By Ingrid Albuquerque-Solomon –
A Christian friend he was very close to, requested Gandhi to read the Bible. The friend not only requested, he made Gandhi promise he would read the Bible. Gandhiji was honest that he had difficulties in understanding the Old Testament, but admitted that The Sermon on the Mount and the symbol of the Cross, “went straight to my heart.”
After that, Mahatma Gandhi in his radical solutions to national and international problems, often quoted verses from the teachings of Christ. It appeared like the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5 (the Beatitudes) was constantly on his mind and that he constructed all his life plans, political reforms, and discussions out of it. In the room where he lived, a beautiful painting of Christ was placed straight on the wall over his desk. There were a few other pictures – of Justice Ranade, Annie Besant, and William Hunter on other walls. But right in the center of his workplace was the face of Christ.
A visitor asked him why he did not simply embrace Christianity. He said, “To me, being a good Hindu also means I am a good Christian. There is no need for me to join your creed to be a believer in the beauty and teachings of Christ.”
In his book, “Gandhi, On Christianity”, he was more elaborate. “There was a time I sincerely considered Christianity as my religion. However, although I admire much in Christianity, I am unable to identify myself with orthodox Christianity…
“The missionaries come to India thinking that they come to a land of heathens, of idolaters, of men who do not know God. My own experiences all over India have been on the contrary. An average Indian is as much a seeker after the truth as the Christian missionaries are, possibly more so.
“Please do not flatter yourself with the belief that a mere recital of that celebrated verse from the Gospel of John (3:16) makes a man a Christian. If I have read the Bible correctly, I know many men who have never known the name of Jesus Christ, or men who have even rejected the official interpretations of Christianity, but would nevertheless, if Jesus Christ came into our midst today in the flesh, be probably owned by him more than many of the missionaries, or so called Christians.”
Author E. Stanley Jones, an author and close friend of Gandhiji, said to him, “Mr. Gandhi, I am very anxious to see Christianity naturalized in India so it shall no longer be a foreign thing identified with the foreign people and a foreign government, but become a part of the national life of India, contributing its power to India’s uplift and redemption.” The evangelist straightforwardly asked the Mahatma what Christians should do to make that possible.
Gandhiji paused a bit, then looked him in the eye, and gave him these suggestions:
- “I would suggest, first and foremost, that Christians should begin to live more like Jesus Christ. If you come to us in the Spirit of your Master, we will not be able to resist you.
- “Second, I would suggest that you must practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down.
- “Third, I would suggest that you must put your emphasis upon love, for love is the center and soul of Christianity (He felt that when non-Christians looked at Christians, they did not see love, but found themselves looking at pride, superiority, and condemnation).
- “Finally, study the non-Christian religions and culture more sympathetically in order to find the good that is in them, so that you might have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”
Come 2nd of October, each year, we in India celebrate “Gandhi Jayanthi” (anniversary of his birth). The United Nations too, declares it a holiday, and celebrates it as the International Day of Non-violence.
As Christians, this year, let us henceforth, consider 2nd October, a “holy” day, on which we come before the Father of the Universe and of all Creation, and thank God for the candor of the father of the nation in giving us his view straight from the hip. Let us repent for poor witness, for often living out our faith in an offensive manner repelling potential souls hungry and thirsty for the Truth … instead of drawing them to Christ.
How to instil this change is the moot question.
Suggestions anyone?
Ingrid Albuquerque is an author, journalist, trainer, and Bible teacher. She is part of the mainstream media for over 47 years.