ARE CHRISTIANS INDEED GUILTY OF FORCED CONVERSIONS IN INDIA?
Font size: 
Kaka.D.Iralu Guilty of coercions and forced conversions- that is the charge Hindu fundamentalist are accusing Christian missionaries and Christians in general in India today. They are trying to justify their religious terrorist activities upon this blatant lie and accusation. But before you burn the next Church or the next Christian, allow us Christians to state our beliefs and convictions regarding conversions.
The Christian religion, far from forcing conversions, begins with a nock at the doors of our hearts. Jesus our savior and Lord said in Revelations 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and nock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door; I will come into his house and eat with him and he with me.” The God and savior in whom we believe, far from forcing us to believe him stands at our hearts doors and nocks to be invited in. As God of the universe and King of all kings, he has the right and authority to barge into our hearts and forcefully demand that we believe and obey him. But the essence of Christianity and the Christian God is just the opposite of worldly and secular authority. It is divine love that seeks to save and redeem without force. In another figurative presentation of his love, Jesus is portrayed as the Good Shepherd who went seeking for the lost sheep (Mathew18:11-14). Jesus is also portrayed as a loving father who instead of cursing his wayward son waits for his son’s return with a lovesick heart (Luke15:11-32).
Now when our God is such a loving but unimposing God, how on earth can Christians be accused of forcing others to believe in our God? In fact, to force our religion on others is contrary to all that Christianity stands for.
As his disciples and ambassadors, Jesus has sent us to knock on other people’s doors, inviting them to accept the wonderful salvation that Jesus has purchased on the cross of Calvary with His own blood for the redemption of all humanity. We are however never commanded to force others to believe in what we believe. On the contrary, if the Christian message of love and salvation is rejected; this is what Jesus told his disciples to do: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorra on the Day of Judgment than for that town.”(Matt 10:24-15). In yet another admonition, Jesus said: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy; let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be” (Rev. 22:11-12.)
The Christian religion, far from forcing conversions, begins with a nock at the doors of our hearts. Jesus our savior and Lord said in Revelations 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and nock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door; I will come into his house and eat with him and he with me.” The God and savior in whom we believe, far from forcing us to believe him stands at our hearts doors and nocks to be invited in. As God of the universe and King of all kings, he has the right and authority to barge into our hearts and forcefully demand that we believe and obey him. But the essence of Christianity and the Christian God is just the opposite of worldly and secular authority. It is divine love that seeks to save and redeem without force. In another figurative presentation of his love, Jesus is portrayed as the Good Shepherd who went seeking for the lost sheep (Mathew18:11-14). Jesus is also portrayed as a loving father who instead of cursing his wayward son waits for his son’s return with a lovesick heart (Luke15:11-32).
Now when our God is such a loving but unimposing God, how on earth can Christians be accused of forcing others to believe in our God? In fact, to force our religion on others is contrary to all that Christianity stands for.
As his disciples and ambassadors, Jesus has sent us to knock on other people’s doors, inviting them to accept the wonderful salvation that Jesus has purchased on the cross of Calvary with His own blood for the redemption of all humanity. We are however never commanded to force others to believe in what we believe. On the contrary, if the Christian message of love and salvation is rejected; this is what Jesus told his disciples to do: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorra on the Day of Judgment than for that town.”(Matt 10:24-15). In yet another admonition, Jesus said: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy; let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be” (Rev. 22:11-12.)
An open question to the Hindu fundamentalist in India
The fact of the Christian mission is therefore one where we are sent to knock at people’s doors on behalf of Jesus, but we are never commanded to force them to believe. On the contrary, if they refuse our message, we are told to leave them alone in God’s own hands for his own Justice on the final Day of Judgment.
In line with this injunction and commandment, far from forcing others to become Christians, we have only been doing good works for the upliftment of the oppressed and downtrodden both in India as well as in other parts of the world. This is because we have been commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves whether they accept or reject us. In this mission of love, the Christian missions and community in India have immensely contributed towards the building of the modern India in which we live today. This contribution came mostly through the educational institutes that were set up by the Christian missionaries like William Carey (1761-1834). William Carey was instrumental in abolishing the Sati and child infanticide. He translated the Bible into 26 Indian languages and produced many Indian dialect grammars and dictionaries. He also edited the translation of the Ramayana into English. He was Professor of Sanskrit in the Fort William College which he established in 1800. He was also a founding member of the Serampore College. Space will not allow me to recount the contributions of other Christian missionaries like Rev.David Brown, Rev.Buchman, Joshua Marshman, Alexander Duff and many others. To the honorable memory of these Christian missionaries goes the credit of establishing the first colleges in India, first schools for female Indians besides establishment of teacher training centers, and ultimately the founding of the first Calcutta, Bombay and Madras universities in 1857.
These Christian missionaries were in turn assisted by Christian politicians and Parliamentarians like William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Charles Grant, Lord Macaulay, etc. Together they charted the path for the emancipation of India’s millions from slavery to religious persecutions, economic exploitation and ultimately India’s political freedom.
In the area of India’s struggle for her political freedom, I do not know of any Christians playing any prominent role. This is because the Christian mission is not one of establishing a political kingdom on earth except to teach the principle of God’s kingdom to be established on earth. (See Matt. 6:10). However it is an undeniable historical fact that the Christian missionaries and the Christian missions in India set the foundation for India’s political freedom. Almost all of India’s freedom fighters right from Raja Ram Mohan Roy to Gandhi and Nehru got their principles of freedom from the educational institutions that were set up by the Christian missions from 1793 to the eve of 1947. In this connection, noted Indian Jurist Mr. Nani Palkhivala had this to say: “Let us not pretend that the rule of law is a concept which can be regarded as a part of the Indian psyche”. Indeed concepts of freedom, liberty and the rule of law that led to India’s political freedom did not originate from the Vedas or the Upanishads. It had its roots in Biblical theology which were introduced into India through the educational institutes that were established by the Christian missions. Even today some of the best schools and colleges catering to the educational needs of the poor and downtrodden of Indian’s millions are run by Christian missions. There are thousands of such Christian schools and colleges throughout the length and breadth of India.
In the light of all these overwhelming historical facts, I on behalf of all Christians of India want to pose this question to all fundamentalist Hindu citizens of India who are presently instigating violence against Christians in India:
Is the desecration and burning of churches, the raping of nuns, the murder of missionaries and wardens of orphanages, your way of saying thank you to the Christian community for what it has contributed in making India a great nation today?
India can only hold together as a nation under the principles of a Secular Democratic Republic where every religion is recognized and respected. To try and establish a Hindu Raj or a Mughal empire in modern India today would be to relegate India back into the 18th and 19th centuries. One hopes that no sane Indian would ever attempt or harbor such an impossible as well as horrible dream.
Kaka.D.Iralu
(A Christian from Nagaland)
The fact of the Christian mission is therefore one where we are sent to knock at people’s doors on behalf of Jesus, but we are never commanded to force them to believe. On the contrary, if they refuse our message, we are told to leave them alone in God’s own hands for his own Justice on the final Day of Judgment.
In line with this injunction and commandment, far from forcing others to become Christians, we have only been doing good works for the upliftment of the oppressed and downtrodden both in India as well as in other parts of the world. This is because we have been commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves whether they accept or reject us. In this mission of love, the Christian missions and community in India have immensely contributed towards the building of the modern India in which we live today. This contribution came mostly through the educational institutes that were set up by the Christian missionaries like William Carey (1761-1834). William Carey was instrumental in abolishing the Sati and child infanticide. He translated the Bible into 26 Indian languages and produced many Indian dialect grammars and dictionaries. He also edited the translation of the Ramayana into English. He was Professor of Sanskrit in the Fort William College which he established in 1800. He was also a founding member of the Serampore College. Space will not allow me to recount the contributions of other Christian missionaries like Rev.David Brown, Rev.Buchman, Joshua Marshman, Alexander Duff and many others. To the honorable memory of these Christian missionaries goes the credit of establishing the first colleges in India, first schools for female Indians besides establishment of teacher training centers, and ultimately the founding of the first Calcutta, Bombay and Madras universities in 1857.
These Christian missionaries were in turn assisted by Christian politicians and Parliamentarians like William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Charles Grant, Lord Macaulay, etc. Together they charted the path for the emancipation of India’s millions from slavery to religious persecutions, economic exploitation and ultimately India’s political freedom.
In the area of India’s struggle for her political freedom, I do not know of any Christians playing any prominent role. This is because the Christian mission is not one of establishing a political kingdom on earth except to teach the principle of God’s kingdom to be established on earth. (See Matt. 6:10). However it is an undeniable historical fact that the Christian missionaries and the Christian missions in India set the foundation for India’s political freedom. Almost all of India’s freedom fighters right from Raja Ram Mohan Roy to Gandhi and Nehru got their principles of freedom from the educational institutions that were set up by the Christian missions from 1793 to the eve of 1947. In this connection, noted Indian Jurist Mr. Nani Palkhivala had this to say: “Let us not pretend that the rule of law is a concept which can be regarded as a part of the Indian psyche”. Indeed concepts of freedom, liberty and the rule of law that led to India’s political freedom did not originate from the Vedas or the Upanishads. It had its roots in Biblical theology which were introduced into India through the educational institutes that were established by the Christian missions. Even today some of the best schools and colleges catering to the educational needs of the poor and downtrodden of Indian’s millions are run by Christian missions. There are thousands of such Christian schools and colleges throughout the length and breadth of India.
In the light of all these overwhelming historical facts, I on behalf of all Christians of India want to pose this question to all fundamentalist Hindu citizens of India who are presently instigating violence against Christians in India:
Is the desecration and burning of churches, the raping of nuns, the murder of missionaries and wardens of orphanages, your way of saying thank you to the Christian community for what it has contributed in making India a great nation today?
India can only hold together as a nation under the principles of a Secular Democratic Republic where every religion is recognized and respected. To try and establish a Hindu Raj or a Mughal empire in modern India today would be to relegate India back into the 18th and 19th centuries. One hopes that no sane Indian would ever attempt or harbor such an impossible as well as horrible dream.
Kaka.D.Iralu
(A Christian from Nagaland)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment