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Pauline

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Chennai

News from INDIA

11/13/2008 8:27:38 AM

Friends,

reading this has warmed my heart much, there are many like Mr.Anand, many whom I personally know, actresses, leading models of Chennai, and many a distinguished lady and gentlemen who have come to the Lord, this is just the other side of the coin, one that I can bear witness too. It is sad the stories that are circulating about CHRISTIANS in my country. We are called to preach the good news and if someone wants to follow and become a believer who is to stop that person?? Well here is a testimony very different !!!

Blessings to you all,

Pauline

This is an article written by Mr.Anand Mahadevan, who is the editor of Outlook business. This article has been published in outlook this week..

OPINION

I, The Convert

My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart

Anand Mahadevan

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity.

I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them.

I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God.

When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too.. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus.

It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.

The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality.

If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine.

But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.

God bless India.

Branka 500 2716 Belgra...	Re: News from INDIA 11/13/2008 9:17:11 AM
	Hi Pauline, This article is amazing, thanks for posting it. I must repeat the words of Anand Mahadevan: "It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalize or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is. " I can understand each his word and feel a big gratitude for the time, which tries to announce to all, and also to a blind and fanatics people, the truth. I am not a homo religiosus and simply cann`t than live my very intimate touch (encounters) with God. I was born in family which traditionally belongs to Orthodox Christian Church, but it was a communism and it was normal to be honored watching at the gods all around, walking in very expensive shoes :( ... and with red five-pointed stars as a unique idol / icon. My hunger for real God started at my 30th ... and I must admit I have passed through all main religions, studying them and praying to be gifted to understand. I very appreciate and love Jesus Christ. Also, I appreciate Hinduism and found many precious things to learn there. I think India is amazing country and being so tolerant to all religions, that can be only a big nation ! I very respect Judaism and Buddhism. And my heart feels most comfortable loving God - permitting Him to call Himself, from time to time, in any name He may chose. I think this future already started, and all alive people at the globe, will have real encounters with God , without any outer teachers . Simply, I think the faith cann`t be uniformed. Our differences - isn`t that God`s richness ? HUGS AND BLESSINGS TO YOU PAULINE AND TO ANAND! Branka

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Thomas 1637 15469 Carlsbad	Re: News from INDIA 11/13/2008 12:32:32 PM
	Thank you sister Pauline for a post to give us news from India :) God_bless you and your family! Thomas
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Amanda 2190 2587 Lexington	Re: News from INDIA 11/13/2008 2:46:08 PM
	Hello Pauline, Thank you for sharing this article. I like this sentence and makes perfect sense to me.. It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. This is me too... The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Amanda

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The Cardioman 2908 1080 Houston	Re: News from INDIA 11/13/2008 7:52:57 PM
	Pauline, What a wonderful and sincere testimony! My Bible tells me that in Heaven there will be all races, creeds, and colors. God does not look on the outward appearance, but what is in the person's heart. Many times a person will ask me what religion I am and I will tell them that I have no religion because I am a Christian. They will ask me what church I attend and I will tell them that I attend a Baptist Church. They will say OH! you are a Baptist! My reply to them is no, am not a Baptist, I only attend the church because that is where I receive God's word. As you well know, religion is man's attempt to reach God, but Christianity is where God through his grace reached down and touched man by having his Son die for all of our sins. There is none other that can make that claim.
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