South Asian Connection - Portal for South Asian Christians - Articles - Apologetics

The True Gospel And The False Gospel

no@spam.com (Zac Poonen) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:30:41 MST

Satan doesn't care even if we have the right doctrine, experience and church-pattern, so long as we continue to "live for ourselves" (This, by the way, is just another phrase for "living in sin"!!). Christendom today is filled with Christians who seek their own and live for themselves, who are yet convinced that God views them as superior to other Christians, merely because of doctrinal differences or church-pattern or "experiences". This shows what a great work Satan has succeeded in doing in Christendom. In John 6:38, our Lord said that He came from heaven to earth: (1) To deny His human will (that He had acquired, when He came to earth as a Man), and (2) To do the will of His Father, as a Man. Thereby He became our example.

Six Men Met In An Indian Airport: One Of Them Was Definitively Narrow-Minded

no@spam.com (Sakshi Times) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:18:57 MDT

Through an imaginative dialog between six men with different worldviews, Praveen Raju of the Sakshi Times illustrates the implications of each in relation to the meaning and destination in life. At the Indian international airport, in a small restaurant, five people are seated around a long table relishing steaming tea . There is also a sixth person seated in a corner, on the next table, mutely watching everyone. The announcer in her concerned yet pleasant voice apologizes the passengers for bad weather and thick fog and announces in a regular and serious tone concerning flight delay for about three hours. Suddenly, when the announcement was over, one of the five, Mr. Atheist, bangs the table and yells …

The Sacred And The Secular

no@spam.com (Benita Joy) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:54:09 MDT

I am a follower of Christ and my life must reflect that truth whether I am working at my job, shopping at the mall, throwing a party, attending classes at university, serving in church, hanging out with friends, deciding on a career, choosing a spouse or in any other activity of life. And I won’t need to label all my activities as ‘Christian’ because such labels are unnecessary and rather lame. It is understood that because I am a follower of Christ, everything I do will comply with the standards and values I profess to hold. If your walk with God is simply a part you play, an act, getting in and out of character is as easy as changing clothes. If it’s who you are, it doesn’t change with circumstance. Don’t fall into the trap that separates the spiritual and the secular. Being a Christian isn’t just a part of who I am—it is who I am.

Christ Unique Claims - Typical or Exceptional

no@spam.com (L.T. Jeyachandran) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:31:31 MDT

Undeniably, Jesus lived an exemplary life. He made claims of himself that remain extraordinary and startling, though reasonable and profound. We need only to read some of the autobiographies of great men and women who have gone before us to see that they were subject to the same moral frailties distinctive to you and me. Yet nothing of the sort is said about Jesus, a fact that pierces heart, mind, and conscience. Of this, historian and skeptic William Lecky writes: "[Jesus] has exercised so deep an influence that it may be truly said that the simple record of three short years of active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists. This has indeed been the wellspring of whatever is best and purest in the Christian life."(2) We cannot but come to the conclusion that Jesus was far from typical.

What Does Climate Change Have To Do With Spirituality?

no@spam.com (Paul Joshua Bhakiaraj) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:35:28 MDT

So what are the alternatives? Obviously it would be foolhardy to expect one to go back to the days of the bullock cart. To be sure one cannot entirely abandon reliance on fossil fuels for economic activity must go on. But if Pachauri words are to be taken seriously how can we cut emissions immediately and drastically? Wasteful use, for one, can be avoided. What are the areas you recognise wasteful use of energy? How could you alter those habits? That, you may say, is only a drop in the ocean! But isn’t the ocean made up of droplets of water? If large numbers do take action then we will most certainly make a difference. Besides acting we can also advocate greener lifestyles. What are the practical ways in which you could encourage your local church to promote greener lifestyles?

Seven Ways the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Affects True Believers

no@spam.com (Joseph Mattera) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:47:44 MDT

Often, many people view the resurrection of Christ merely as an historical event that supplies us with Christian doctrine without understanding the vast implications it has for believers. The following points will attempt to make the implications of the resurrection of Christ much more real and practical to us. When I experience the resurrection of Christ my personal values begin to change to more reflect the heart and character of God. What I once valued as a priority now becomes low priority so that eternal things can take the ascendancy. Jesus said that the things honored by man are detestable in the sight of God (Luke). Where once possessions possessed me, now I own nothing and steward everything. Where once I wanted to express my persona, now I want Christ in me to shine. Where once I lived for today, now I live in eternity. Where once I wanted to live for my purposes, now I endeavor to die to self for His purposes.

Where Is God When It Hurts?

no@spam.com (Samuel Thambusamy) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:55:09 MST

In Passion of the Christ, Jesus appears helpless – a victim of religious hatred and intolerance; a victim of social power-play between religious orders clamoring for a shrinking social space in the face of alien occupation; and a victim of a Roman governor who reflected his own insecurities of political failure, nonetheless different from the Empire he represented in the troubled Roman outpost. Why couldn’t God help Jesus? Where was God when Jesus was falsely accused and unjustly punished with a death penalty? It hurts to see BAD things happen to GOOD people. Even today, there are many whose right to life itself is crushed by forces of systematic evil, which constantly re-invents itself and continues to threaten hope for new life. Jesus’ pain and powerlessness and his consequent death raise a question, ‘Where is God when it hurts?’

Towards A Desi Gospel

no@spam.com (Samuel Thambusamy) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:48:19 MST

The primary call for the Indian-Christians is to make the gospel relevant to Indians. The gospel needs to be 'situated' in our language and culture if it has to be 'acceptable' to Indians. What is worrisome is the uncritical 'Americanization' of the gospel if not the McDonaldization of the gospel – 'same gospel everywhere'. We trust the 'tried' and 'tested' American gospel to work a miracle in India. Do not get me wrong. This is no smear campaign. There's nothing wrong with American Christianity itself. It is its uncritical application in the Indian context that causes me to raise the alarm. The point I am making is that 'localized' flavor is essential to reach out to a larger audience. It is important to be sensitive to local 'tastes' and 'preferences' and serve local needs. Indian curry is popular in England but one finds curry served in London 'less-Indian' than what is normally served in India. It is cooked to 'please' British taste buds.

Jesus Is The Answer To Your Every Need!

no@spam.com (Finu Iype) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:56:31 MST

I had contracted a disease, which the doctors couldn’t explain. After two years of unsuccessful treatment, I decided I had had enough and asked the Lord to heal me, and I decided to trust Him only. And true to his word my Lord kept His word and healed me totally. Then a few months later I developed boils, which would ooze with blood and puss. I once again placed my trust on the Lord and asked Him to heal me. And miraculously the Lord healed me completely. Only the scars remain . . . I am a living example of the power and faithfulness of God. It’s no fairy tale, it’s real life, it’s not hearsay. I am a first person witness to this miracle.

Wearing The Hijab Does Not Necessarily Protect Muslim Women Or Guarantee Their Dignity.

no@spam.com (Shamim Hunt) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:22:08 MST

When I used to wear the hijab as a young Muslim woman, I thought it was pretty cool. I felt protected, modest and feminine. I no longer do so, as I have become a Christian and have seen with greater clarity the negative side of Muslim attitudes towards women . . . . When I was growing up in Pakistan, I encountered a lot of sexual harassment. There was no redress. My mother just told me to be quiet and walk on, or else men would gather and gawk at me in the most humiliating way. Since I came to the United States twenty years ago, I have not worn the hijab, and I have never personally had any bad experiences. Although the United States is far from being a convent, I feel freer and more relaxed among the Christians here than I ever did among Muslims, either in Pakistan or the US.