It is estimated that there are approximately 1.2 billion Hindus in the world today (15-16% of the world's population).
Hinduism has no single founder and no date in which it originated. It evolved over many centuries in India as older populations interacted with later migrations, resulting in a highly complex and diverse web of beliefs and practices, including many that are mutually contradictory. Hinduism, simply put, is the traditional civilisation of India.
This article is not meant to give some magic formula or to serve as a wooden script, but rather to offer a few guidelines on how to best share the good news of Jesus with our Hindu friends.
Some Practical Tips
1. Build friendship with them - Friendship evangelism is usually easy to initiate with Hindus. Most Hindus esteem religion in general and are free and open to speak about it. A sincere, non-judgemental interest in all aspects of Indian Life will provide a good basis for friendship. A consistently Christlike life is the most important factor in sharing the Gospel with Hindus. Seek to develop genuine relationships, loving them as Christ does and investing time in getting to know them. Look for ways to be involved in their lives, and invite them to be a part of yours.
2. Share your testimony - The story of your own spiritual journey will be very appealing. And feel free to pray with your friend; Hindus are comfortable with public acts of devotion. But be careful how you explain the gospel: if you talk about being born again, for example, your friend might think you talking about reincarnation.
3. Do not criticise or condemn Hinduism - There is much that is good and much that is bad in the practice of both Christianity and Hinduism. Pointing out the worst aspects of Hinduism is hardly the way to win friends or show love. Criticising Hinduism can make us feel we have won an argument; it will not win Hindus to Jesus Christ.
4. Talk about God - Your friend will no doubt not be thinking about God in biblical ways (which of us has a completely precise knowledge of him, anyway?) but as you point them to stories in the Bible, particularly stories of the Lord Jesus, their understanding will slowly grow. Telling stories about Jesus can be a very effective way to communicate the gospel! Tell stories from the gospels and share examples of Jesus’ active presence in your life, relaying them like a story, not like a theological treatise. Jesus can speak for Himself—pray that He will do so in the hearts of your Hindu friends as you share!
5. Pray with Them - Don’t merely pray for your Hindu friends—pray with them! Many Hindus welcome offers to pray with them about their needs and concerns. Unlike Westerners, who tend to evaluate truth based upon rational arguments and evidence, many people from Eastern cultures tend to evaluate truth based upon experiences. So, specific answers to prayer can have great impact! In addition, as you pray, you demonstrate that you worship a loving God who cares about our concerns.
6. Coconut as an analogy for His death - One of the most powerful illustrations of the sacrifice of Jesus is the use of the coconut as an analogy for His death. Hindus use coconuts as offerings. They are broken open as an offering to their gods.Hindus offer countless prayers and make offerings of flowers and coconuts. We can refer to this, then share that Jesus was the only true offering to God which made it possible for our sins to be forgiven forever. Using this analogy, we can say that in the same way that the coconut is broken, the body of Jesus was broken for us. As the milk spills out of the coconut, Jesus’ blood spilled from His side. Through this perfect and holy offering, we are made clean and white, just like the inside of the coconut.
7. Pray for your Hindu Friends - The problem with witnessing to the Hindu is that he sees himself as a believer. While trying to witness to a Hindu, we must remember that we are involved in spiritual warfare that can only be won by sincere and focused prayers. So that is the place to begin. Pray regularly for the one to whom we are trying to present Christ.
8. Introduce Jesus as a Guru - Another thing to remember, as we try to reach Hindus with the gospel, is that the word Christian is a grossly misunderstood word by our Hindu friends. To them Christian equals “beef eater,” and that is an obnoxious thing to them. Cow is one of their favourite gods, and to eat beef is one the most offensive things a Hindu can conceive of. So, in trying to reach a Hindu for Christ, never introduce yourself as a “Christian.” Rather, you can introduce yourself and say, “I am a disciple of Christ, and I wish to introduce my ‘Guru’ to you.” Then you will have a welcome hearing as Christ is accepted and venerated as a “Guru par excellence” by most Hindus. Sadguru Yeshu (Jesus) meets all requirements of a good Guru.
Requirements of a Good Guru
1. He must dispel the darkness (Guru in Sanskrit comes from two syllables, "darkness" and "light". Out of darkness and into the light.)
2. God in human form
3. Has miraculous powers
4. Not a lover of money
5. Unmarried (like Sadhus who are celibate)
6. Man of Peace
9. Jesus in Hindu Scriptures - God spoke to ancient Hindu sages and Jesus has been mentioned in the most sacred writings known among Hindus called Vedas. Some of the verses from these ancient writings are useful in witnessing to your Hindu friends or relatives.
The 10th mandala of Rig Veda chapter 121 verse 10 says, Prajapati Lord of life, Lord of Creatures and Lord of Creations.
Papokam, papa kanmokam, papathma papa samphava; thrahimam Pundarikaksha sarva papa hari hare…
Which means, I am born in sin, doer of sin, and a sinful self; I am the worst of all sinners, Lord save me from all my sins. Why sin is a hurdle? Because, it is an offense against God (Rig Veda 7.86.3).
The Bruhad Aranyaka Upanishad says, that the Jeeva (soul) acquires evil, right at birth (4.3.8).
Rog Sog Dhuk Paritab Bhandan Vyasnanicha, Aatma aparatha Vrukshanam phalarh edhani dehinam
Which means, “what are the fruits of this sinful tree which is our body? Sickness, sorrow, pain, bondage and many other kinds of sins”. No man is free from this bondage of sin.
According to Bhagavat Gita, God does not accept karma either good or bad, as far as redemption of the soul is concerned (B.G 2.50).
Viveka Chudamani verse 147 says that, “neither weapons, nor wind, nor fire, nor millions of deeds can remove this bondage. Only the wonderful sword of knowledge that comes out of discrimination sharpened by the grace of God can destroy it”. Again verse 6 says;
Naham vedair na danena na ejyaya sakya evamvidho drstavan asi mam yatha (Gita 11:53)
Which means, neither by Vedic study, nor by austerities, nor by charities, nor by sacrifices can one behold Me. Nor by any works that you have done.
Thertiriya Aranyaka verse 3 says,
“Sarvapapa pariharo raktha prokshna mavasyam”
Which means, that the redemption is through shedding of blood only. For this purpose God allowed mankind to sacrifice animals, in order to make them realize that there is a penalty for everyone’s sins. Though the animal’s blood is not a substitute, it was expected that man would repent and turn away from his sinful ways, by seeing the blood of the animal which is being shed on his behalf. But mankind started practicing it just as a ritual, and thus came into condemnation.
If mankind were to be saved from this predicament, as Thertiriya Aranyaka 3rd verse says again,
“…thad raktham Paranatmena punyadena baliyagam”
Which means, that blood has to be through the sacrifice of God himself. The Purusha Sukta says, there is no other way other than the sacrifice of Purusha Prajapati. Purushao vava yagna (Chandokya Upanishad 3.16.1), God, the Purusha is the sacrifice. Sama Veda Dandiya Mahabhramanam says, “Prajapathi devapyam aathmanam yagnam kruthva prayachita” which means, God will offer himself as a sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. Sathpatha Bhramanam says, “Prajapathi yagnayaga”.
More details can be found here:
https://www.slideshare.net/forthewordoftruth/back-to-vedas
- Do you believe all religions/paths lead to God? Why or why not?
- What do you think happens after we die?
- What do you believe about Jesus Christ?
- Ask questions about his or her beliefs concerning God, man, sin, and salvation
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Preeti Krishnan was a staunch Hindu worshiper until an encounter that brought her to Jesus Christ after a struggle she had with her MBA studies and none of the Hindu pantheon answered her prayers.
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