May 1, 2008 – 10:51 (GMT +5:30) – 32oC (90oF) – San Thome Rd, Mylapore, Chennai, India
Here is the thing about India, its very very different from the US, here the one thing everyone cares about is money. That was sarcastic by the way. In fact more than once I have heard the comment, soon we are going to be just like the US. (Of course if they were hopefully that would mean there will also be a lot more Christian churches which would certainly be a reason for rejoicing.) Because of this a Caucasian immediately has friends wherever he goes. Yesterday I was trying to get some work done and couldn’t make any headway, so I thought a walk along the beach might do me some good. The beach was full of people, today May 1st is some kind of a holiday, and I think the Indians must have started the celebrations yesterday. The sky over the beach was full of kites. The beach itself is not really used for swimming, because of a powerful and dangerous undertow and a steep drop off, but many families and couples were wading in and enjoying the sand. There were vendors and booths everywhere, even small carnival type rides. I was almost immediately surrounded by a group of children asking me questions and showing me their magic card trick and their kites. After talking to them for a little while, they tried to get me to buy them chocolate, and wouldn’t believe me that I had no money. I had purposely not taken any with me when I left the house, thinking there would be no need. There were others also, one man claiming that he was 50 km from home and had lost his wallet. I told him I didn’t have any money, and he just pleaded all the more. I finally had to literally pull my pockets inside out to convince him that I couldn’t help him.
This is one of the reasons the government is opposed to European/American evangelists. Because they believe the “conversions” are merely for the sake of getting our money and not genuine. And certainly this is a serious problem. Often missionaries from the United States will come over and hold these big elaborate tent revival meetings and will spend money hand over fist and give away stuff, and of course they attract huge numbers of people to these gatherings. The question is how many are there to hear the word and how many to see the American, or attracted to the obvious wealth. For this reason as I understand it most of the anti-Christian laws in India are currently specifically against foreigners doing evangelism work.
The other thing to remember is that Hindus generally seem to be more concerned with religiosity than with religion in particular. Hindu thought is more concerned with how well, how dedicated, you are in your worship rather than who you worship. Plus the Hindu idea of multiple gods, leaves room to include Christ as just one more among many. I can’t tell you how many times I have ridden in rickshaws that have a picture of Jesus taped up right next to a picture of the Hindu elephant god. Certainly the words of Paul to the Athens apply also to the Indians. This seems also to be a trend in America thought and perhaps that is why the Eastern religions are gaining a foothold in America. Those who think that which god you worship doesn’t matter, fit right in with what I have seen of Hindu philosophy.
In this case our smallness and lack of funds are in a way a blessing. We try to help out our brethren over seas as much as possible. We do what we can especially for medical help and we help them out with food. Plus of course the orphanage, and it is my hope that in time we can do more in the area of education. But when it comes down to it we can’t do that much, we just don’t have the resources and the upshot of this is pastors don’t come to us for the money. I suppose it’s possible that some of them still do. But mainly when they come to us they are coming to learn, to learn the word of God. Because when it comes down to it, its really the only thing we have in abundance to give them.
There are many things that America has in more abundant quantity than anywhere else in the world, money, technology, food, even freedom, the list could go on. But the one thing to really be thankful for is the overabundance of the Word of God. Back in the states I often heard, and often said things myself to the effect of where is America going? Speaking of what a bad shape America is in spiritually. But the truth of the matter is that compared to almost everywhere else in the World America is still a great bonfire of Christianity. Praise and thank the Lord for that.
Incidently I looked into the history of the current celebrations in India, and found out that May 1st is apparently an international holiday celebrating the outcome of the labor movement and specifically the eight hour workday. Apparently the choice of May 1st was a at least partially due to the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, Illinois. Ironic that pretty much the entire world, except America and Canada, commemorates an event that happened in America. As with so many other things I have noticed there is the American way and then there is the rest of the world way. Of course as Christians we have yet another different labor day celebration, we call it Sunday.
Now may He who alone gives us rest and peace, give unto us all the strength to continue steadfast in the work of His kingdom, until the ending of all labor. And may He who has showered us with blessing, give us a spirit of thankfulness and praise.
– Matthew Ude