The Church of Christ

(Based on the Word of God; dedicated to the promotion of independence, Indianisation, unity, co-operation, and to the removal of corruption and evil in all forms and in all places.)

A Hymn of Praise to Christ

(Rendered from Sanskrit)

  O Thou! The Word, the Very Word!
    Who wast with God,
    Who wast inherent in Him,
    Who art the source of all light,
    Whose creative skill is His revelation.
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee,

  O Thou! I Who lookest the form of man
    For the salvation of man,
    Thou art true,
    Thou art eternal,
    Whose very Person,
    Is man's Good
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee.

  O Thou! Who in the ages gone by,
    hast been declared to be
    The wonderful Counsellor,
    The almighty God,
    Eternal Father, Prince of peace,
    Immanuel, Nara narayanam (God in man's way)
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee.

  O Thou! Whose Coming as the Messiah
    unprecedented event,
    Little heard of before,
    yet revealed all over the world now,
    whose immaculate character
    is Sin's destruction,
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee.

  O Thou! The Son of God
    who, in the dark lonely garden,
    Wast soaked with drops of
    Flowing warm blood,
    Filled with sorrow,
    with a pierced heart,
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee.

  O Thou! Who, in painful death,
    wast befriended by a wealthy man,
    The ground of salvation
    From sin and death,
    The Risen Lord,
    Victorious over death,
  I salute Thee, O Lord! I salute Thee.

Pandita Ramabai Medhavi

By Miss Kamal Deshpande

Pandita Ramabai Medhavi died on April 5, 1922. In April this year the 50th death anniversary was observed in many big cities of Maharashtra, leading public men and women taking part, because Pandita Ramabai’s influence still goes on in India.

Pandita Ramabai was born on April 23, 1858. As an infant she travelled miles and miles in a basket on a servant’s head with her father Anant Shastri Dongre, a priest. They travelled long distances on pilgrimages. By the time she was 9, Ramabai could recite 18000 slokas of the “Puranas,” the Hindu sacred book.

Later Ramabai obtained the degree of “Pandita Saraswati” at Galdutta because of the vast learning she had of Sanskrit. As a “young woman she had a real desire to do something for the women of India. She was able to fulfil this longing of her heart only when she found the Lord Jesus Christ.

Having wholly dedicated her life to the Lord Jesus Christ, she was able to rescue hundreds of women during the famine of 1882- 1884 and established a home for the widows and destitute women, and is now known as the Ramabai Mukti Mission at Kedgaon near Poona.

She wrote to the Hunter Commission with the view of uplifting the standard of women folk. She pleaded that the women be taught the same as men in the sphere of medical and other faculties, and that Hindi be the national language of India. The Hunter Commission later agreed to this. Today we see women sitting in Parliament, becoming ministers, and equally trained as doctors to serve humanity in India. Today Hindi is the leading national language, thanks to pioneers like Pandita Ramabai.

Apart from her evangelical conviction and social concern, she took time in the translation of the Holy Bible from the Original Hebrew and Greek, taking her 18 years to do this. In establishing the Ramabai Mukti Mission she aimed that every inmate there should be an independent individual person whether sighted or blind.

So when I was in Poona (1914) attending a meeting of the Executive Committee of the S.C.M. of India I visited Kedgeon for a whole day.

I have not forgotten her shining face full of holiness and love. In those days her Institution had 1100 widows and 200 women girls who had been dishonoured in some way or other in Society. I was pleasantly surprised to find that in be personal life and in Institution every thing was indigenous.

(Before my Baptism in 1908 I had read a brief life and testimony of Pandita Ramabai and had a great desire to see her and her work.)

— R.C. Das

What Kind of Church

Smt. Manorama R. Modak

Many Christian Indians consider their church to be western institutions and therefore feel that they should confirm to the view points and practices of those churches. But the churches who have sent missionaries to India originated in Asia; and, moreover, have vastly changed from the churches founded in Western Asia by Jesus’ disciples. The fundamentals of the western churches as they are today were three hundred years in developing, and in developing away in some respects from the disciples conception of the church. And less fundamental aspects have kept on changing.

The question can therefore legitimately be raised, on which model of which period in the Church’s history should the Indian one be based. In this article some of the fundamental differences between the churches of the 1st century and those of the 4th century are discussed, and the succeeding article will deal with the reasons for these differences occurring.

The disciples were middle-class people although Jesus and Paul were educated in both the Jewish and Greek systems. Aside from those two, no indication exists that the Christians of the first years Were predominantly thinkers. Fifty to seventy-five years elapsed after Jesus, before the earliest books of the New Testament were executed, and by that time ideas foreign to Jesus had crept into the thinking of Christians. The Gospels and Paul’s writings reflect this fact.

The church of the first century, organised by the disciples and Paul, consisted of small groups of people, persecuted by the government because they did not follow the religions of the Roman Empire, or the important custom of bowing to the image of the emperor, a symbol of a citizen’s loyalty to the government. Persecution and the smallness of the numbers of Christians brought them together in close association. By the 4th century the Christian church covered the entire Roman Empire … the Mediterranean world, and also had settled down in India. It had become fashionable to be a Christian, the emperor a member, bringing it political power.

During the first seventy-five years the Sermon on the Mount was the basic guide of the Christians. In this period were written the Apostles Creed and the Apostolic Constitutions, consisting of several documents, including The Two Ways and The Teaching of the Apostles. These documents enlarge on the Sermon, emphasising Jesus’ concept that life is to be lived in the world of daily affairs, and with the attitude toward it which flows from the conviction that God is like a father, his spirit in man as the blood of the physical father is in the child, and that consequently men must live as loving, sharing brothers.

History gives us the account of Jesus’ disciple, John, too weak in his old age to walk, being carried into the meetings of Christians, and preaching the simple but effective sermon in five words, “Little Children, love one another.”

The Teaching of the Apostles begins with the sentence, “First, you shall love the God who made you; second, your neighbour as yourself: whatsoever things you would have done to yourself, do to another.”

“You shall not commit perjury; you shall not give false testimony; you shall not speak evil; you shall not bear malice; you shall not be double-minded or double tongued, for double tonguedness is a snare leading to death of the soul. Your speech shall not be false or hollow, but filled to the full of deeds. You shall not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evilly disposed, nor haughty; you shall not act mischievously with your neighbour. You shall not hate any man, but some you shall rebuke, and for some you shall pray, and some you will love more than your own soul. Be not a murmurer, for murmuring is on the road to blasphemy; nor self-willed, nor evil minded, for from all these things blasphemies are born. But be meek for the mean inherit the earth; be long-suffering and have pity; be guileless and quiet and kind, and seized of the words you hate heard … You shall not hesitate to give, or in giving you shall not murmur for you know who is the good Paymaster of what you have earned. You shall not turn away from him that is in need, but you shall have all things with your brother and shall not say they are your own, for if you are fellow-sharers in that which immortal, how much more in mortal thing.”

Toward the end of the first century, after the Christians had grown in number and were led by bishops, the second part of this manual concerned church discipline. “If any man who has sinned sees the bishop and the deacons free from fault, and the flock abiding in peace, firstly, he will not venture to enter into the assembly of God, being smitten by his own conscience; but if, secondly, setting lightly aside his sin, he should venture to enter, he will forthwith be taken to task … and either be punished, or being admonished by the pastor, will be drawn to repentance. For looking round the assembly one by one, and finding no blemish either the bishop or in the ranks of the people, with shame and many tears he will go out in peace, pricked in heart, and the flock will have been cleansed, and he will cry with tears to God and will repent of his sin, and will have hope, and the whole flock, beholding his tears, will be admonished that he who has sinned and repented is not lost.”

He sinned when he failed to follow the Sermon and his sins were not overlooked. He could not remain a Christian if he failed to follow the Sermon. This was the ethical purity of the church maintained, and it became an example to its neighbours. How different from today’s church wherein cheaters and widely back-biters so frequently disgrace the name, and Christian blood-brothers quarrel over their father’s property!

We have the argument of Aristides in the period of 117 to 130 A.D., a lawyer who represented condemned Christians before Emperor Hadrian. His only defence of these unfortunate people was that their high moral character made them an asset to the empire. No one could point an accusing finger at the members of the early church.

Moreover, because of their moral purity, their leader could preach with conviction and power, spontaneously. Prophesying in the New Testament was not prediction of future events but preaching with conviction as God told them.

Because of the moral conduct and enthusiasm of the Christians of the first century the church converted the entire Mediterranean world.

(to be continued)

Correspondence

From Rao Sahib K. Subba Rao, B.A.B.T.,
P.O. Munipalle, via Pat Sala Tadipara, Guntur District, A.P.

Dated: 19th September 1972.

Respected Acharya,

Ref: “Church of Christ” Occasional Paper Series, Volume 9, Issue 2, 1972, Page 21.

Criticising some of the foreign missions you were pleased to write (point 11). “They exhibit in their dealings with men blind bigotry conceit and braggart claiming that (1) Christ is the only Saviour: (2) except Christians, others are lost; (3) Hinduism is all darkness; (4) no truth in other religions.”

1. Don’t you think that Christ is the only Saviour? Kindly explain fully
2. Almost all the Christian preachers say that except Christians others are lost. Don’t you agree with them? Why not?
3. If Hinduism is not all darkness, why should one embrace Christianity?
4. If there is truth in other religions, why should one take to Christian religion? Without taking Christian religion, is it possible to be a disciple of Lord Jesus? As a person loved by Christ I wish, to know in detail. Kindly explain fully.

Yours for Christ’e sake,

Sd/- K. Subba Rao.

(For those who do not know, it may be explained that Brother Subba Rao is an unbaptised believer in Christ. But he is a frank and open disciple of the Lord whom he worships and in whose name he has been healing the sick on a large scale. In the past issues of this paper reports and reflections on his life and work have been published. -Editor)

Answers to Questions Raised

I must thank Rao 8ahib for asking the questions which are quite legitimate. For lack of space my criticisms of some of the missions had to be very brief though concise. But one can see that some of my remarks may not be quite intelligible and a few may be misconstrued. So I proceed to answer. But to explain fully and in detail would require the writing of a book which is not possible. I would however explain fully, and I hope satisfactorily, in quiet conversation. Why could not our Brother undertake a pilgrimage to Varanasi and live with me for a while. It will provide a physical and mental change. Varanasi is the centre of Hindu culture - ancient and modern and an attraction to international visitors. Let him come with his Sahadharminee. I covet the fellowship.

1. Yes, I do think, believe and accept that Christ is the only Saviour, I have also enjoyed the personal experience of this truth. But what is salvation? Different religions give different answers, and they are more or less true. According to Jnanins Moksha - cancellation of the cycle of births and merging in the being of Brahman - ultimate Reality. This is attained by the dawn of Vidya - true knowledge or realisation that only Brahman is true, and the world is false, unsubstantial, a dream, a mistaken snake. Vaishnavism offers salvation through Bhakti (loving devotion or faith) in Krishna, as a fellowship in the presence and association of Vishnu Bhagwan in Baikunth. All those who fulfil the scheme of sacred Karma go to heaven - regarded as salvation by ordinary folks. These ways to salvation or forms of salvation need not be mutually contradictory - may be harmonised as mutually complementary as each kind of salvation is partially true.

   Christianity would accept those bits of truth. But as these ways of salvation - Jnan, Bhakti, Karma - all presume and involve self-effort - Sadhan. Christ offers a unique and complete salvation - salvation from moral evil - sin and its power and redemption from the snares of the world and the devil and this cannot be attained through one’s own power of will but through the merits of the self-giving of God on the cross. Christian salvation does not issue from self but from a divine Person who has the moral competence to give it to a repentant sinner. This salvation in a moral sense is the precondition of the other kinds of salvation viz., (a) true knowledge of and unity (not losing identity) in God, (b) fellowship with Bhagwan,

   (c) enjoying heaven. These cannot be had without a new birth through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”, said Jesus (Matthew 5:8).

   Christian salvation being complete, perfect, in proper order (soul, mind, body - all three aspects of personality being redeemed - and leading to non-attachment, conquest of the terrors of death, a joyous victorious life here on earth) and so final and unique, the Saviour is unique - the Only. There are other reasons for his uniqueness, (1) His sinless perfect character, (2) His divinity in a different sense than the Hindu idea, (8) His supreme revelation of divine love in his life and death, (4) His resurrection - power over death, (5) predictions of His coming throughout centuries before His incarnation, etc. A Person of this type is not to be found elsewhere if we read and interpret all scriptures and other religions with any fairness or honesty.

   The idea of uniqueness is there in Hinduism though Hindus denounce Christians for holding it. All the Margis are essentially and practically exclusive and owe single loyalty to their gods - Brahman, Bhagwan, Ram, Krishna, Nanak, Kavir, Buddha, etc. Sri Krishna himself wants absolute and single loyalty to himself “Sarbadharman narityayya mom ekam sharana brajah.” Giving up all religions (Systems of doctrines and religious practices) take shelter in me alone. Only Me - a Person not a religion. He saves from all, sins. His teaching is right. The most important point were is not the ‘single loyalty’ but who the Person is who is really worthy of this loyalty. This is, for every man, a personal decision after careful and full enquiry. As the idea of uniqueness in teaching and practice is there in the vast Hindu society, Hindus should not resent or object to the Christian claim to it and presentation of it to all men.

   What I criticise in some missions is not the uniqueness itself but the manner and spirit and method of its presentation to Hindus - the preachers with evident pride and a sense of superiority in their hearts and thinking low of Hindus. They point this as a doctrine and a precondition right in the beginning of their messages as if everything depended on its pre-acceptance. It is a wrong method and a tactical error. The Hindus must firstly know the life and character and personality of Jesus, and they will naturally understand his uniqueness by themselves not by repeated projection of it in an offensive manner. Do preachers have adequate love and humility and do they exemplify the uniqueness by their personal faith and devotion as distinct from mere verbal assertion however correct in a theoretical sense. The Hindu is not convinced by correctness of doctrine but by living the truth and walking the way. How many of the preachers identify themselves with our countrymen as Jesus did and the apostles did?

   This sort of formal claim has made western Christians not only proud in their hearts but aggressive in behaviour. This aggressiveness is being fed by wealth, organisation and man power. It has indirectly produced in the western so-called Christian nations a spirit of imperialism, militancy, and political and martial aggression. It is really unthinkable the way many such nations have in recent centuries behaved towards the weaker and coloured notions. So preachers! Beware and be humble like Christ. It is interesting to know in this connection what impression Dr. E. Stanley Jones made on Gandhiji who admitted Jones to be “sincere but proud.”

2. All except Christians are lost. I do not agree nor the Word of God does. If it were true, all the Jews and all other men before the coming of Christ must have been lost. But the whole of the Old Testament denies it. All who do not know Christ at the present and all who have had no adequate knowledge will be lost. This will happen and continue to happen until Christ comes again. All children and a huge majority of Christians will be lost because the Church has failed to reach them throughout the centuries gone by and Church will always default. With all reverence to Him, God must be a very inefficient and unintelligent person. He must be a stupid and partisan and unjust manager of the world he was created. He has very badly mismanaged, no, his plans were very faulty, his dispensation on wrong lines to cause such vast injustice. How can a good intelligent God and a loving heavenly Father of Jesus Christ do that?

   So it cannot be. I cannot as a rational man impute such unworthy epithets to God - a fool and an unjust tyrant. He created vast creatures full of tremendous potentialities and a callous God sends them to Gehenna!

   The fault lies with us in not understanding God’s plan and scheme of salvation aright. God has sent his light abroad into the hearts of all men irrespective of country, culture, colour or religion. The eternal Logos, as St. John puts it, “the Word of God, who is integrated in God and is very God, the Creator who lighteneth every man that comes into the world” (John 1:9). “His life was the light of all men”, and “the light shineth in the darkness” (of sin, of error, of Maya) (John 1:4-5). But all men did not receive the light equally well just as the sun’s rays are for all places but some shut them, some stupidly, others deliberately. The differences in the quantity and quality of the light among different nations were due to the differences in their receptive powers - their sensitivity. Abraham and later prophets followed a narrow streak of light and followed it faithfully and in a forthright manner. Indian Munis and Rishis (saints and sages) received a large amount of light in a defused condition (twilight) and in diverse portions and manners. But the full light of the right quality come through the Son of God. (Hebrews 1:1).

   God judges men on the basis of the faithfulness of men to the lights and the kind of light they have and not in terms of the perfect light which they have not known. He rejects only those who have known the truth and yet have rejected it wilfully and deliberately (sin, against the Holy Spirit). The sins of ignorance and inability on the part of prophets (missionaries or preachers) - bearers of the Word and especially on the part of the hearers and enquirer, the good and patient God forgives. (St. Paul in Acts 17:30). Is not this right reasoning and worthy thinking and Scripture!

   As to how, when and where God will forgive or does forgive or accept ignorant or insufficiently informed men, women, children - Christian and non-Christian - we do not know. The Word of God does not throw clear light on this subject except bare hints, and it is for our benefit so that we may have faith and more faith and love in abundance in our hearts, in our dealings with men. We have no right to judge, nor does our Lord, as Saviour, judges anyone. He says judge not. (Matthew 7:1).

   Gentiles, heathens, other cultures - have revelation and truth. (Vide Romans 1:19-26: 2:14, 15; Acts 14:17). “God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35.) Other revelations, lights, truths may be, and are, hazy, broken, imperfect, but they all belong to, converge on, integrated with, and harmonised in, the Truth.

3. These two questions are essentially one. “If Hinduism is not all darkness,” “if there is truth in other religions,” where is the necessity for accepting Christianity? Firstly, we do not embrace a religion but come and accept Christ, take shelter in Him and surrender to Him as Saviour, Lord and God. Such Bhaktas - devotees, disciples or believers enter a visible Fellowship - called the Church - the Body of Christ through the rite of Baptism for mutual encouragement and helpfulness and for access to a body of right belief and a pattern of Christian behaviour as well as for the fulfilment of the purpose of Christian life. But all this is centred in and round the Person of Jesus Christ. When the Church becomes more of an organisation and institution backed by wealth, manpower and constitution only, believers personally abiding in Christ have a right to reform and reconstitute the outer shell of the Body of which is always continuing entity since its origin with the apostles.

So, a believer is primarily and essentially related to Christ but naturally, and of moral necessity, he is also related to the Church, the Fellowship in Jesus or the Body of Christ. An isolated and individual believer or a small (even a big) group of disciples cut off from the main streams of life will die of inanity. A brilliant idea in a philosopher’s brain or a noble piece of work without sympathy or co-operation and support from others will disappear in the same way. With all its defects, weaknesses and sins of omission and commission the Church is the best institution in the world and sound in its core. It is the repository of truth (not the source of originator) and shelter and mother of all children of God. A person can be a believer without accepting baptism, Church or Christianity, but he will be in a precarious condition. It ought to be clear to any thinking man that by becoming disciples of Christ we also accept His way, His teachings and commands. These, when septemised, harmonised, believed in sincerely, interpreted and cultivated, give rise to doctrines, worship, evangelism. These latter form the religion of Christianity or the Christian religion. Doctrines are truths of Christ embodied in human language as correct as available. So, doctrines are changeable in form as the language or terms of thought change. Similarly, worship form, evangelistic method - are bound to change from age to age, country to country. But their source, spirit and substance in Christ who is constant.

So, when one believes in Christ, his faith to be full and effective must issue into membership of his body and the Christian religion subject to the understandings and distinction hinted above. So, in accepting Christ primarily as the Acharya (Lord) of Life, a man by implication accepts (is grafted into) the Body and Religion however remotely and secondarily.

The Church is not like a club got together by a few here and there by raising some subscriptions and keeping a membership Register. When or where a section of the Church behaves like that for all practical purposes it stands in need of radical change and renewal; or deserves rejection. The Church was founded by God and Christ. With all unnecessary and evil accessions and parasites clinging to it, it has been and shall be till Judgment and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13-19).

Approach to God and Christ is not the same for every one. God works mysteriously and be can work also out of the Church as he is the God, of all. Some find in the life of the Church - in its worship or in its evangelical and humanitarian work attraction for a bigger life for themselves, learn of Christ in the Church and accepts the fellowship of the Church through Baptism (practised and enjoined by Christ Himself and by all subsequent apostles, prophets, bishops and preachers) and continues learning and realising the deeper aspects of the life of Christ and comes into a personal relation to Him as Saviour and Lord. Others find Him miraculously through dreams and visions and follow Him as in the cases of Sadhu Sundar Singh and Lalmohan Vatnaik (late Speaker of Orissa Assembly). Again others find Him in this search for truth, an ideal for life, for peace and inner satisfaction, for better moral and spiritual life having been dissatisfied with the status quo as in the case of my humble self. But however we may come to Him, either discovering Him, or being rediscovered by Him (as in the case of Atul Chakravarty of Vrindaban Christian Ashram) mutual fellowship with Christ in the centre is essential. He is also the Head and Corner Stone of this fellowship and its living and directing soul - the Holy Spirit.

To the question - Is Baptism necessary for salvation? The answer is ‘no’, not without faith preceding and accompanying it. But Baptism confers on him that believes special grace and blessing. Our Lord is reported by Mark as saying - “He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). By implication, he that is not baptised is not condemned. But faith followed by baptism ensures stronger and broader Christian life. Because of baptism seals the inner faith, is a witness, testimony, sad open confession. “He that would confess me before men, him shall I confess before my Father” - is Christ’s own words. (Luke 12:9). Salvation (essentially moral and spiritual, therefore personal) is in fact a much larger and wider reality because a saved Christian needs to be freed also from fear of public opinion and persecution, from fear of the terrors of death and hereafter, from the ties of the world - family, country, state party prejudice religious exclusiveness and bigotry. Sacraments buttress up a man against these social sins and other sins like racism and injustice, when the sacraments are practised in sincerity and earnestness.

Sometimes reference is made to the Friends (popularly one as Quakers) and the Salvationists (members of the Salvation Army), who do sot practice the external forms of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. They cultivate their meanings in a spirit manner. It is forgotten, however, that the members of these very dynamic, spiritual and much respected communities are in the Church and have been nourished in the atmosphere of graces of the sacramental Church, and so they find it easy to forego the external material symbols of the sacrament and do not seem to lose much spiritually. But many a Quaker and Salvationist is known to have come back to sacramental life after all these considerations, that justify the acceptance of the Christian religion, gone into honestly and carefully, one is left to his own conscience whether he should be baptised or not. He is responsible and God judges.

— R.C. Das

In the Fellowship of Faith and Work

News and Report

1. Ishananda S.K. Paul is preaching this month (October) in Pipli, Puri, Berhampore (Ganjam) etc. in the State of Orissa he has looked after cultivation of his lands in Jamboo.

2. Brother Henry Rodrigus of the Christ Nagar Mission (P.O. Mijar, Mangalore Taluk, S.I.) is in need of moral and material support from believers for his various works especially the Children’s Home and for the Converts. He was facing a trial in the Sessions Court in Mangalore for publishing a Pamphlet during 1964 at the time of Pope’s visit to India, alleged to be wounding the religious feelings of the Roman Catholics in India. Two Vicar Generals of the Mangalore Diocese (Priests) were the chief witnesses along with other five for the Prosecution, who were examined in the month of November. Bishop of Mangalore and the Papal Nuucio in Delhi were the Complainants. Brother Rodrigus was found NOT GUILTY and the Judge gave the Acquittal Order on the 18th of November 1972. The Trial was very expensive. Friends who are able and inclined to give material help to him may kindly send their gifts as the Lord leads.

3. Pastor D. Dutt of Calcutta has been preaching in Madras in the company of Dr. Campbell - an author and a saint. Mrs. Dina Dutt (Senior) is still weak in health and her big book in Bengali on the life and teaching of Christ has not yet seen light. Let us uphold her before the Throne of Grace.

4. Miss Pramila Das of the Lady Rogers Hostel, Calcutta (Acharya Daa’s junior sister) suffered from various ailments from time to time, at present from what appears to be a nervous breakdown. Acharya Das’s eldest son (Amarendra Kumar) in responsible work, New Delhi, had some heart trouble in the summer which was weakened him. Prayers are desired for them.

5. Smt. Manorama R. Modak of Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) - widow of the late Bishop Ram Krishna Babu Modak - who is in charge of some difficult and responsible work - has not yet finished the reorganisation and reconstitution of the Indian National Church. They are hoping to meet again in Bareilly in November, One wishes them good success.

6. Acharya Das completed the 85th year of his earthly life on the 10th September last. Two of his daughters with a grandchild came to visit him on the occasion. Besides greetings from friends and relatives from outside, local friends called with benedictions and congratulations. In a simple service of thanksgiving and prayer led by Fr. Ishwarprasad they committed him to the Lord. He was happy and thankful.

7. The Ashram has received several visitors including some from overseas (Rev. S.K. Mundle of the Old Mission Church, Calcutta; Dr. and Mrs. Araria, Canada; Rev. D.P. Titus of Lucknow; Two Belgian Social Workers; Mr. and Mrs. Bhattacharya (W.B.); Two Frenchmen - one a Professor in a Bible School in Paris; One American boy - a hippie who found the Lord and was baptised; A Catholic Theological Graduate - Indian - from Poona; Mr. Hooker - a local minister; Brimat Swami Brahmanand, Puri, Maharaja (Bandal, W. B.); Fr. Fernandes (Madras); Brother Jacob - a Telegu Evangelist) with Bakht Singh background has been working among the Hippies in Varanasi with good success. One Hippie came to be saved in his ministry. He has also come in good contact with Hindus. He pays constant visits to the Ashram for fellowship in some understanding of Hinduism. The Ashram is now (11-10-1972) full, rather crowded with visiting friends and relatives. More will come in November. Acharya Das expects to be in resident until it grows too cold for him.

8. Report of Sadhu A.N. Sircar’s Ministry of preaching and healing: Printed in a pamphlet form; available from him, Katpadi P.O., (N.A.), Tamil Nadu. Testimonies of work from various centres in the south, rough estimate of the number of patients prayed for reached and preached to - 75,500 to 95,200. “Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people” (Psalm 105:1).

9. In the month of January last a successful function was held in St. Mary’s (Catholic) Church on the occasion of the Universal Day of Prayer for Christian Unity. There was good fellowship among hundreds of Christians of different church affiliations.

10. Mother Teresa, widely known and respected humanitarian worker started her service here last year. Recently some large properties were acquired to house the poor, destitute and sick in this congested city and pilgrim centre. Her work bids fair to grow in many directions. Recently a very impressive gathering of several hundreds of interested Hindus and Christians listened with attention and reverence to the messages of love, concern and compassion for the helpless as the work of Mother Teresa here, in many other centres of India and in other countries was introduced. Her work is a great contribution to the improvement of the human lot in this needed city.

— Executive Secretary, B.K.S.

Notes and Comments

1. “Except some liberally educated and experienced Christians (groups or individuals) in the upper levels of the community, the Church of a whole is still communally-minded. This can be proved by various instances. Whenever there is a pinprick on the community such as when a Harijan Christian is harassed or his house is burnt down, a church building is desecrated, a Christian is not accepted for a particular post or position, a preacher is abused or, beaten for his inappropriate or unfair remarks or bad manners, a Hindu Sanyasi comes into a Christian Mohalla and preaches Hinduism or a party of Communists or Hindu Sabhaites disturb a Christian worship (all from usual non-religious motives such as political, economic, social or personal enmity) there are always some western minded educated Christians, or some zealous groups of evangelicals, who take up their pens and write in newspapers maligning Hindu communalism and intolerance. Others hold protest meetings and send their innocuous resolution to the ministers or the President. Still others - inexperienced and uneducated or half-educated editors of mediocre journals in the vernacular languages (or also in English) make a huge commotion intensifying communal feelings of bitterness, intolerance, and hatred among Christians who ought to be patient, considerate end impartial in judgment. Thus, Christians show their own anti-Indian and communal bias.

   A recent such agitation in Kerala led by the Bishops on the question of education might have produced tragic consequences but for the timely and wise intervention of the Prime Minister. This anti-government virulent agitation was sparked off when Government decided to take over all private colleges (including non-Christian ones) because of mismanagement, favouritism, nepotism, bribery, vested interests, bungling in money matters and other forms of corruption. The Church runs many colleges. The bishops hurled bitter complaints against Government of partisanship, ‘religion in danger’, violating of minority rights without coolly considering the Government case. However, the compromise solution of the problem is a good one under the circumstances.

   In this connection the Editorial (N.K.) of the Guardian (Bangalore) in its issue of the 24th August 1972 provides an appropriate Christian spirit and a right public stand. For the benefit of our readers it is quoted below with due acknowledgements:

   “The stance taken by the leaders of the churches in Kerala at many stages of the crisis was unfortunately questionable. Even assuming there was a case for closure of colleges in view of their losing their financial viability, the church leaders ignored certain cardinal principles in their anxiety to fight for what they deemed to be their rights. Whether the special minority rights were really threatened is a matter of opinion, and this a subject we hope the Kerala Christians will at least now discuss, with the full understanding that minority rights are additional rights over and above the rights of ordinary citizens and voluntary organisations and that with the State Christians decisively influence decisions of the government. But what was really disturbing was an irresponsible exaggeration of the threat when many bishops declared that freedom of religion, freedom of worship, etc., were in danger. A collection of statements made by The Bishops during the agitation makes dismal reading and does not redound to the credit of leadership of Kerala Christians. One Bishop spoke of the ‘last man’ and ‘the last drop of blood’ (in the Crusade) and many stated that all this was the result of attempts by group of people against God and religion. Such statements were not only unfortunate but unwarranted. In a country where Christians are enjoying more privileges than their counterparts in most other parts of the world, whipping up the emotions of the followers by such outbursts was wholly unjust. The leaders of the Kerala Churches should at least now openly acknowledge the truly secular nature of this nation and should encourage their followers, to play their full part as citizens in the mainstream of national life.

   But for the timely intervention of the Prime Minister there was all the possibility of the agitation becoming a full-fledged political agitation. The Trichur decision of the Education Rights Protection Council was a call for political agitation and the managements were a party to it and the unfortunate clashes in many schools were the direct result of this decision. The statements made by spokesmen of management on this development were exercises in equivocation bordering on dishonesty. It is anyhow highly gratifying to note that the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church openly condemned this move for paralysing the whole educational system and also resultant violence.”

   Christian editors who pose themselves to be leader of the Church and of the general community have a serious responsibility to understand political and other issues from a Christian standpoint (as distinct from a Church standpoint) and from that of the larger interests of the country and the world.

2. Fellowship of Reconciliation, Sarvodaya, Bharat Sevak Samaj, Shanti Sena, Peace Conferences, Congresses of all Faiths and many other organisations and movements have as their main objects the following:-

   1. Peace making in the political field.
   2. Peace and unity in and among different peoples, races, religions, denominations, parties and groups.
   3. Removal of undue rivalry and competition song groups.
   4. Modification of the acrimonious spirit of mutual criticism and condemnation.

   These are laudable aims and they have had fair success in their efforts for peace, unity and co-operation in all except in the field of political disagreements and military confrontation. Peace making in cases of international hatred and militancy has met wish very aisle success and that only in minor cases. Why? Because, to give a frank answer and a fundamental one, they hold tenaciously that all war, use of force in any form, any form of violence, even in self-defence or in defence of one’s country in face of naked aggression, or in defence of innocent helpless women and children and of one’s hearth and home - is wrong - a theory that will not bear rational or theological scrutiny.

   1. In nature - God’s handiwork - tremendous violence is taking place in the form explosions, earthquakes, storms, floods, heat waves, cold waves, landslides, meteoric falls, energy projection by heavenly bodies, having, to theistic thinking, ulterior and beneficent purposes planned by the Sustainer of the Universe.

   2. On earth one set of beings are feeding upon another through violence such as plants driving their roots into the earth, animals and birds living upon plants through some violence, some animals feed on others with extreme cruelty. Men, God’s noblest creation or nature’s highest product, use vast and extreme violence upon living beings of all kinds for food and an unmolested homestead. It is clear the Divide Dispenser has arranged an order of existence in which violence is essentially involved and inherent.

   3. In the world of men, since the beginning of history, men have had to grab, from other men, land for settlement and food and water for life for in almost all primitive cases, a few occupied all land and sources of food etc. And the habit still goes on in a civilised but in a core diabolical way. The spirit of selfishness, acquisition and avarice has led to the accumulation of wealth - land, property, money, sources of production in a few hands - and this is the root cause of all war. Sometimes there have been pure aggressions without any noble motives. History shows that preaching of religion or morality or gentle persuasion has not melted the avalanche of selfishness. Nor has it touched the hearts of tyrants and ambitious aggressors. Religion, morality and philanthropy have touched individuals and small groups. The majority of suffering, dispossessed and ill-treated peoples have had to resort to violence in various degrees and forms. The army, navy, air force, the police and minor military clashes represent this violence. The fundamental question is whether the vast Majority of population as against a few have the right to self-assertion, through force, if necessary. History has accepted the soundness this right. Religions and scriptures legends are full of stories of just war against injustice - the Hindu Shastras (particularly the Gita), the Bible, the Koran have justified violent clashes under certain circumstances. Some Peace Movements (the F.O.R. in particular) have, rather cheaply and superficially repudiated the idea of a just war without sufficiently going into the circumstances, causes and motives of such wars. They always use general terms, summary language in supporting or opposing a thing.

   4. They make no difference between naked violence and use of force, between the Hindu idea (typically manifested and practiced by Gandhiji) of Ahimsa (non-violence, non-injury, non-hatred - essentially negative) and the positive love of Jesus involving self-suffering between a boy violently hit by a revengeful neighbour and the same boy caned by his Headmaster or his father for some fault, between the naked and ignoble aggression of Hitler and the self-defence of the allies, between the communistic impact upon South Vietnam and their fight in self-defence, between the horrible aggression of U.S.A. and the fight to the last man of North Vietnam. We must use delicate caste discrimination in judging these cases. You say the Arabs, the Palestinian Guerrillas must give up their resistance involving violence and submit to the cunning and forceful aggression of Israel backed by and submit to the cunning and forceful aggression of Israel backed by the might and so-called Christian countries like U.S.A. and Britain.

   5. Our friends who indeed sincerely desire peace have however failed to understand God’s ways of redemption in their totality. They have over-emphasised one side of God’s nature … Love. But he is also Truth, Righteousness, Holiness. That is why we find in the Bible (and the Gita) that God has allowed violence within strict limits. Only God could reconcile Grace and Truth on the Cross and his true followers could respect the divine method viz., self-immolation, leading to atonement, for the sins of others. But man, however, divine, is limited in scope and is also imperfect. His ‘atonement’ will lead to, as history was proved it, very meagre results. Even our Lord’s work of redemption, his compassion for sinners, did not actually amount to much. The elite and aristocratic religious leadership remained untouched except very few individuals. Later on Christianity had the need of self-defence and in some small instances it has been offensive too. Why does not the Christian principle of love work on a vast scale considering the need of humanity for peace?

   6. Because the average man is weakened by sin and tendency to evil. This is a fact despite controversies over the reality and nature of sin. He is darkened in big soul and cannot grasp the difference between right and wrong. His conscience has been blurred. Many people are in fact unmoral or amoral (not immoral) not having any sense of morality. These two lines of morality and sub-morality can never meet. “A vast portion of humanity has yet to be moralised and civilised in the true sense. Until then the application of moral principles and standard of the highest order to this amoral level is a mistake and will remain ineffective every time. In fact men are living in two different worlds. In the interests of peace, prosperity and unhappiness of the higher world, the use of force without any hatred or mental violence may be necessary to stall the onward rush of blind force and power. This is not understood or accepted by our Pacifist friends.

   7. They also ignore, to their convenience, some other teaching and behaviour of Christ himself whose image they usually picture as a soft loving innocent and humble Rabbi or Guru. They forget that he was a stern, firm and mighty Saviour. He did not suffer ignominy and insult always without murmur or protest. He did not give his life easily until he was compelled (from the human side) by evil forces, aroused by his life of Truth. He asked Peter to sheathe the sword or put it in its place, as another version has it. That was not an appropriate occasion for Pater to use the sword nor was it necessary, even for Self defence, as the Mighty Master was present there and could marshal millions of angels, and also show the power, of love by healing the separated ear of the High Priest’s servant. He knew that very soon they would need weapons for defence, and labour on advised them to buy swords even by selling one’s clothes. He also asked them to flee into the mountains when the terrible day of killings would arrive. Christ exercised an amount of violence, short of bloodshed, in the temple as Gandhiji also did on a much larger seal which logically and necessarily exploded into bloodshed in some cases especially in the early forties. Even then it was called Ahimsa - coercion of a man by ‘fast unto death’ is far worse than a direct hit on the head - an ignoble form of violence - from the ethical standpoint. For the simple reason that it is an artificial premeditated self-imposed form of suffering. Whereas the death of Christ was the natural outcome of his way of life naturally lived by a Divine-Human perfect Person. He did not work for his suffering nor did he deliberately prepare for it though he knew and predicted it. There is no artificiality or deliberateness in his death with a conscious motive.

      I am afraid the various peace desiring and peace making organisations have badly mixed up dynamic Christian love and inherently weak passive Ahimsa of India. The confusion is unhelpful. In Christian interpretation and according to biblical revelation God has a role for force in evolving the world and man has perforce to use superior power or whatever force is available in the interests of the greater number - for law and order in society, in the context of the imperfect moral development of humanity.

   8. It is regrettable that these respected well-meaning peace lovers are aroused when there is an actual conflict and remain more or less asleep when there is peace. Do they not understand that there is constant warfare in the hearts of men between good and bad desired which ultimately lead to war? Passions such as lust, hatred and covetousness are the real cause of war. True peacemakers are those who try to save men, irrespective of colour, creed, race or position, always and in all places from these besetting sins.

   9. To say that force is justified for self-defence or in defence of the helpless by resisting the aggressor and oppressor in certain circumstances in the present imperfect world does not mean approving of the diabolical methods of modern war which must be reduced or eliminated by international co-operative straggle.

3. The outlook in the country (dated 21-10-1972)

   1. Economic: We need to say little. In the press and public opinion is reflected truly and persistently, The Congress in say almost absolute power at its command has gone back to reaction and regressiveness. Even from pre-independent days the Congress has been living on slogans and resolutions. Promises, pledges, assurances are in abundance accompanied by little implementation of policies accepted. But “an ounce of practice is better than tons of precepts.” The masses of the people are losing confidence in government of any ideology or farm, They are frustrated and resentful. One wishes there were less patience, less fatalism and more revolutionary anger to force radical changes among our people. Though it is evident among small sections like students, Harijans and workers and peasants are unbelievably forbearing. The truth is that most of them are not politically educated and conscious of their just rights and obligations. High caste, nobility, the elite, the wealthy, the industrialist and capitalists are directly or indirectly ruling the country. Many of the dispossessed princely order, different types of landlords and many anti-socialistic people have procured Congress membership, as there have been criteria or scrutiny in acceptance. The Socialism of the Congress is intellectual and in a few cases emotional - not moral nor dynamic or creative and inspirational. In many cases it is merely sympathetic. In the next elections where will people turn to? The communists are nowhere in number and are divided. It is a condition of crisis, in decision, stalemate and hopelessness. A people in such condition will be an easy prey to the present rulers.

   2. Law and order situation: Repression was never succeeded anywhere. Causes of students agitation, Harijan grievances, workers complaints, of price rise, unemployment must be explored, and drastic measures should be applied with firmness. Implementation of legislative decisions and executive order is what is necessary. Here government failures are glaring. So many commissions, probes, and enquiries have been held into the educational system, employers employees relations, non-implementation by ceiling laws etc. but their reports and recommendations have been ignored and shelved by Government either for inefficiency or fear of the high and mighty. There are fields where direct action and condign punishment by Government with help of the Police and judiciary are called for viz., black-marketing, hoarding, big prices black money and bribe taking. Some years ago in Russia a man was found guilty of black-marketing, in a commodity on a very minor scale, as an example to others he was shot dead by a military squad. Nehru promised to hang the first black-marketeer on the lamp post. But our Government has simply used words, words and words. This is directly responsible for the misery and sufferings of millions and millions without whose hard labour and self-sacrifice we cannot get food and necessaries nor can we defend cur country.

   3. Political: We have been a bit too angry and emotional together with Bangladesh against those countries who helped our enemy during the last war in December 1971 with Pakistan. While the adroitness and political acumen With while our Prime Minister helped in winning the war will be appreciated and praised by everybody, the subsequent attitude and policy have lacked practical wisdom. We have been too strictly moralist and idealistic and not sufficiently realistic. If India used be offices to persuade Mujibur, who is grievously wounded and therefore naturally resentful and may be vengeful, to meet Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who has been imploring for a personal contact and for quite long, the heavens would not have fallen upon anybody’s head. Mujibur is brave enough to stick to his fundamental positions. Also, the bulk of the P.O.W.’s could have been released keeping for a time those who are alleged to have committed war crimes and genocide without any compromise of the Bangladesh stand. And we dare think our Government could afford to be a little generous in not being too meticulous in keeping certain small disputed features and posts in delineating the line of control in J. and K. Pakistan is notorious for unnecessary trouble making, war hysteric and India baiting. There are psychological causes for it. So the stronger party could afford to be generous not only in approach but also in concrete action. It is a tremendous cost to India to maintain the P.O.W.’s and in good condition. When an incident happens in a camp, it at once becomes a political weapon in Pakistani hand to use against us. Our relations with the newborn Republic are not happy at all practically. Trade and commerce, currency, passport and visa policies are in confusion. It has added to the unimaginable misery of the common people in the villages. And it is a source of danger to both the countries.

   Any way we must soon normalise our relations with both U.S.A. and China in spite of some unhelpful action especially of the latter. Let us have a little thicker skin and remove from our mind any pique that may still be there. That will be ultimately in our interests.

4. Ecumenism and Church Union: Some evangelical organisations and sectarian groups as well as individuals are up against churches being united. They condemn, criticise and even abuse the efforts for organic union. They bring forward specious reasonings and curious arguments. Many of these utterances show lack of deep theological knowledge and of comprehensive biblical studies. In the beginning of the Union Movement in the North covering 40 years and in the South 30 years, we (together with some missionaries like Dr. E. Stanley Jones) were against organic union at the start and advocated a federal structure to begin with which would conserve distinctive doctrine and practices represented by the different churches. But when we saw the Fourth Plan, we were satisfied as our points of democratic structure with authority involved and preservation of distinctiveness were met. The doctrinal position is inclusive and comprehensive rather than intensive and narrow.

What do these critics and villagers want - the status that goes with a divided church, with a lopsided, quarrelsome and discursive theology Or an organic church (the Body of Christ) with an essential unitary theological core in some cases developing into, and in others attached to it, non-essential but important doctrines and practices, had the organic total church like a tree having autonomous democratic branches and limbs spreading out of it and the stream of life - moral, spiritual and physical, flowing through the whole? What do they understand of Christian love, unity or fellowship? Is it only spiritual, inside a man? Then it will scatter, evaporate and take myriad forms as has happened in the cases of so-called Protestant and evangelical groups. They go on differing, separating and dividing and subdividing! They are to choose the way they want to go. But before criticising let them think seriously and study the noble cause of union from the biblical, social and legal standpoints and not only from the spiritual standpoint which is of course central and supreme. The Christian Fellowship ought to be a living, dynamic, beautiful and ordered society in a master of fact - world. Let the church come up to this standard and ideal.

I Weep for India Tonight

“Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14. “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.” Matthew 6:28.

God has chosen His people and His Word through the power of His Spirit as instruments of His salvation to a world lost because of sin. Jesus said to is disciples, “Ye are the light of the world.” Aside from true disciples of Christ, there is no light in this world by which sinners may be saved. We are not talking about relative amounts of goodness in sinful men; we are talking about salvation. “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.”

The “Christian” community of India is estimated at 2.6% of the population. Needless to say, all are not Christians who call themselves Christians. In fact, Revelation 3:20 presents one of the saddest pictures in the Bible, the picture of our patiently seeking Lord standing outside the Church.

I weep for India tonight. On my desk I have an invitation from the Young Men’s Christian Association to attend “An Inter-Religious Public Meeting of Prayer and Thanksgiving” on their premises in New Delhi in celebration of the Silver Jubilee Of Indian Independence. Under the chairmanship of the Honourable R.N. Mirdha, Minister of Home Affairs, the following are to participate:

1. Swami Vandananand, Ramakrishna Mission
2. Shri Dastoor Darius Bugli, Zoroastrian
3. Dr. Booleband, Jain.
4. Shri E. Kolet, Jew.
5. The Venerable V. Darmavara, Buddhist
6. Dr. H.M. Munji, Bahai World Faith.
7. Saiyad Abdulla Bukhari, Muslim.
8. Missionary Prof. Jaswant Singh, Sikh.
9. Rev. Fr. Vincent Concasso, Catholic.
10. Bishop A.J. Shaw, Protestant.
11. Pandit Chandarshan Siddhant Bhushan, Arya Samaj.

I hold nothing against these non-Christian gentlemen who have never received Jesus as their Saviour. Nor, do I claim for myself any personal worthiness - for I am a sinner just as they are sinners. But I hate and detest the action of a so-called “Christian Association” and a so-called “Protestant” “bishop” who disobey the Christ they profess to represent. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, This Association and this “bishop” of the Methodist Church are displaying the deepest darkness conceivable.

I weep for India tonight because of such false shepherds, the nominal Christian church and the few indeed they are willing to bear the share that the Lord bore when he said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by ME. Peter said,”Neither is there salvation in any other. For THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men whereby we must be saved.”

I weep for India tonight. But that weeping is not a weeping of hopelessness, but the weeping, of a labourer united with other labourers who know that despite all the deceit of the false shepherds and their associations, our labour in India is not in vain in the Lord. Will you weep with me for India?

— J.L.D., Biblical Witness, September 1972.

Comments: Any one knowing anything about the work and spirit of the Biblical Christian Council of India (now defunct) would at once perceive that this “weeping” is not genuine like that of Jesus. It is just shedding crocodile tears!

The top quotation from Matthew is not applicable to India of Hindus and Muslims. These words were directly spoken by the Lord to his own disciples and may in these days be appropriately be used against nominal or insincere Christians. Moreover, it is dangerous to be ‘light,’ even true light, without being ‘salt’ at the same time. ‘Salt’ was the prior place in Christian life and Christ puts it first. It means unassuming love. Many evangelicals have enough light but not this love - the spirit of self abnegation for others good. So they are hard, doctrinal, condemning, enemical. If goodness is not related to salvation being its fruit one does not understand what it is. Goodness is divine. “There is only One that is good” said our Lord to The seeking young man.

One cannot imagine how and why members of different communities could not unitedly express their thankfulness for the independence of their country won through non-violence and so far nobly maintained. The “hate and detestation” really reveals J.L.D. - unworthiness and sinfulness on a level with miserable distinguished Christian and non-Christian sinners to condemn them in immeasurable terms. If he holds nothing against these worthy non-Christians and if he is still a miserable sinner like them without Christ, what right has he to dig out their spiritual bankruptcy? He is a sounding brass and a clanging cymbal, without love and hope and faith, (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

The top quotation’s words (Matthew 6:28) are not simply applicable on this occasion and to these friends assembled in the Y.M.C.A. How deluded and misleading some Christians are in interpreting scriptures without adequate knowledge!

How can such foreign missionaries and their Indian agents truly weep for India or anybody else living and travelling in luxury and speaking from a distance away from the misery, poverty, wickedness, disease, debt, injustice, oppression, murder, rape and what not? Jesus wept in the midst of and on a level with grieved sinners. Instead of weeping for India in general terms or for this particular group at be Y.M.C.A., J.L.D. ought to have wept for various classes and parties irrespective of creed or colour who by their wicked sets are keeping India down including his kinsmen in America and Europe and cousins in China.

He has yet to be humble and learn from India (Hindu India, yes, Hindu India!) the meanings of ‘Separation’ (St. Paul), ‘Father,’ ‘None other name’ and ‘salvation.’

If India, in these circumstances think that such missionaries are here for subversion, communal disruption, and spying in foreign interests none is to blame except themselves.

— Editor

Letters of Reflection, Benediction and Encouragement

Letter No. 21 (A)

Jyotiniketan, P.O. Box 1248
Jerusalem, Israel. May 1972.

Dear Friends,

After so long a time of silence we wish to come out of hibernation! The move from Kareli to Jerusalem was such a major transition - even greater in our hearts than geographically - that we could not for until now the courage to continue our letters to the many of you who so grandly have cared for us and followed us along since we began our pilgrimage in the life of Jyotiniketan in 1954.

We left because it seemed to us - and we have no “hot line” to the Eternal! - that our prayer that Jyotiniketan, Kareli, should become through and through Indian could never be answered until we were prepared to die out, and, as most of you already know, that hope of ours was answered to our great joy and gratitude when Swami Deenabandhu and his brothers came to take our place and to continue mere deeply from the heart of India herself the life of worship, silence and simple friendship which had been laid upon us. News from our many friends there shows us that our little personal dying was an essential element in the growth for which we so much longed. Incidentally let us share our surprise with you that we are still called Jyotiniketan, Place of Uncreated Light. A name like this from India enables us to belong to all here and Swami Deenabandhu lovingly encouraged the suggestion that Jerusalem should have a little Jyotiniketan as well as Kareli.

It was our dear friend, and teacher Abhishiktanandaji who once remarked on saying goodbye: “Who leaves who?”. More and more we see what he meant! Our beginning to be at home in Jerusalem and in the Holy Land does not mean that we have left a “world” behind but rather that we know that “world” of people and perceptions travels with us, a part of the stuff of our little selves, awaiting an integration, into a “new world” of this old land. A return to the Source took us in the past to the Himalayas and to Arunachala and we began to find the same Source here in West Asia, in Sinai, in Gethsemane and at the place of the Lord’s Resurrection. Rabindranath Tagore spoke of our human evolution towards “universal man,” we remain still all too circumscribed by the littleness of our spiritual sensitivity, but we rejoice again and again in being alive at a moment in history when man’s consciousness of the universal, of the cosmic, of the unlimited, begins corrode and break our narrow domestic walls of religion and culture.

Because of the momentous moments of human history which have happened in this land it is easy, to imagine that the romance and mystique of Jerusalem keeps one floating here in the seventh heaven! O, there is indeed a romance about the land - and a glory - but these things travel with a load of suffering and of bitterness arising from what we human beings have done to each other over the centuries and what, by the same token, we have done to God. Never have we lived in a human situation where forgiveness is more needed and where we all, with no exceptions, need more urgently to ask for the forgiveness of others.

Each of us, in our separate communities and religious or political groupings, have been so strong, so right, so self-sufficient, so unready to feel our need of “the others.” From the world of further east, of Hinduism and Buddhism, we have found ourselves plunged into the world of the three monotheisms, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and it has been a moving and at times overwhelming transition. We are not impressed with the supposed superiority of the one “world” over the other; we are impressed with the increasing sense that the one approach to the Divine Mystery without the over will never discern the fullness which we believe God desires for us his children in both east and west.

People here have been wonderfully good to us. In some ways no doubt we were, and are, strange types, a little fraternity so small that it is hard to believe that were Community-in-embryo, people who, although from Britain originally, feel themselves to be as much, if not more, tied up to the orient, both in their spirit and ways of feeling and in outer ways of living and dress. Just because we are rather difficult people to place in a tidy and easily comprehended “box” we have appreciated all the more friends of all communities (and Jerusalem abounds in communities!) they have borne with us long enough to understand who we are and what we carry in our minds and hearts.

Our home is high up on the wall of the Old City, in the Muslim Quarter, and we would desire to be nowhere else. Here the heart of our little existence happens, the worship and silence, the celebration each day of the Great Thanksgiving and whether three times of worship, still linked with eastern way of prayer and symbolism which are now a part of us and which clearly are coming to mean more to western people.

As before our vocation, as we understand it, is simply to be here, with those whom God gives to us, and to grow in love for God and for them.

Springing from such small beginnings, in addition to many friendships for which we are very grateful, we have rejoiced in times of celebration of cosmic Euchariete, evenings “open to the east” when we share in contemplative reading of Hindu and Buddhist Scriptures, nights of silence in the Holy Sepulchre, an all too short visit to Santa Caterina and Sinai, a week’s session with members of the Zen Buddhist Centre, not to mention many hours put in on new languages, Arabic for Heather and Hebrew for Mary end Murray.

Unlike earlier letters this one reports no travels - except the major one from India to Israel. Journeys to Europe for the three of us, to families and friends, are due to happen later this month; Murray is to be with an international group of the United Bible Societies in Switzerland as a part of this journey and will also renew contacts with some of the many Communities with which we are so blessed to be in touch, this time in Italy. We expect to be home again were early in July.

We always appreciate very much a line from you though we know, vary thankfully, that our unity in the Spirit is not dependent on such signs of life; they remain precious nevertheless.

In the unity of the Spirit,

Mary and Murray Rogers, Heather Sandeman.

(B)

From: Mrs. B. Dutt,

Independent Pentecostal Church,
60/0, Ritchie Road, Calcutta-19;
(translated from Bengali)
7-9-1972.

Revered Dada (Brother),

I have received your beautiful letter. In the first place I want to convey my felicitations for your 85th birthday. It is not that you have simply lived a long life through the grace of the Supreme God our only Heavenly Father, but you have kept yourself engaged in his service. You have not been “disobedient unto the heavenly Vision” in that you have been standing alone like a brave hero. This in you has attracted, me. Those who are led by faith and moral courage face many sorrows and trials in their lives. Blessed is he who, in the midst of these, stands firm. About him, the Lord says: “Blessed art thou, good and faithful servant.” May your life be more fruitful in the coming year.

I get much help from your letters. We have always been independent minded. My husband too. The son is the same. Whenever a letter comes from you he (son) reads it with attention. One day he was telling me “among our friends he is truly a genuine one. I am sorry I cannot have much time in discussing matters with him.”

‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ Many cannot pay the price. Those who do, God never allows any want or deprivation to come in their lives. Though in the beginning, life seems hard and troublesome, Where is peace and joy in the heart. In my seventeen years of married life I learned a good deal from my husband. That is why I have been able to become a humble worker of God. Khokan (son) has high regard for you. Truly you are a real well-wisher of our family. God bless you. May you live some more years as be His will. Pray for us. Accept our humble salutation,

Your Sister,

Bina.

(C)

The Trustees, Old Church Evangelical Fund,
(Old Mission Chauch), Calcutta. 3-9-1972.

From the Rev. S.K. Mundle,

My dear Acharya,

Let me congratulate you on the occasion of your 85th birthday. There is much to offer thanks to God for all He has done through your prophetic ministry over the years as an Ashramite.

I have gone through your Occasional Paper 1972, No. 2, I found your comments on the Apostolic Mission of Brother Somaddar most enlightening and discerning for the Christian public to read. This gifted Brother Somaddar, whom I had known for years, seems to have taken an erroneous path worse than papacy when it was at its lowest level. It is a matter of regret that such a gifted soul could not be used by the established churches.

My life as a pilgrim continues. My visit to Varanasi in July was very refreshing.

I always pray for your health, and thank God for the inner strength of Christian life you have been discharging as a witness. May God continue to bless your life until he calls you back for which, I know, you are always ready.

Yours affectionately,

S.K. Mundle.

(D)

Ashram Fellowship,
Kodaikanal-1, Taminadu,
23rd March1972.

Dear Friend,

Last evening I had the privilege of being at the Swedish Mission. A young Swedish theologian spoke on “Will Christianity last”? He stated that if the decline in Sweden continues at the present rate then Christianity will disappear from that country about 2000 A.D. He raised the question of why he should be helping prepare pastors to a church that did not meet the present situation. I think we would all agree that “Roman Catholicism”, “Scot Presbyterianism”, “American Methodism”, “Swedish Lutheranism” should go, that nationalism and denominationalism is going! Of course, we should learn from every place all that we can. But we must recognise that these are times of revolutionary change. Therefore, how are we going to train our people in the Church?

1. I suppose it is agreed that the Eternal Christ continued to work everywhere. That is our faith. Was not the Eternal Christ sitting with the Buddha under the Bodi tree? Was not the Eternal Christ with Gandhi? And now with Vinoba?

   I think some of us are beginning to think along these lines. However, all of us should face the real significance of the living Christ in the world today. What do you think?

2. Has not the influence of Jesus Christ on India’s leader in the last century or more been very great? Can we measure the influence upon Radhakrishnan by such Christian missionaries as did Miller and Skinner? Can we estimate the influence of Charlie Andrews upon Tagore and Gandhi who saw in him “Christ’s faithful apostle?” What is the significance of the Sarvodaya Movement resting upon the parable of Jesus “Unto the Last?” Do we find the “Power of the Cross” in Satyagraha? What is the place of the Christian in India in such movement? What influence, would you say, has the Christian mission upon the Ramakrishna Mission? What has been the influence of the Dr. Ida Scudder and the Dr. Kagelberge etc., upon the general community in India? Is this significant? What are its implications for today? Similarly, what have been the impact of such of Robert de Nobili, Dr. Ernest F. Paton etc., upon India? Have these influences any implication for us today?

3. I have a conviction that organised Christianity as it is today will greatly change. I would not agree with our Swedish theologian friend that the organised Church is the most important factor for us today in Christianity. However, I still feel that the leaven, the salt, the light of dedicated Christians has a very real significance for India and the world today. What can that influence be on the individual? On the home? On the village? On the school? In healing? In the shop? In government? In other words, is Christianity really disappearing? What are the significant rolls it ought to be playing in the world today? What are the factors in Christianity that should make it a living religion until the end. What should be the special emphasis today?

I shall be very grateful for a thoughtful and frank reply on your part. I do think that this young man raised many good questions. We ought to think about it seriously. I agree that our situation in India is different from that of in Europe or in America. However, there is a writing on the wall, and we should be aware of it. With best regards.

Sincerely yours,

R.R. Keithahn

Dear Brother in Christ,

I would be grateful if you might ponder on the above and then send your reply fully and frankly.

We might start a discussion in your newsletter and get frank reactions from the readers.

May the rich blessings of the Lord be with you always.

Sincerely,

R.R. Keithan.

(We invite radars to ponder over these serious and urgent questions and send their reactions. - Editor)

How to Present Christ to a Hindu

Introduction

The author of this Booklet - “How to Present Christ to a Hindu”, is The Reverend R.C. Das of the Khristpanthi Ashram of Varanasi. Some years ago I spent a month at his Ashram! At that time he was my teacher on Hinduism. The study was very valuable.

This Booklet was first printed and published by the N.I.C. Track and Book Society, Allahabad, in 1950. Since it is now out of print. I requested the author’s permission to reprint it. He was very gracious and granted our request.

This book is very stimulating. It is now being used for a class on, “The Christian approach to Non-Christians”, at the South India Biblical Seminary.

I trust that there who are trying to take the gospel message to the Hindu people will also find this book valuable.

Aleyamma Zacharian,
South India Biblical Seminary,
BANGARAPET, Mysore State.
24-1-1972

Available at this address and at Varanasi as well for Rs. 1 a copy.

Available from:

Rev. R.C. Das, M.A.,
Khristpanthi Ashram,
129, Dashashwamedh, Varanasi, India

Printed at:

Evangelical Press,
“CHRIST NAGAR MISSION”,
Mijar Post, Mangalore Taluk, S. India