Gandhi and the Church ... a true story
When Gandhi read a copy of the New Testament one Sunday, he was very touched by the love of Christ and was impressed by doctrines like - love your enermy as yourself, love God with all your heart, soul & strength e.t.c.. So moved, he said, " If the Bible is real, then I must know this God and accept him as my Lord and saviour." Then, he decided to visit the local church that very Sunday.
At that time, India was still under the colonial rule of the British and the political climate was filled with hostility. There was a huge gap between the whites and the Indians, and both sides were hostile towards each other. It was strictly master to servent relationship between the British and the Indians. Any signs on the street or western restaurants may describe or label Indians as dogs.
The moment Gandhi stepped into the western dominated church, everybody freezed. Silence was everywhere. Everybody's eyes were fixed on Gandhi - the ushers, the pastors and the worshippers. Then, moments later, the people began to criticize Gandhi - the clothes he wore, his size, his looks, even his skin colour! Thinking that he might disrupt the service or even cause trouble, the people in church refused Gandhi's entry and prevented him from worshipping God just because, he was an Indian.
Gandhi felt so unjustified, and in a fit of anger, he said," If God is like what these people are, and if that's what the bible teaches them, then I would rather have nothing to do with it!" With that, he slammed the bible on the floor and stomped out of the church, never to return.
===========================================
It's a shame of us believers, isn't it?
What really is our priority?
Do we put God first in our lives?
Or do we put our perception and desires first? ...only we can answer to ourselves.
If God were to ask you today...
What kind of Christian do you wanna be? What'll be your answers?
One that's only in name, or someone who is just a regular tither and church goer, or someone who rides on a spiritual roller coaster, or someone who is willing to put Him first at the expense of all - family, friends, even life?
What extent is your faith and conviction in God?
Tell yourself the answer and you'll know yourself more.
When Gandhi read a copy of the New Testament one Sunday, he was very touched by the love of Christ and was impressed by doctrines like - love your enermy as yourself, love God with all your heart, soul & strength e.t.c.. So moved, he said, " If the Bible is real, then I must know this God and accept him as my Lord and saviour." Then, he decided to visit the local church that very Sunday.
At that time, India was still under the colonial rule of the British and the political climate was filled with hostility. There was a huge gap between the whites and the Indians, and both sides were hostile towards each other. It was strictly master to servent relationship between the British and the Indians. Any signs on the street or western restaurants may describe or label Indians as dogs.
The moment Gandhi stepped into the western dominated church, everybody freezed. Silence was everywhere. Everybody's eyes were fixed on Gandhi - the ushers, the pastors and the worshippers. Then, moments later, the people began to criticize Gandhi - the clothes he wore, his size, his looks, even his skin colour! Thinking that he might disrupt the service or even cause trouble, the people in church refused Gandhi's entry and prevented him from worshipping God just because, he was an Indian.
Gandhi felt so unjustified, and in a fit of anger, he said," If God is like what these people are, and if that's what the bible teaches them, then I would rather have nothing to do with it!" With that, he slammed the bible on the floor and stomped out of the church, never to return.
===========================================
It's a shame of us believers, isn't it?
What really is our priority?
Do we put God first in our lives?
Or do we put our perception and desires first? ...only we can answer to ourselves.
If God were to ask you today...
What kind of Christian do you wanna be? What'll be your answers?
One that's only in name, or someone who is just a regular tither and church goer, or someone who rides on a spiritual roller coaster, or someone who is willing to put Him first at the expense of all - family, friends, even life?
What extent is your faith and conviction in God?
Tell yourself the answer and you'll know yourself more.
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