Inside Hinduism: A Story of Freedom

We went to their house for dinner so they could help two short-term workers be better prepared to learn and serve in their country of origin.  We were expecting cultural revelations, but we came away with a story of God’s greatness. 

Maneesha is a beautiful Mauritian woman, with a devoted husband and gorgeous baby girl.  But her life has not always been easy.  Growing up, her father was a witch doctor, a man whose life was destined to be changed.  One day, Maneesha’s brother grew sick with a strange illness which lasted a long time.  Each time the boy reached for his school bag, he would fall down as though dead.  This didn’t happen once in a while, but for 4-5 years.  During that time, Maneesha herself became ill with half her face in perpetual pain.  Illness haunted the boy, then Maneesha, then her aunt, and finally Maneesha’s father. 

Desperate, they visited doctor after doctor – good ones, renowned for their skill.  Then the visits to the witch doctors started.  “It was scary,” Maneesha said, her eyes burning brightly.  “We would watch as animals were sacrificed, their blood spilt.  But nothing changed.  We remained sick.”

Then her father met a man of God, who came to their home to pray.  Maneesha’s father would not give in easily and their conversation turned to debate.  But then something happened.  “Okay,” her father said.  “I give in.  I will follow Jesus.”

From that day forward the family was healed, and together, they turned to Jesus. 

This is Maneesha’s story, but by God’s grace, it could also be the story of many others trapped in darkness and despair, bound to lifeless, impotent, immobile idols which do nothing to bring hope and salvation and joy.  They need Jesus, the life-giver, healer, protector, saviour. 

Will you be a part of bringing change to the Maneesha’s of the world?

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Inside Hinduism: Sights and Smells

“I am a Hindu,” writes Yann Martel in his book, Life of Pi, ”because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce one’s arrival to God, because of the… beating of drums… because of the fragrance of incense… because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith. I became loyal to these sense impressions even before I knew what they meant or what they were for… I am aware of Presence, not personal the way we usually feel presence, but something larger.  My heart still skips a beat when I catch sight of the murti, of God Residing, in the inner sanctum of a temple… My hands naturally come together in reverent worship. I hunger for prasad, that sugary offering to God that comes back to us as a sanctified treat.”

This is one of the best descriptions of Hinduism I have come across.  We can understand the philosophy of a religion, but unless we grasp the heart of it – the colour and the texture of it, the taste and the smell of it, the sound and the inner heartbeat of it, we won’t be able to fully engage with those whose very cultural identity is wrapped up with their religion.  For the vast majority, to be Indian or Nepali or Balinese is to be Hindu.  To be Hindu is to be Indian or… to see India as your motherland.  And they are Hindu because they were born Hindus.  As children they rang bells to summon the gods, tasted the sweetness of prasad, they were smeared with vermilion, and entered into their identity and their community of being Hindu. 

There are one billion of these humans who do not know Jesus!  Will you enter their world for the sake of their destinies?

  

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Inside Hinduism: What is it?

It’s incredible to think that 15% of the world’s population practice Hinduism.  That’s more than one billion people, most of whom live in Asia.  But what is Hinduism?  What do Hindus really believe?  To bring Hinduism into sharper focus, let’s do a brief compare/contrast between those who are followers of Hinduism and those who follow Jesus.

Hinduism believes that all religions are valid ways to God.  So whether you worship Krishna or Kali, Buddha or Jesus, they are all paths to salvation.  But Jesus was clear.  “I am the way, the truth, life,” He said.  “No-one comes to the Father but through me.”  According to Christianity, Jesus is the only way.

Hindus believe in reincarnation, a cycle of rebirths where they advance through birth after birth, life after life, until all karmas have been worked out, and liberation from this cycle (moksha), has been achieved.  Followers of Jesus believe that we live one life.  Heb. 9:27 states, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement…”

Hinduism sees moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) as the aim.  When moksha is realised, people themselves become gods.  They gain moksha by earning good karma through good works, following a guru, practicing yoga, performing ceremonial deeds, etc.  It is by their own effort.  But the Bible makes it clear that people are in need of salvation because they are sinful and have broken relationship with God.  They only way for this broken relationship to be fixed is through faith in Jesus.  It is through His redemptive work on the cross. 

The gods within Hinduism do not forgive sins and are not interested in saving their followers.  If a wrong is done, the sinner pays for their wrong-doing in the next life.  The only escape is for their good karma to outweigh their bad karma.  But God revealed in Jesus Christ is a God of love and mercy, ready to forgive those truly sorry for their wrong-doing. To satisfy his justice, a price had to be paid for these wrongs, but moved by mercy, Jesus paid this price for us.

Hinduism is a religion of many gods - 330 million at last count! Brahmā: the creator, Śiva: the destroyer, and Viṣṇu: the preserver, are the three highest gods.  Followers of Jesus worship one God and Jesus is his name!

Hinduism is the epitome of relativism, stating that there is no absolute truth; it depends on the individual.  However, Jesus said God’s Word is the truth (Jn. 17:17).  It is the external standard by which followers of Jesus live.

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Next blog: Inside Hinduism: Sights and Smells