I saw this video a week back sent by a friend who considers himself not a Christian. He could not understand why this video is now released? Some of you think nothing is wrong with this video? Some well-known Tamil-Christian leaders and TeleEvangelists gathering together and singing songs. They are exalting and glorifying God in their own ways. Why is the non-Christian friend asking such a question? Does he oppose and jealous of Christianity? Is he a Hindutva extremist? This could be the first thought that would have crossed someone’s mind, who considers himself/herself as a devout follower of Jesus Christ. And I would agree so, after all, I am in my final year of pursuing a Christian Divinity Degree. However, I think my friend is making a sensible point on the other hand, and my task is not to defend Christian leaders but to show who really Jesus is? and what makes someone is the real follower of Jesus Christ?
Current India
The world is going through a pandemic of COVID-19. So far, 0.8+ million lost their lives on this earth, the number of cases on an upward scale, and no vaccine is found yet.1 India is in the top three spots and likely to catch the first place very soon on the number of infected coronavirus cases. Indian economy in shambles, a leading Indian business tycoon Narayan Murthy fears that Indian economy will hit the lowest since 1947 (The official inauguration of the Republic of India).2 The unemployment rate in India increased by 9% on August 2020,3 millions of migrant workers lost their jobs, still hospitals and health workers struggling to cope with ever-increasing COVID-19 cases. Among 195 countries, India ranks 145 in healthcare access,4 many never heard of medical insurances, or can’t afford one. For many, it is easier to choose death since dying is affordable and cheaper than receiving health care.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is a historical figure such as Buddha, Plato, and Confucius, who lived in first-century Palestine. A devout Jew and known for his unique teaching. His followers are Christians and happen to be the largest religion in the world today called Christianity. Christians believe he is fully God and fully human, and so do I. But here I am going to show a glimpse of his human history side. Jesus hung out with people who are generally rejected by society like tax-collectors, poor, sex workers, criminals, and thieves. He is definitely not wealthy either. If he lives today, he would probably live in a slum or a ghetto.
Secondly, Jesus openly stood up against the corruption of the Jewish priesthood. He became a friend with a Samaritan woman. In those days, Samaritans were considered low on the social status by Jews though both believed in the same God. It is similar to the difference between a Brahmin and a Dalit (untouchable) even though both come under the Hindu religion. However, Jesus broke the barrier, revealed her “He is the Messiah.” Once he saved a woman from stoning for committing adultery. Unlike other Jewish Rabbis, he was not after money and power. He is God and chose a life of an oppressed unlike some religion’s godly avatars chose a royal bloodline.
Finally, Jesus taught his followers to love your neighbor as you love yourself. In other words, put others first. He became human to save mankind from sin and give them new life which bridges relationships with God the Creator. He was crucified based on the false witness set up by a Jewish high priest. Overall, he was economically and socially poor.
Christian Tradition
Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Many of my North Indian friends ask often why South India better than Nothern India in many aspects such as literacy, healthcare, employment, population control, and infrastructure. Yes, there is a reason. First of all, regarding education, Kerala and Tamilnadu benefited most from Christian missionaries. Many schools, colleges, hospitals were built by Christian workers and enabled much of a marginalized community to access education and medical care. No wonder, Indian Christians consist of believers who came from Dalit (70 %)5 and Adivasi or Tribal (10 %) backgrounds.
For example, Robert Caldwell an Irish cum Scottish missionary who researched and revealed Tamil is a unique language and got nothing to do with Sanskrit. It is purely a Dravidian language, not an Indo-Aryan language. Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg is the first protestant Christian missionary to India who translated the Bible into Tamil. It is the first book to be printed using a printing press in South Asia. Ziegenbalg created Tamil fonts and laid a path to Tamil’s advancement. People like Amy Carmichael who fought against glorified Temple prostitution and rescued many girl children and women from Southern Tamilnadu. Mother Teresa – everyone knows what she did in Calcutta (currently knows as Kolkata), I don’t need to put words to explain here. All these people were reflecting Jesus in their life.
What do You think?
Paul Dhinakaran and his crew on this video show any resemblance to Jesus? No wonder why my friend was perplexed and asked what they were doing during this difficult pandemic season. When there is so much pain, poverty, sickness, and death, why these Christians are not helping? But they are acting like Christmas came early. Sadly, these prosperity preachers are the face of Indian Christians. However, Christ’s work continues on India and the rest of the world through his true disciples who are not after wealth, fame, and power to build their own kingdom. What would Jesus do now? Would he participate in a concert, especially during this epidemic situation? Would he identify himself with these people Or stand against them for misrepresenting Christianity? I think Jesus would make a whip out of cords (John 2:13-16). But what do you think?