(Editor’s Note: This is the second article of a limited series we at MARG Network are running to better display and organize the writings of important individuals who have made significant contributions to MARG Network and the Rethinking Forum. We continue with another central figure of the Rethinking Forum since its founding over 25 years ago (although the history of the Rethinking Forum ideas date back more than 100 years earlier, as discussed in this article, and were mostly espoused by Indian followers of Jesus). Dr. Herb Hoefer’s experience of walking alongside both Hindu followers of Jesus and Christians (both Indian and Western), in both India and the United States, has provided him with a critical perspective on these issues. As HL Richard has said, “When we first met to discuss these Rethinking ideas, if Dr. Hoefer said ‘No”, nothing would have happened. He had to be in agreement.” We hope this summary of his MARG Network posts proves useful. If you haven’t read them already, we suggest beginning with the posts listed under the “Foundational Articles” heading. The first article in this limited series, on HL Richard, can be found here.)
Dr. Herbert Hoefer’s Biography:
Dr. Herbert Hoefer is an influential missionary and mission scholar. He served as a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) missionary to India for 15 years, as a pastor in Wisconsin for 13 years, and as a Professor of Theology at Concordia University-Portland for 16 years. While at Concordia Portland, he also served as LCMS Area Director for South Asia for ten years. (from Lutheran Mission Matters 31, no. 2 (2023) at https://lsfm.global/)
Dr. Hoefer is the author of the important book Churchless Christianity. Published in 2001, this important book presents Hoefer’s groundbreaking research about faith in Jesus existing over time within Hindu communities in 1980s Madras, now known as Chennai. Hoefer’s book presents clear evidence that Hindus can be faithful followers of Jesus without submitting to religious conversion (which in the Indian context centers on changes in social community rather than spiritual life in Christ).
It is important to recognize Dr. Hoefer’s impeccable Christian credentials because he invested his life into the Kingdom of the Heavens on behalf of Hindu people. He chose to stand in the midst of the fraught relationships that often exist between Christians and Hindus, especially with regard to the gospel and discipleship to Jesus and discovered many bridges and pathways that helped both Christians and Hindus travel toward devotion to Jesus Christ. Dr. Hoefer has published several articles on MARG Network, and we heartily recommend them to you.
Foundational Articles:
Trust in Him – This is a tremendous article about the nature of saving faith. What do people, including Hindus, need to believe about salvation? Dr. Hoefer emphasizes that active trust in Jesus is the path that leads to full and final salvation. This is a powerful insight for Alongsiders, as questions of gospel clarity are so frequently muddied with other issues of social and community change. This article contains many scripture references. If your passion is walking alongside Hindu people, this article is absolutely required reading.
But God Commanded It (Acts 15) – In this article, Dr. Hoefer provides us with wise counsel from scripture about how Hindus and Alongsiders can think about so called Christian commands that a local Christian community assumes to be binding upon all followers of Jesus, especially Hindus. It is challenging and delivered in a wonderful pastoral way.
Rooted or Uprooted – One of the most hotly contested issues in the years that followed the ascent of Jesus back to heaven and his sending of the Holy Spirit to his initiate his followers into union with himself was between Paul and the so-called Judaizers. They “went out to ensure that the Gentile converts became “real” Christians, following the lifestyle and customs of those in the mother church. St. Paul vigorously fought against such well-intentioned cultural imperialism in the Lord’s Name. He knew such cultural impositions were totally unnecessary and would seriously undermine the spread of the faith in the Gentile world.” This is still an issue for gospel practitioners in Hindu context. Dr. Hoefer gives us very helpful lists of what to keep and what to give up for Jesus.
23 Characteristics of Jesu Bhaktas – In this article, Dr. Hoefer helps us understand why bhakta is a good word to describe a Hindu who trusts in Jesus. “Worldwide, Christians recognize that the vast majority of the people in India will never join the church. Christians are viewed – both popularly and legally – as a separate caste group, the vast majority of whom are from Scheduled Caste backgrounds. The Jesu Bhaktas provide a culturally rooted form of the faith in which the vast majority of Hindus can feel comfortable and accepted.”
Life as an Alongsider – Pastoral Thoughts:
The Old and the New – This is an essay about the relevance of the Old Testament to 21st century Hindu people. Parts of the Old Testament seem problematic for Hindu people, especially the violence toward animals contained in the sacrificial system. Dr. Hoefer discusses the issues and provides helpful points of view that are faithful to the entirety of scripture and relevant to Hindus. Swami Dayanand Bharati also included a helpful addendum.
Religion and Fun – How do new bhaktas of Lord Jesus navigate the issues of their Hindu cultural festivals (which are filled with celebration and revelry) now that they are in Christ, and is there any fun to be had under the discipleship of Jesus? Dr. Hoefer says, “We must not go the route of Protestant missionaries and subsequent church leaders who taught converts the separation of religion from culture and fun. Understandably, they thought participation would entice members to pollute their faith, as worship of deities is usually integral to the festivities.” Dr. Hoefer then asks several questions to help us think about festivals and discipleship to Jesus.
Orthodox Church Theology for India – This is an article about the ancient Mar Thoma Church in Kerala and the many diaspora communities from that community. Dr. Hoefer summarizes this ancient expression of faith in this way, “The ethos of the Eastern church focuses on the visualization of the faith. Their liturgy is a dramatic ritual enacted by priests before the congregation, and their theology is conveyed to the masses through icons and ancient paintings. The goal is to incorporate the congregant into the drama of salvation through spiritual experience. It is evocative theology. This ethos is much more akin to the Hindu mentality than that of the cognitive theologizing of the Western church traditions.” This article can give us seed thoughts about how to communicate the gospel in an “Indian” way.
Is Maha Prasad the Same as the Lord’s Supper? – All Christians have experienced their own church’s manner of celebrating The Lord’s Supper. Many of us have been offered prasad in a Hindu mandir, or temple. Some of us have experienced the sacrament/ordinance of the Lord’s Supper in a contextualized way at the end of a satsang or Jesu pooja. It seems like the offering of prasad is being translated into the communion rite or vice versa. Is that an appropriate biblical representation? This article speaks to this contextualization issue.
The Story of Namaan: Life Among Other Gods – Dr. Hoefer begins this essay with a series of questions. These are relevant to the life of just about any Hindu person who has trusted in Christ, wants to follow Him and maintain good relations with his not-yet-believing family. “Can you live as a bhakta of Jesus as part of a group that worships other gods? Does your very presence in these worship contexts compromise your devotion? Can you participate in family and community religious functions even when others know you don’t believe as they do? Is it better to feign participation to avoid shaming the family or to make a strong and obvious stand?” Dr. Hoefer then leads the reader through the story of Naaman, his Hebrew servant, how Yahweh healed Naaman and how Naaman and Elisha responded in practical devotion to Yahweh. The key concept is summarized by Elisha telling Namaan to “Go in Peace.” This article is tailor made for a Bible study with Hindu disciples of Jesus.
