EMQ » January–March 2018 » Vol. 54 Issue 1
Book Review
William Carey Library, 2017, 304 pages, $22.99
Reviewed by David Cashin, Professor of Intercultural Studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary and served for 9 years in Bangladesh.
J. Paul Pennington’s Book, Christians Barriers to Jesus, is a helpful summary of issues regarding Christian mission work amongst Hindus. There is much to be learned from Pennington’s analysis of the issues.
If “Hinduism is not a religion or philosophy” but rather “a culture, or way of life, that evolved over time in India” (p. xvii), then Christians are confronted with a critical question. How much of a Hindu’s culture may one keep and say with integrity that Christ is lord of their life? Pennington seeks to answer that question in his book.
Pennington’s main concern is that faith in Jesus has become fatally linked to western culture and identity in a way that both violates biblical ideas and prevents Hindus from turning to Christ. Much of what Pennington says here is absolutely true.
In his first chapter Pennington deals with the “Barrier of Cultural Separatism” noting how many common “Christian” practices in India are neither biblical nor acceptable to upper caste Hindus. In chapter two, Pennington deals with the core of his argument. The very words Christian and Christianity are not significant in the Bible and should not be the necessary name for following Jesus or joining his band of followers. He argues forcefully here for abandoning a “Christian” identity and becoming a Hindu follower of Jesus. This chapter is the crux of the issue, and though I disagree deeply with Pennington, the arguments are well made and must be considered at length.
Two other chapters are key in understanding the book. In “The Barrier of Conversion” Pennington points out the anger that is stirred up in India at the conversion process. One further chapter deserves special mention for it is worth the price of the book. Pennington focuses on “The Barrier of Financial Dependency” which shows how all India is convinced that Hindus convert to Christianity primarily for the purpose of being patronized financially.
There are two questions that I bring to Pennington’s study. First, is Christian insensitivity and harshness towards Hinduism the primary cause of Hindu resistance to the Gospel? The implication seems to be that if we call ourselves Yesu bhaktas (Christ devotees) and adopt elements of Hindu culture we will see a great harvest. However, Jesus is exclusive; that is clear throughout the New Testament. This is a deadly sin in Hinduism. It violates the only principle that all Hindus agree to, universalism. Second, and the key question that I bring to the book is, how does one maintain a distinct identity as a Christ follower within this integrally syncretistic tradition? We who have worked in the sub-continent have all seen pictures and even statues of Jesus on Hindu altars.
That being said, Pennington does expose many of the issues that have kept the Church from growing in India. His reflections on Hindu concepts of sin, how the Gospel is presented, false aspects of the conversion experience such as renaming converts, and rejecting neutral Hindu practices are all points worthy of deep consideration.
For further reading:
Richard, H. L. (ed). 2011. Rethinking Hindu Ministry: Papers from the Rethinking Forum. William Carey Library.
Deurksen, Darren Todd, 2015. Ecclesial Identities in a Multi-Faith Context: Jesus Truth-Gatherings (Yeshu Satsangs) among Hindus and Sikhs in Northwest India. American Society of Missiology Monograph.
