Reaching Hindus (and anyone)

Faithful "front line" evangelism here in America. 

Out on a sidewalk I stopped an IT student with some questions about his beliefs. Although it was very windy and cold out, Abhishek, a Hindu from India, very patiently answered my questions. 

As a Hindu, Abhishek believes in many different gods and in reincarnation into another living creature in the next life, based on his actions in this. He agreed that this implies belief in a sort of judgment day based on his actions and an ultimate spiritual authority or judge much like the biblical judgment day. 

I asked if he would like to hear the Christian perspective on this, and affirmed that for him to understand it doesn't mean that he has to agree with it. He appreciated this approach and listened while I showed him his guilt according to the Ten Commandments and how a just God holds us accountable for our sins. 

When I explained how Jesus has atoned for our sins on the cross, Abhishek said he was familiar with this, having visited a few Christian churches in his village in India. He agreed that, given my beliefs in the necessity of faith in Jesus for salvation, it would only be the right thing to do to want to tell others. 

Abhishek told me his commitment to Hinduism was largely cultural, not necessarily a personal decision, but he just veers toward Hinduism in matters of faith because it is so familiar to him. He was very patient and open-minded, and took interest in the additional info I gave him. 

I think this conversation was a good example of a response of "intellectual assent" without an immediate spiritual impact. So much of conversational outreach like this occurs on an educational, intellectual level , helping people to understand the Gospel long before they are ready to respond to it at the heart level.

Other than going to a foreign country where the Gospel is unheard of, I think this is what front-line evangelism looks like here in America, with so many internationals coming to us. Many are students like Abhishek, and could return to their homeland with the Gospel as well as their college degree.

It will probably take quite a while for someone like Abhishek to process what he heard, and even longer for him to darken the doorway of a church, so our motivation can't be based on seeing quick or dramatic results. 

It takes a quiet confidence that God will use our efforts, and prayers that he will send out additional "laborers for the harvest". Will you be one of them?

- Jeff Reiman

Note: 

Its great to plant seeds. Pray for his salvation. We go past the intellectual to the conscience with the Gospel. We don't check our brains at the Door or ask them too either, but we can reason with them this way, as God intended. Truth is given...and they are responsible and accountable to God. 

I don't know the number of Indians who turn from Hinduism but their country has a large number of Muslims too, and we know thanks to US and globalness in modern times all these foreign people who come here for school or whatever reason now have ability to hear the Gospel and learn truth. Their nations never did & don't allow anything but their religion, [even in some whose nations have had Britian Empire rule them], still even there or in the tribes and regions there that are strictly controlled by their native religion (Islam/Hinduism etc) theyre are getting access to truth today...and that's great news.

30k Muslims come to Christ in US annually and in UK per data. Other religions and demonic faiths followers leave their false religion too, as God saves them

Be faithful. 

Get equipped today, and obey the Great Commission 

Reaching Hindus