the lepers. We are anointed by God for this
humanitarian service (Lk 4:18,19).
We in the Indian Church have been the most direct beneficiaries of the work of overseas
Missionaries. Let’s thank God for this. But there’s still a backwardness in the Church we
need to be ashamed of. That’s casteism. It was casteism and racism among Christians that
prevented Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar from embracing Christianity though they
supremely revered Christ and His teachings. No caste is superior or inferior to the other.
God has made from one blood (or man) every nation of mankind (Acts 17:26). This was a
statement Apostle Paul, a Jew, made in Athens addressing Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
who charged him as “a proclaimer of foreign gods” (v18).
Where’s casteism after coming to Christ? The Bible repeatedly teaches, “There is neither
Jew nor Greek ... because you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28; Rom 10:12; Col 3:11).
In the ancient days, Jews will have no dealings with non-Jews. The Jews considered even
5Samaritans, who were half-Jews, as untouchables (Jn 4:9). In order to break this prejudice,
Jesus deliberately appreciated the Samaritans and non-Israelites over Israel on several
occasions (Lk 4:25-27; 7:9; 10:33; 17:16). About His death on the Cross, the Bible says, “He
has broken down the middle wall of division between us ... through the Cross ... putting to
death the enmity” (Eph 2:14-16). Here the word “us” means Israel and non-Israel (vv11-
13,17-22). If the Cross of Christ can bring together two diametrically opposite groups like
Jews and non-Jews in the Church, can it not unite Aryans and Dravidians in the Indian
Church and Community? The Cross symbolizes peace: the vertical staff speaks of peace
with God, and the horizontal speaks of peace with one another. What’s the point in keeping
Crosses in our Churches if we have not understood the basic Message of the Cross? Let’s
repent of this sin of casteism which has plagued not only the Churches but also paraChurch
organisations. A divided Church cannot heal a fractured society (Jn 17:21).
The citizens of India are given the fundamental right to “freedom of conscience and freedom
of profession, practice and propagation of religion.” You cannot have a right to “propagate”
when there’s a ban on being influenced by such propagation. Prevention of conversion by
“force, fraud or allurements” is a regulation to maintain public order. However, vague
definitions of terms such as “force,” “fraud,” “inducement” or “allurement” are open to misuse.
Take for example, the word “force.” God never plays with the free-will of man. Otherwise
He would have prevented the first man, Adam, from eating the forbidden fruit. Jesus never
forced anyone to follow Him. He simply gave open invitations. Look at these sayings: “Come
to Me, all who labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Here He was
referring to those crushed by laws impossible to obey. Again, “If anyone thirsts, let him come
to Me and drink” (Jn 7:37). He never wanted anyone follow Him out of emotional excitement
without counting the cost (Lk 14:27-33). Where is “force” here? We are accused that we
“force” people by mentioning “divine displeasure” over those who would not respond to
God’s call. Sorry, we can’t but “warn” people of the impending judgment. God warned Adam
in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:16,17). Moses warned people lest they go after false gods (Dt
4:2,3). The Prophets warned Kings and the people again and again, and called them to
repentance. John the Forerunner of Jesus warned the people of the “wrath to come” (Mt 3:7).
Jesus warned unbelievers, saying, “He who believes (the Gospel) and is baptized will be
saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:15,16). Apostle Paul thundered
from Mars’s Hill in Athens, “Truly, the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands
all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the
world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance
of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30,31).
The believers of Jesus Christ are God’s watchmen for the world. Here’s God’s commission
to them: “When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him no warning ... to
save his life ... his blood I will require at your hand” (Ezek 3:17,18). Is it not inhuman not to
warn fellowmen of the danger ahead? God’s danger signals are expressions of His love. “God
so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not PERISH but have eternal LIFE” (Jn 3:16). No Gospel preaching can be complete without
this glorious Biblical text. If I believe what the Bible says, and what the Bible says is what
God says, and if I love others as myself, I cannot suppress the Truth. This is the conviction
of every Evangelical Christian. With this conviction, we don’t “pressurise” people but
“persuade” them to be reconciled to God thro’ Christ who became sin for us. We are
“Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:18-21).
Dear fellow believers, never be terrified or intimidated by threats, oppositions and
persecutions (Phil 1:28). We are called not only to “believe” in Christ, but also to “suffer” for
6Him (v29). At the maximum, our heads will go. Remember what Jesus said: “Do not fear
those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him (God) who can destroy both
soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). There was never a time in Church History when there was
no opposition to evangelism and persecution of God’s people and His servants. Read through
the 28 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. This is the story of the early Church. We call it an
infant Church because it was in the formative stage. The new disciples and the apostles
were beaten and imprisoned. There were oppositions both from the traditional religionists
and civil authorities. Magicians and businessmen were against the Christian witnesses (Acts
13:6-8; 19:23-29). But nothing could stop them because they had believed the words of their
Master, Jesus, that the “building” of the Church and “battling” with evil powers will go hand
in hand (Mt 16:18). The more the Christians were persecuted the more they grew! This is
what Mr. Rajaji, an Indian Statesman, used to say: “Don’t crush Christians; they will multiply
like bedbugs!” The Bible says that God from His Throne in Heaven will “laugh” at the
persecutors of His children (Psa 2:1-4; 37:12-14). Pray specifically for the opponents. Usually
the vehement “opponents” of the Gospel become its mighty “proponents” and “exponents”
(Acts 9:21).
The Bible repeatedly admonishes us to obey the civil Government. Here’s the reason
why: “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed
by God” (Rom 13:1). Remember, this admonition was given to Christians who were under the
pagan Roman Rule. It matters not to us who comes to power—BJP or Congress or Communists!
We will obey all the rules, except if there come laws which prevent proclamation of the
Gospel of Christ, and which are opposed to basic Bible teaching. At such instances we will
remember the reply given by the Apostles to the Rulers who “commanded them not to speak
at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus.” Here it is: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to
listen to you more than to God, you must judge. For we CANNOT BUT SPEAK the things
which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:18-20). We are not talking about the “right” to propagate
our faith, but the “authority” Jesus has given us: “All authority in heaven and earth is given
to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I’ve
commanded you!” Following this command, which we call the Great Commission, He promised,
“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age!” (Mt 28:18-20). As the disciples of
Jesus, we have no option than to obey our Master. Our basic calling is to be “fishers of men”
(Mt 4:19). Christ’s abiding presence with us is assured. When you face enquiries, remember
what Jesus said: “When they bring you to trial ... do not be anxious beforehand what you are
to say ... for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mk 13:11). Do not get angry but
answer the questions gracefully (Col 4:5,6).
There’s a move all over India to ban “religious” conversions. This need not worry us,
because Christianity is not a “religion.” It’s a “Person!” This is what Apostle Paul, who once
was an opponent of Christian faith, testified: “To me, to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain”
(Phil 1:21). While writing to intellectual Greeks, he said, “We preach the crucified CHRIST”
(1 Cor 1:23). The pursuit of every Christian is to “know CHRIST” more and more (Phil 3:10).
Christianity is not a religion of rules and rituals. Christianity is Christ (Rom 8:9b; Gal 2:20).
In His last recorded long prayer Jesus told His Father, “This is ETERNAL LIFE, that they
may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:3).
There’s nothing as Christian “culture.” We have only Christian “faith.” One can believe in
Christ by being in any culture. As a Christian, you can be a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian
(Rom 14:2,3). We are called to “liberty,” and we are not to hurt or despise others but serve
them with love and respect (Gal 5:13,14). No culture is superior or inferior to the other. They
are only different. For example, we encourage new believers in tribal areas to worship God
with their cultural music and tribal dance. There’s no need to change one’s name at baptism.
7Jesus did not make all non-Jews as Jews though that’s what the Jews expected. He brought
Jews and non-Jews to the central point of the Cross! Apostle Paul declothed Christianity
from its Jewish clothing. Martin Luther declothed it from its Latin clothing. It’s the
responsibility of the Indian Christians to declothe it from its Western clothing. It’s erroneous
to think that Indian culture is Hindu, and Western culture is Christian. Only when certain
practices are related to the worship of idols, we need to change them. Because the very first
and the second of the Ten Commandments say, “I am the Lord your God ... You shall have no
other gods besides Me. You shall not make for yourself any carved image ... you shall not
bow down to them nor serve them” (Ex 20:1-5).
There are talks at the Government level to declare December 25th as a Day of “Good
Governance.” So what? Christ is the centre of history dividing it as B.C. and A.D. Who can
change this? History is His Story! However, there’s no record in the New Testament that the
early Christians celebrated Christmas. The Christmas story is only in two of the four Gospels.
But all the four Gospels record full details of Christ’s death and resurrection. While preaching
the Gospel, the Apostles started with and mainly stressed the “death” and the “resurrection”
of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4). Regarding the Lord’s Supper they taught the believers, “As often as
you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s DEATH till He comes” (1 Cor
11:26). Unfortunately Christmas is commercialised all over the world. For many it’s only
drinking and dancing. Santa Claus has taken the centrestage. “Christmas” has become
“X-mas!” After all December 25 was the date of a Roman pagan festival (for Sun god) which
was Christianized by the Church (for God’s Son) in Rome in A.D. 336.
If December 25th will be declared as “Good Governance Day,” what an opportunity for
us Christians to tell people about the forthcoming 1000-year REIGN of Christ on earth! The
most famous Christmas text in prophecy is Isaiah 9:6-7, which says, “Unto us a Child is
born, unto us a Son is given; and the GOVERNMENT will be upon His shoulder ... Of the
increase of His GOVERNMENT and of peace there will be no end!” The prophecy of Prophet
Micah (750-686 B.C.) concerning Christ’s place of birth says, “You Bethlehem, ... out of
you shall come forth the One to be RULER!” (Mic 5:2). When the wise men from the East saw
the star and came to Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is He who has been born KING?” (Mt
2:1,2). Governor Pilate mockingly put on the Cross the title, “Jesus of Nazareth, the KING of
the Jews!” (Jn 19:19). During the Millennium (1000-year reign), Christ will be called, “KING
of kings and LORD of lords” (Rev 19:16). Only during millennium, when Christ would be the
KING of kings (= Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Queens, etc.), there will be perfect
peace and righteousness, which the world has never witnessed (Isa 11:3-9). Even wolves
and lambs, leopards and goats, shall lie down together! Dear Christian preachers, pick up
the words, “Good Governance,” for your Christmas sermon title! Why not? Did not Apostle
Paul pick up the inscription, “To the Unknown God,” from the altar of a Roman Temple for
his sermon title? (Acts 17:22,23). Let me tell you something: Whatever any Government
does, it will ultimately benefit the Kingdom of God. Does not the Bible say, “The King’s
heart is in the hand of the Lord; like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes?”
(Prov 21:1). The Roman roads and the Greek language helped to spread the Christian
message so fast!
Instead of reacting to the Anticonversion Bills, let us repent of our disobedience to the
Great Commission. Did we do our best when the winds were favourable? Let’s repent of our
indifference towards the perishing souls all these years. PRAY more than ever for missionaries
and those not yet reached with the Gospel (Mt 9:37,38; 1 Tim 2:1-4). GO wherever you can
to introduce Christ to men and women. Get involved in some regular neighbourhood
evangelism. Consider seriously to invest the rest of your life in frontier missions. SUPPORT
missionary organisations, evangelistic agencies, relief ministries, Bible translation societies,
8and the like with liberal offerings. Don’t be bothered too much about the rules and laws
relating to evangelism. What’s important is not the “laws” but the “keys.” The keys are not in
the Parliament House, but in God’s House (Mt 16:18,19). Laws can “close” the doors, but not
“lock” them. It’s God who opens the doors, and no man can lock it! (Rev 3:7,8). Open doors
of course do not mean absence of opposition (1 Cor 16:9).
Earlier I mentioned that God would use persecution against the Church for its
“purification.” Purification not only means separating the chaff from the grains, but also
purifying the lives of individuals. The supreme and oft-repeated character of the God of the
Bible is holiness. He is incomparable in holiness (Ex 15:11). He has commanded us again
and again, “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev 11:44; 19:2; 1 Pet 1:16). The Apostles exhorted the
believers to be holy in all their conduct (1 Pet 1:15). This means practical holiness. We are
to walk as “children of light,” renouncing all works of darkness in our lives (Eph 5:8-13,3-5).
We must be “salt” if we are to bless the earth; we must be “light” if we are to bless the world
(Mt 5:13,14). Lifestyle evangelism is not a substitute for witnessing thro’ lips but it’s basic
(v16). There can be no argument against a life well lived (Dan 6:3,4,22). Apostle Paul,
imprisoned for the Gospel, wrote to the believers, “Don’t be frightened in anything by your
opponents ... Only let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel” (Phil 1:27,28). The God of the
Bible not only calls us to be holy; He also promises to make us holy (Lev 20:8). That’s why
Jesus prayed to the Father for the sanctification of His disciples (Jn 17:17). Where else can
we find a God like this? Let’s pray for a Holy Spirit revival that will flush out all that’s unholy
from our lives. That will make the Church truly attractive in the society. Withdraw all court
cases against fellow Christians (1 Cor 6:1-3). Avoid dirty politics in Church administration.
Anyone who “contests” or “canvasses” for leadership is not qualified to be a leader (Mk
9:33-35). God put the Church in the world; but the devil has put the world into the Church.
If a nation is to be healed of its ills, the Church in it must repent (2 Chr 7:14). “Judgment
must begin at the house of God” (1 Pet 4:17).
The Bible has the answer to all the major problems of India. Take for example, the disputes
over worship places. The Bible teaches that God is a Spirit and not a substance to be
localised (Jn 4:24). Even King Solomon (990-930 B.C.) who built that magnificent Temple in
Jerusalem confessed, “The Temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all
gods. But who is able to build Him a Temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot
contain Him?” (2 Chr 2:5,6). The dying words of the first martyr of the Church included this:
“Solomon built God a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with
hands” (Acts 7:47,48). The Bible teaches that our bodies are the Temple of God’s Spirit (1
Cor 6:19). The Church buildings or Prayer Halls are simply meeting places. There’s nothing
sacred about them. God’s presence is promised WHEREVER people gather in the Name of
Jesus (Mt 18:20). Not the dead bricks but God’s people the “living stones” make the Church
(1 Pet 2:4,5; Eph 2:21,22). In the same way, no Land is to be called “Holy” today. A visit to
Israel is only a “tour” and not a “pilgrimage.”
Sometimes we are accused that Christians in India are not patriotic. This is simply not
true. We love India. Christ loved India, and that’s why He made an exclusive appearance,
after His Resurrection, to His disciple Thomas who was to come to India. Thomas exclaimed
in response to Jesus, saying, “My Lord and my GOD!” (Jn 20:24-28). Only with this deep
conviction he came to India, a land of many gods and goddesses! Christianity and patriotism
are not opposed to each other. The Roman Empire was not Christian; but Apostle Paul,
though a Jew, was proud of his Roman citizenship (Acts 22:25-28). India is not Christian,
but we Indian Christians are proud of our Indian citizenship. Ours is a great Nation. God put
Joseph (1870 B.C.), a Hebrew, in Egypt, and he was a blessing to the entire Nation (Gen 39-
48). God put Daniel (555 B.C.), another Hebrew, in Babylon and he was a blessing to the
9entire Nation (Dan 2:48). We are taught in the Bible, “Pay to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt 22:21). These are the very words of
Jesus. Tax-evasion is antichristian (Rom 13:6,7). We must be law-abiding.
Any day the Indian Christians will be a blessing to this Nation. We don’t believe in terrorism.
Look at these words of our Master: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you
on the right cheek, turn to him the other side also” (Mt 5:38,39). He prayed for those who
crucified Him, saying, “Father, FORGIVE them, because they do not know what they do” (Lk
23:34). The first Christian martyr prayed for those who were stoning him to death, saying,
“Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60). Mrs. Gladys Staines, the widow of the
Missionary Doctor Graham Staines, said, “I FORGIVE those who burnt alive my husband
and two sons” (23 Jan 1999, Orissa). That’s why even atheists love us! The Rationalist Mr.
EVR’s famous Periyar Thidal in Egmore, Chennai, is regularly used for Christian meetings!
Religious freedom is desirable, but it is not a must for Evangelism and Church Growth. Is
not the Church growing fast in certain Islamic Nations and Communistic Countries? Dear
Christians, don’t resort to Protest Marches and Protest Fasts against anticonversion moves.
Rather, lift your voices to God in prayer like the early Church. Let’s have more signs, wonders
and remarkable miracles by the power of God to attest our preaching (Acts 4:16,24-31;
19:11; Mk 16:20). TV scenes of violent body-shaking, falling backwards, and rolling don’t
prove anything. These things are there in many religions. Don’t go on the so-called “Prayer
Walks” in Pilgrim Centres and around Temples and Mosques. This will irritate people and
hurt their religious sentiments. Christ has explicitly taught us to “pray in secret,” and our
Heavenly Father will “reward us openly” (Mt 6:6). Don’t shout “India for Christ,” rather,
“Christ for India!” Christ has not called us to Christianize the world but only evangelize it!
Our Indian Hindu friends are known for their tolerance. Some of them are more Christian in
virtues than Christians. Don’t take advantage of it and play the fool. Don’t attack other
religions and speak against idols (Acts 19:37). Simply proclaim the Uniqueness of Christ.
No one was born, and no one lived, taught, worked, died and rose again like Him. (Read my
8-page Tract, Is Christ Unique?). Avoid mockery of all sorts and behave with dignity on the
pulpit. If you are unwise and get into trouble, don’t call it persecution for the Gospel. Be
discreet.
The enemies of the Gospel are more inside Christendom than outside. They were there in
the first century itself. Here are some examples: Christians who always set their minds on
physical health and material wealth are “enemies of the Cross of Christ.” Apostle Paul mourned
that such people and preachers were too many. These men may talk about “Christ” but not
about the “Cross of Christ” which means suffering and shame (Phil 3:17-21). They have
taught Christians the one side of faith only, namely, “receiving” blessings. The other side is,
“giving up” things and “sacrificing” our lives (Heb 11:17,24-27,35-38). For them Christian
ministry is a business (1 Tim 6:5). And there are many liberals and modernists on our
pulpits who do not believe in the Uniqueness of Christ, Miracles, Rebirth, a literal Heaven,
a literal Hell, and the like (1 Jn 4:3). And there are those who “secretly bring in” legalism
into the Church against the “liberty in Christ” (Gal 2:4,5). Don’t be surprised if you are
betrayed by fellow Christians and family members before antichristians (Mt 24:9,10; Mk
13:10-13; Lk 21:12-19).
As warned by the early Apostles, we have “false apostles” (2 Cor 11:13), “false prophets”
(Mt 7:15), “false evangelists/another gospel” (Gal 1:6-8), “false shepherds” (Jn 10:12), and
“false teachers” (2 Pet 2:1). According to Jesus, they are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Mt
7:15). From inside they would devour the sheep (Acts 20:29). Pastors and Teachers must
teach believers how to identify these wolves. These are the people who through popular
media present a distorted version of Christianity and the Gospel. Systematic doctrinal
teaching should be a regular feature in the Church programmes.
10The Gospel of Christ is 2000 years old in India. There are still millions of people and
thousands of villages not reached with the Gospel yet. Don’t keep on preaching to the preached
and comforting the comforted. 95% of Christian money is spent on Christians only who are
hardly 3% in this Nation. How sad! Listen to what the Bible says: Eccl 11:6, “In the morning
sow your seed (of God’s Word), and at evening withhold not your hand; for you do not know
which will prosper, this or that, or both alike will be good.” 2 Cor 9:6, “Whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Tim 4:2,
“Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season.” Tell every non-Christian, “Christ
came over 2000 years ago as the Saviour, and He’s coming again soon as the Judge! Those
who do not receive Him today as their Saviour will have to face Him tomorrow as the Judge!”
Each one of the 100 prophecies in the Bible concerning the First Coming of Christ was
fulfilled literally. In the same way each one of the 300 prophecies concerning His Second
Coming also will be fulfilled. Let the love of Christ constrain us so much that we don’t rest
until we tell every non-Christian this most urgent and important message! No Indian should
go to Hell because we didn’t show him the Way to Heaven! Indians should fill Heaven! God
bless you!
Your brother
with love for India,
February 2015 R. Stanley
Recommended Reading:
“Biblical Christianity in the Indian Perspective”
by Wilber O’Donovan (2000) ... 400 pages
Price: Rs. 200/- Forwarding Rs. 50/-
11
“The Blood of Martyrs is the Seed of the Church!”
Here’s how the Disciples of Jesus died —
Matthew: Suffered martyrdom by being slain in Ethiopea.
Mark: Died at Alexandria, being dragged thro’ the streets.
Luke: Hanged on an olive tree in Greece.
John: Put in boiling oil. Afterward banished to Patmos Island.
Peter: Crucified upside down in Rome.
James the Less: Thrown from a pinnacle and beaten to death.
Bartholomew: Flayed alive.
Andrew: Bound to a Cross wherefrom he preached until dead.
Jude: Shot to death with arrows.
Mathias: Stoned and beheaded.
Paul: Beheaded at Rome by Emperor Nero.
Thomas: Killed by us by arrows in Chennai, India.
R. Stanley
13 Church Colony, Vellore 632 006, Tamilnadu
