Witnessing to a Hindu?

[novcncy]

I am wondering what thoughts any of you may have on this? I really don't know much about their theology, so I'm wondering if there are any specifics I should be aware of? I also don't know how deeply devoted my friend is to his religion.

[HumbleMan]

Don't know much about Hinduism, except that they have a slew of gods (over 2000, I think), but they mainly worship one called Vishnu.

Where once Hinduism was associated with Ghandi and the peaceful protest, it is turning more violent. The anti-conversion laws and routine beatings of Christians in India attest to this.

[arunma]

I am wondering what thoughts any of you may have on this? I really don't know much about their theology, so I'm wondering if there are any specifics I should be aware of? I also don't know how deeply devoted my friend is to his religion.

Well, having spent 18 years as one, I know a couple things about Hinduism. First, it's important to remember that they don't believe in a personal God, as we do. They believe in a "supreme reality," which is impersonal. They do, however, believe in personal gods. Some people see these gods as polytheistic, and others see them as aspects of the supreme reality. Because they think that the supreme reality pervades all of creation, they see all beings as possessing some divinity. They'll worship Christ. But on the other hand, they'll also worship rocks (yes, I've heard of this before, though it is rare), so they don't understand what Christ's divinity really means.

Secondly, most of them view all other religions as subsets of Hinduism. This is probably their biggest hindrance to recieving the Gospel, because they see the various world religions as if they were on spiritual tiers. To them, all religions contain elements of Hinduism, and the relative truth of a religion is often judged by how closely it resembles Hinduism. For example, they have no qualms with "love thy neighbor as thyself." But they do take issue with "no one comes to the Father but through me," and sometimes even with "thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (especially if by "the Lord," we mean Yahweh). So while they think that Christians are on proper track to reaching God, they think that their means is superior.

When witnessing, I think it's important to inform them of Christ's exclusive claims, but without deliberately offending them. They do see Christ as some sort of a guru (Hindu spiritual teacher), so if we show them that Christ does not fit this mold, at least they'll be convinced that their beliefs about other religions can't be reconciled with the Gospel. Good luck with your friend, and I'll pray for him.

[novcncy]

Well, having spent 18 years as one, I know a couple things about Hinduism. First, it's important to remember that they don't believe in a personal God, as we do. They believe in a "supreme reality," which is impersonal. They do, however, believe in personal gods. Some people see these gods as polytheistic, and others see them as aspects of the supreme reality. Because they think that the supreme reality pervades all of creation, they see all beings as possessing some divinity. They'll worship Christ. But on the other hand, they'll also worship rocks (yes, I've heard of this before, though it is rare), so they don't understand what Christ's divinity really means.

Secondly, most of them view all other religions as subsets of Hinduism. This is probably their biggest hindrance to recieving the Gospel, because they see the various world religions as if they were on spiritual tiers. To them, all religions contain elements of Hinduism, and the relative truth of a religion is often judged by how closely it resembles Hinduism. For example, they have no qualms with "love thy neighbor as thyself." But they do take issue with "no one comes to the Father but through me," and sometimes even with "thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (especially if by "the Lord," we mean Yahweh). So while they think that Christians are on proper track to reaching God, they think that their means is superior.

When witnessing, I think it's important to inform them of Christ's exclusive claims, but without deliberately offending them. They do see Christ as some sort of a guru (Hindu spiritual teacher), so if we show them that Christ does not fit this mold, at least they'll be convinced that their beliefs about other religions can't be reconciled with the Gospel. Good luck with your friend, and I'll pray for him.

Awesome! I was hoping you would hit this post. I have been telling him little bits of truth here and there, but haven't really given him the straight up gospel yet. Thanks for responding.

[aReformedPatriot]

Well, having spent 18 years as one, I know a couple things about Hinduism. First, it's important to remember that they don't believe in a personal God, as we do. They believe in a "supreme reality," which is impersonal. They do, however, believe in personal gods. Some people see these gods as polytheistic, and others see them as aspects of the supreme reality. Because they think that the supreme reality pervades all of creation, they see all beings as possessing some divinity. They'll worship Christ. But on the other hand, they'll also worship rocks (yes, I've heard of this before, though it is rare), so they don't understand what Christ's divinity really means.

Secondly, most of them view all other religions as subsets of Hinduism. This is probably their biggest hindrance to recieving the Gospel, because they see the various world religions as if they were on spiritual tiers. To them, all religions contain elements of Hinduism, and the relative truth of a religion is often judged by how closely it resembles Hinduism. For example, they have no qualms with "love thy neighbor as thyself." But they do take issue with "no one comes to the Father but through me," and sometimes even with "thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (especially if by "the Lord," we mean Yahweh). So while they think that Christians are on proper track to reaching God, they think that their means is superior.

When witnessing, I think it's important to inform them of Christ's exclusive claims, but without deliberately offending them. They do see Christ as some sort of a guru (Hindu spiritual teacher), so if we show them that Christ does not fit this mold, at least they'll be convinced that their beliefs about other religions can't be reconciled with the Gospel. Good luck with your friend, and I'll pray for him.

Thanks for this post, Arunma :)

[arunma]

No problem. I just hope that something I say might help you guys lead people out of the darkness of Hinduism.

[aReformedPatriot]

As do I. In today's world, one never knows who they will encounter.

[Ragamuffins]

http://www.evidencebible.com/witnessingtool/hinduism.shtml

[JPPT1974]

Awesome! I was hoping you would hit this post. I have been telling him little bits of truth here and there, but haven't really given him the straight up gospel yet. Thanks for responding.

Just give it some time is all I can tell you my friend! Then keep on praying! :groupray: :amen:

[Flynmonkie]

I am wondering what thoughts any of you may have on this? I really don't know much about their theology, so I'm wondering if there are any specifics I should be aware of? I also don't know how deeply devoted my friend is to his religion.
You are doing the best thing - other than prayer and example of course – educate yourself! Many people shy away from learning about others faith practices, but I think it is an awesome way to promote understanding. But honestly, I have been in situations where the right words come to me through prayer – and I have nothing to attribute it to but the Holy Spirit! If God wants to work through you – trust me – He will do it! Just want you to know I am keeping you in my prayers and wishing you the best with this! :prayer:

[novcncy]

I got to talk to him very directly on Friday. He told me that he is not a very devout Hindu (which I'm thinking is a good thing :) ) and he told me that he has no idea about what the Bible says or what Christians believe.

So I started at the very beginning, with creation, and then Adam and Eve, and the fall. I explained to him what God said, that they would surely die, and explained that meant spiritual death, too. I told him that was why we have a sinful nature to start with, and our sin seperates us from God just like it seperated Adam and Eve from God. I showed him how God cannot tolerate ANY sin, because of His holiness. Then I told him that God had a plan to bring us back to Himself, and explained how the animal skins were symbolic of the shedding of blood. Then I told him that Jesus was the payment for his sin, and that he needed to accept that, and put his faith in it, to be made alive in God.

So anyway, he listened to everything I had to say, and I was glad to be able to get the nuts and bolts into the discussion. He seems interested in hearing more, and I am planning on telling him about Cain and Able the next time, and of course, tying that to Jesus death on the cross.

This guy has no clue about many of the things we take for granted. He had never heard about Adam and Eve, or why Jesus was crucified, or anything like that. He is seriously ignorant of anything to do with becoming a Christian. You guys pray for him, and pray for me too. Pray that I will be a godly testimony to him, and not a hindrance to his recieving the gospel.

We had a guest speaker in our church yesterday. He's in his eighties, and spent over forty years as a missionary to Japan. He told us an interesting story in his sermon.

In Japan, he said, you get a receipt for EVERYthing. Even if it's a ten cent purchase, you get a written reciept. Normally, the shopkeepers are familiar with their customers, and will write out their name on the receipt. He found it interesting that whenever he would purchase something, his receipt would always be made out to "Mr. Foreigner." He made some more remarks as to how people would make comments about his big nose, or that he was a foreigner in public, etc. etc. Then he got the point by telling about his newspaper deliverer. This little boy didn't know his name, but instead of filling out the receipt as a traditional "Mr. Foreigner", he instead filled it out as "Mr. Jesus Christ". This missionary was all that that little boy had ever known of Jesus Christ, and he identified that man as being representative of Jesus. So how many people know all they know about Jesus through their interaction with me? Made me think, that's for sure.

Anyway, keep praying. I think this guy is receptive to the gospel, and I covet your prayers for his soul.

[arunma]

I'm glad to hear this! It's a very good thing that your friend hasn't been indoctrinated into the Hindu belief that Jesus was a guru who taught tolerance for other religions.

But it's still very distressing to realize that so many people have never heard the Gospel. The good news of Christ shouldn't be denied to anyone. It's rather ironic that the so-called "tolerant" religions such as Hinduism are the ones that seek most fervently to suppress the Gospel.