The Devotees of Religion?

Dear!
here below i am placing on blog a report by one good friend of mine...
he is a non-catholic christian minister...
i share his sorrow on the predicament of Christians today!

The Devotees of Religion?
Rev. P. Joseph Ramanathan
“Stop! You cannot give baptism to them in our church. If you want to baptise them, take them into your house.” A church elder thundered the priest. The church members supported the elder’s command to withdraw the idea of baptism.
This real incident happened in a church that believes in evangelism. The church priest led ten non-Christians to receive Jesus Christ as their God. These new believers wanted to join the fellowship of believers by taking the baptism. Past six months the priest prepared them and arranged the baptism on the Easter Sunday of 2010. However, the baptism service was stopped and new believers were sent out.
The reason is, regrettably, the new believers come from the caste that is not similar to the church members. The church elder is a disciplined person who follows all the church rules faithfully. His family and relatives support the church activities, north India missions, youth, children and revival ministries. His sacrificial giving is well appreciated by the powerful evangelists as well. Quite a number of magazines are pumped into his home address. The church members elect the particular elder for the church leadership every time unanimously. Therefore, it is not easy to condemn him for this unscriptural behaviour.
Who is to be blamed? Sadly, most of the Christians did not know that caste discrimination nullifies the power of the gospel. So they did not consider that the caste bigotry is sin. There are many reasons for this perspective. First, most of the priests, including powerful evangelists and anointed pastors, are staunch believers in the caste system. Some of them lived and died more faithful to their caste rather than to the body of Christ. As a result, they preached that all are equal in the eyes of God, not among human beings that assert inequality. Second, the missionary movements initiated a slight process of change. However, their fund raising actions have to comply with the caste lines. Third, the priests and pastors are appointed on the basis of the caste lines. As a result, the church becomes another social club in the society. Thus, it is easy for the Christian institutions and individuals to follow the cultural patterns blissfully. There is no place for an alternative culture by the Gospel.
Regrettably, this type of Christians’ mind is not ruled by the word of God. Hence, there is no transformation in their thoughts, memories and reasons. As a result, their emotions are not touched by the Spirit of God. So, it is impossible to expect the fruit of Spirit in their lives. Consequently, it is normal to obey the patterns of the world instead of obeying the will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
Apparently, they are devotees of Christian religion, not the disciples of Christ. The Scripture teaches that God created everyone in His image. Discrimination and exclusion are sin against God. (Eph.2:14). Repentance is required to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Rev. P. Joseph Ramanathan serves with Equipping People for Excellence in Leadership that involves in training the Christians for effective missions.

The SPIRIT of a Missionary – from being to becoming!

Fr. Klement Vaclav’s visit has once again cleared the dust over the discussion on missionary spirit in our province. Being a missionary, needless to repeat, is a Vocation by itself. I recall the visit of Fr. Vaclav a couple of years back – when a few of us asked if we can opt to work in a foreign land for a few years on agreement, he drew a clear cut distinction between being a missionary and working in a foreign province! Yes, the crux is the movement from being a missionary to becoming a missionary! Unless I am a missionary, I cannot become a missionary. It was in this regard that Teresa of Child Jesus was made the patroness of the missions. Though she might not have become a missionary, she was a missionary at heart, a missionary in Spirit. What spirit of a person is indicative of his or her missionary vocation, is the question I begin this reflection with.

1. The Spirit of Abraham – To leave behind!

When God asked him to leave behind his people and walk into the wilderness he did it! He was a missionary, going towards that land and life that God promised him. (Gen 12)

2. The Spirit of Moses – To own God’s people!

When God called the suffering lot “my people” and sent Moses to liberate them, he had to consider them all not just “His people” but his own people. (Exo 5) Though they were all from various tribes and clans, they were all ‘his people.’

3. The Spirit of Joshua – To dare in the steps of the Leader!

When Moses died, Joshua the youngster felt a big burden on his shoulder. But the promise that the Lord gave, “I will be with you as I was with Moses” enlivened him (Jos 1) and in that strength he dared in the footsteps of his Master!

4. The Spirit of Esther – To risk for the sake of one’s people!

The meteoric rise of Esther was destined. She knew little what it meant. But when it was made clear to her by her uncle Mordecai(Est 4:14), she risked her life and stood by her people. She liberated them from a treacherous plot, risking her own life.

5. The Spirit of Jeremiah – To feel the fire of God’s Word burn within!

Jeremiah suffered the worst among the prophets. No wonder he is taken to be the matchless OT parallel of the suffering Messiah. Even when he realized his sufferings were unwarranted (Jer 20:7ff), he took them upon himself, because otherwise he felt he could not… His word was in his heart like a fire, and he was weary holding it in.

6. The Spirit of Paul – To live to proclaim!

“Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!” proclaimed St. Paul. (1Cor 9:16) When it came to knowing Christ and proclaiming him, for Paul nothing really mattered – his life, his dignity, his intelligence, his wisdom everything amounted to nothing.

7. The Spirit of Mary – To realize one’s blessedness!

The Blessed Virgin Mary, when she was called to be part of God’s salvific mission, understood little of what it entailed. But she was certain of two things – one, of her lowliness and second, of her blessedness. When she exclaimed ‘from now on all ages will call me blessed!’ (Lk 1:48) she in no unclear terms realized her identity and that empowered her never to lose that identity as ‘the blessed one of God.’

It is high time I realize, I need not go somewhere to be a missionary. But if I am a missionary at heart, in spirit, I will find an urge to go somewhere to proclaim, to witness to live my life, for the sake of the Kingdom!