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Christians and the Swadeshi Church Sir, Adverting : ''RSS asks Christians to set up Swadeshi Church''- Daily Excelsior October 8, page 7, col 3&4. I am of the opinion that there is a Civilizational re-awakening taking place right round the globe to resist the Western Civilizational pressure in the name of human rights, political freedom, and economic internationalism. Seen under this light, a Hindu revival is quite legitimate. After a millennium of humiliation under Muslim rule and British colonialism, Hindu civilization is seeking to be recognised. We Christians are not alien to this civilizational urge. We feel it within ourselves and are eager to cooperate. In keeping with this urge of appreciating Indian culture, Christians have not hesitated to adopt many Indian symbols in their architecture and music. There has been always a strong move towards, what is called inculturation in the Church, and this is not just in adopting Indian names and Indian apparel in Christian homes but also in such art forms as dance, music and paintings. Almost all over the country the specific language of the state is used in hymns and worship. Not only this, the Vedic Mantras are also recited in the Catholic Churches as part of the liturgy. Christian Church can never be Swadeshi. It is Universal since God does not belong to any specific country.. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not consecrated for Himself alone, nor the Church founded by Him for Herself alone. They can both say when speaking of all men. ''For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified.' (JN 17:19) The more intense the holiness of someone, the more personal it is, the less is it reserved to that person alone. Before it becomes a duty, sharing is the law of Christian existence. Grace sanctifies by making men open; its very power of sanctify each individual is that by which it is poured out on others. In order to be the source, the Church must be placed at the point where everything begins, at the centre in order to spread outwards, at the heart in order to flow everywhere. It is not sufficient for her to share in redemptive power, the power she holds must find a fulcrum in order to raise up the world and not only a particular part or area. Our Lord Jesus Christ ''descended into the lower parts of the earth' and at that very point, without leaving these depths, was raised up above all things in the fulness of God (Ephesians 4:9): He was placed at the heart of the world and had become the heart of the world. He had announced that his departure would be the final coming "I go away and I will come.'' His glorification in his parousia for the salvation of all. He makes every man his neighbour, because he has become close to all, in order to bring all things into unity under one head. The demands of Christianity are without limit, not because God must be loved in his infinity, but also because of the innumerable human multitude to which the Christian is accountable. How can, therefore, the Church of Christ be Swadeshi or Bedeshi ? Yours etc... |
