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I was a Hindu then Jesus came into my life
Dear Editor,
Pandit Charranlall Nandalall misreads or over-reads my letter KN letter “Wesleyan pastor is guilty of Pharisaic blindness” (Dec. 10) as an “attack” on Hindus. On the contrary, I undergirded respect, honour and love for the Hindus; I stand by every word in that missive. Apparently, the Pandit Ji is indignant because I stated that Christians ought to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ – in a Hindu temple. I’d like to point out that Jesus taught his disciples that they are “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-16; 45). Because we are all made in the image of God, each of us is blessed with a degree of ‘salt’ and ‘light’. Moreover, Christians should surely show these traits – especially if they are in a secular or religious environment.
Growing up as a young boy in Guyana, I was enthusiastic and passionate about my Hindustani(Indian) roots, traditions and philosophy; I was not interested in other religions. However, God confronted me about my relationship with him, and my life was transformed as Jesus Christ came into my heart and life. Unfortunately, I was conditioned to think that following Jesus meant to despise and disparage my Hindustani culture. Praise God, I now know better – and relish opportunities to express my love for, and faith in God in the Hindustani culture (donning a kurta, singing Hindustani songs, and expressing my faith in the Indian culture) – in every place, including other religious places of worship.
I would like to address the Pandit’s question of whether I would allow him to sing of “Krishna’s love” to my ‘congregation’ and share “Good News” to them. First, I would dearly love for the Pandit Ji to elucidate on “Krishna’s love”; this is the first time I am hearing about this concept and would love to know more. Similarly, I would like to know what is the “Good News” that the Pandit would like to share. If I feel that the parameters of his ruminations would attune or relate to my ‘congregation’, I would surely welcome him! (I find some ‘Hindu’ prayers such as Asatomaa deep and invigorating, and help me to focus on the One who is the Light and Life).
It is somewhat baffling that the Pandit is incensed that a religious person would sing bhajans (about God’s love) in a Hindu mandir. In Guyana, there is a popular locution among Hindus that proudly proclaims, “Hinduism is not a religion; it is a way of life”. Does the Pandit subscribe to such a declaration? If not, I have also have a simple question that I would like the Pandit to answer: who is a “Hindu”, or how do you define a “Hindu”? I proudly assert my new life in Christ and express my devotion to him in Hindustani culture; I apologise for neither. For me, it is a case of declaring, YeshuMasihki – jai (In Jesus Christ, there is victory!) To the Pandit Ji and all my Hindu brothers and sisters, I joray my hands and salute you with a sincere “namaskaar/pranaam”!
Devanand Bhagwan
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