It's a day to remember goodness thrashed darkness. It's a remembrance day that good guys will always win at the end, just like the nice ending in the super hero story.
Dwali has something for non-Hindus too. I want to take today as an opportunity to say something --- to spew out something has been cloaking inside my heart. Before I proceed, I want you to read this.
MIDDLE EAST, INDIA, March 28, 2011 — After twenty centuries all that can be said of Christianity is that it is the world’s largest religion with over 2 billion followers. Its influence on men’s hearts and minds as the truth is highly debatable.
Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the best example of someone who was discerning enough to reject Christianity not Christ. He was deeply hurt by his experiences with apartheid and “Christians” during his time in South Africa, and it obviously stymied his relationship with Christ.
Like Gandhi millions have been unable to see the Christ obscured by Christianity.
Gandhi was shrewd enough to tell missionaries, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” When asked why he did not embrace Christianity, Gandhi said it offered nothing he could not get from his own religion, observing, "…to be a good Hindu also meant that I would be a good Christian. There is no need for me to join your creed to be a believer in the beauty of the teachings of Jesus or try to follow His example."
Read the rest here: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/no-2-religion-yes-2-faith/2011/mar/31/gandhi-glimpsed-christ-rejected-christianity-false/
I'm not going to make a case of salvation by works or salvation by faith. I'm no theologian. The relevant point that I want to make is to remind everyone not to be fooled. Beware of wolves in sheep's' clothing, someone who will call you brother or sister. Someone who you will invite with open arms into your house. Someone who you will never raise any sign of suspicion without realizing he has a knife at the back ready to stab you. The wolves are driving people away from Christ.
It does not mean that we need to snatch the knives from the wolves and start a gladiator fight. Gandhi is a wonderful student of Christ. He hit the nail right on the head.
Forgiveness.
Voila!
That's the heart of Christianity. F-O-R-G-I-V-E-N-E-S-S.
That was how the passive resistance philosophy was born. No wonder Gandhi is considered as a genius in Steve Jobs's book. You let the other person to continue to beat you up to a point his conscience tells him that is the wrong thing to do. Gandhi truly forgives his enemy up to seventy-seven times. Hopefully, the violence will stop. When violence stops, verbal or physical, the world will be a much more serene place to live.
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