Conversion in India

October 1, 2008 – 10:20 am

The BBC posted a special article on the subject of religious conversions in India, specifically from Hinduism to Christianity. The impetus for writing the article is the recent increase of persecution of Christians by Hindus in the state of Orissa. (see previous MM posts”Persecution Rages in Orissa” & “Violence Against Churches in India“)

The writer’s conclusion:

Kandhamal, [a particular district of Orissa] clearly, needs a respite from proselytizers of all kinds to return to normalcy and calm. After which, the people and authorities can begin sorting out the real issues.

This article ought to challenge our thinking on how we “do missions” in general and proselytizing in particular. Should the missionary be concerned with what the local authorities think about his evangelism methods? Is there a degree where a missionary could be irresponsible in his evangelism? E.g. mass evangelistic campaigns aiming for a multitude of instant decisions for Christ rather than directed evangelism which has specific discipleship in mind all the time.

It is also a warning for us to check the kind of gospel we extend to people. Though the temptation is strong to hold out all of the great things that Christianity will do for a person, family, society, we must be careful that we are exalting Jesus as the greatest gift of salvation. If we realize that God is the gospel (good news), then we will be able to properly sort through the sticky issues of dependency on the missionary, indigenization, proper motivation in proselytizing, etc.

Another topic that emerges is the necessity to assume responsibility if someone converts to Christianity and loses his family, house, job, health, etc. As ministers of the gospel, a missionary has a responsibility to, along with the church body, support the new believer in very tangible ways.