“If you attend your family’s celebration of the festival you’ll be tempted to participate.” I’ve heard this warning being given to disciples of Jesus from Hindu families on numerous occasions in South Asia but have thought to myself: Really? Of course, it’s not my family, it’s not my background. Maybe the risk IS great?

“Remember, we don’t use the word bhagwaan (a Sanskrit word meaning “god”) as followers of Yeshu Prabhu (lit, “Jesus Lord”). We worship only the Most High God, Parameshwar.” Is there really that big a difference in meaning of those two words? Well, how much did I understand about the God of the Bible, the God who is there, as a Christ-follower in my 20s in the United States when I was praying at home or worshipping with others? What actual concept of God did I hold when I approached Him?

“You weren’t here in church last Sunday. We were concerned about you.” Genuinely concerned? Very possibly. But Hindu families have numerous family/extended family obligations that often are scheduled on Sunday mornings: events, holiday family gatherings, etc. Growing up, my extended family never expected anything from me on Sunday mornings. How many times have I heard Hebrews 10:24-25 used to make the point that Sunday morning church attendance is mandatory, and should supersede all other commitments? Is that really the point the author of Hebrews is trying to make?

Over the years, as I have wrestled with and reflected on these (and other) statements directed at my Hindu friends who have begun following Jesus, I have grown increasingly disturbed. One day I was reminded of the interpretation of the Old Testament Law and the myriad “additional laws” codified by Jewish religious authorities before (and after, of course) Jesus arrived on the scene. To an extent, these “additional laws” were devised to help keep the Jewish people from “falling” into heresy and compromise and to protect against syncretism (the mixing of elements of “different religions”), which was of special concern during the periods of Israelite national exile. I once heard this system of more restrictive additional rules described as erecting a “fence” to keep earnest Jewish people well away from the true “edge” of God’s instructions so they couldn’t “fall off into sin.”

The Fence and the Edge

This same tension between the significant freedom allowed by God’s instructions and our human habit of instituting more restrictive boundaries is a common phenomenon experienced by many Hindu people beginning to trust Christ.

Let’s think about both the “fence” and the “edge” for a second. The “fence” is not erected to keep our Hindu friends out. It is “built” for what, generally, are good reasons: to preserve the distinctiveness of the people of God, and to protect Christ-followers from sliding back, from falling outside of God’s instructions towards beliefs and practices that do not align with devotion to Jesus. To keep those who are devoted to Jesus safely away from the cliff edge of the canyon. How concerned are you about the “edge”?

A distinct problem is that, I believe, many Alongsiders do not realize how different our (usually Christian) cultural worldview is from the Hindu worldview. Therefore, we Christians can struggle to grasp how far a Hindu person already has come in the journey to Jesus before encountering yet more restrictions in our well-intentioned “fences”.

Underlying our “fences” are genuine desires to make clear the distinctiveness of following Christ. Conceptually, at least, the motivation for a “fence” can be stated like this: “We don’t want to confuse people. It should be clear how we, as Christ-followers, are different.” However, are not the following personal characteristics—biblical distinctives—truly lived out at the “edge”: love, purity, compassion, grace, kindness, sacrifice, humility, resisting sin?

In the following sections, I would like to propose several areas where I’ve routinely seen discrepancies between what I believe is the actual edge of God’s instructions and the narrower, more rigidly defined “fences” that Christian communities often find “acceptable”. In each section I will list first what I believe an “actual edge” is, and then what I have seen as the narrower, more restrictive “fence” that has been erected.

A few categories for consideration:

Communication

Vocabulary readily comes to mind as a key aspect of communication. Avoiding certain “very Hindu” words and using “acceptable” words is understood by the Christian community to indicate genuine faith in Jesus.

• The “edge”: Hindu bhaktas must not address in prayer and worship the gods and goddesses named in the pantheon of different Hindu beliefs.
• The “fence”: Some groups of Christ-followers give clear signals that “We don’t like to hear ‘Bhagwaan’ (God) around this place.” They insist on the use of certain words for God: Parameshwar (Almighty or Most High God).  Even Ishwar (God) or Deva (God) are considered inappropriate by some who follow Jesus. And perhaps your Hindu friend was asked to change his name from that of a Hindu god (Ram, Krishna, Shiv, etc) to a proper Christian name (Thomas, George, Sam).

In how we describe spiritual need and the brokenness of the world:

• The “edge”: Growing as a disciple of Jesus includes the use of words that attribute moral error, guilt, harmful attitudes, evil intentions, etc. to an individual or group. A Christ-follower cannot use only words such as “ignorance”, “human weakness”, or “mistakes” to describe our human condition and why we need a Savior.
• The “fence”: Pressure often is applied early on to new believers: “Why don’t you ever use the word ‘sin’ in your conversations?”

So much of communication is non-verbal. How do the ideas of “fence” and “edge” show up when it comes to symbols, jewellery, dress, etc.?

• The “edge”: For example, one who worships Jesus won’t be wearing a necklace displaying the image of Krishna.
• The “fence”: The facial expressions and other body language of Christ-followers when a Hindu woman wearing certain jewellery and sindoor is present may communicate clear disapproval. The unspoken standards of what a traditional Christian group considers pious may either include or exclude things that your Hindu friend doesn’t associate with any Hindu god or religious practice.

Communication may come in the form of direct prohibitions like, “Followers of Christ should not attend certain Hindu holidays/festivals”? Or, “Prasaad should not be received by God’s people at or after Hindu functions.”

• The “edge”: The Bible’s clear instruction is to worship the triune God only.
• The “fence”: “If you attend that festival function, you surely will be tempted to participate; therefore, do not even go.” Look at it from another angle: “If you attend or if you take prasaad, how will your Hindu family/friends know you are different (now, as a follower of Jesus)?”

Consider another item under the heading “communication”: Is it possible to be overly Word-centred?

• The “edge”: The Bible is God’s inspired word. It is “complete in its revelation of God’s will for salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do” (excerpt of a typical doctrinal statement).
• The “fence”: “Well, if your Hindu friends aren’t really readers, they need to become readers!” Groups encourage lots of written content through Bible studies and teaching in Sunday worship gatherings. But can there be too much—an unhelpful amount—of “content” (written or otherwise) for the average new person from any religious background.

Asking questions is an important element of good communication.

• The “edge”: Is there even an “edge” here? Can a person ask too many questions? Can some questions be illegitimate?
• The “fence”: “We all must have faith. God’s ways are above ours.” Asking too many questions can be considered by some Christian groups to indicate serious doubt. Can a Hindu friend asking so many questions have faith in Jesus? Of course, some of the “answers” may be at the “boundaries” (“edges”) of orthodoxy, and so, the group of well-meaning followers of Christ may instruct your friend, “It’s best to understand [this topic] this way (and leave it at that).”

Identity and Belonging

• The “edge”: Followers of Lord Jesus are members of God’s family, brothers and sisters in faith. To identify with Jesus Himself and therefore with others who are devoted to Him is central to the identity of a Yeshu bhakta.
• The “fence”: Groups of Jesus-followers often make direct statements and actions that imply: “Join us…and leave them.” “This is (we are) your new family.” Often there is pressure to get your Hindu friend into the waters of baptism without much discussion, especially without understanding his/her possible hesitancy and the wider context of their relationships. Sometimes there may even be a “let’s get this done before anyone can stop you” approach.

These issues of “joining us” and “leaving them” abound. Followers of Jesus seem to be more concerned about people “leaving” Hinduism (whatever that means) than turning from sin. Is it not enough to say: “Join us”? Maybe the Christian group needs to ask itself: “Why are we so strong on the idea of ‘joining’?” Are there other words/images for embracing someone new, and belonging to the “new community”, that could also be used?

Well, is this really a new family for your Hindu friend? The group’s desire is that their Hindu friends embrace the biblical model—and perhaps even say those words: “my new family”—but how much do most churches act like family? Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we magnify or reinforce the idea of “us and them,” even by how church membership is viewed or how it’s presented. Is church membership a must? Doing church—regardless of the form it takes—tends to involve increasing levels of commitment, yet most Hindu people are part of families and communities that already involve a significant level of commitment.

Sunday worship attendance

• The “edge”: God intends for us to be “faithful” or “consistent” in gathering with His people.
• The “fence”: Most followers of Christ define “faithful” or “consistent” in a certain way. Perhaps a group “builds a fence” of Sunday morning worship service attendance every week (and it’s more or less acceptable to miss 1 out of 5). Many Hindu events have a religious (“worship”) element/aspect, so the people who choose that event over Sunday church not only are missing church but placing themselves in a spiritually risky environment rather than “fleeing temptation.” Thus, to put it a bit extremely: better to reject all other options and go to church!

Theology

Let’s consider just one example: the atonement.

• The “edge”: The Scriptures clearly teach that Christ died for us/for our sins.
• The “fence”: A Christ-follower must accept penal substitution as the most accurate of the so-called “theories of the atonement” and be able to give a basic definition.

The Lord’s Supper

• The “edge”: Christ-followers must examine themselves before participating in the Lord’s Supper. Your Hindu friend must not approach communion irreverently.
• The “fence”: The group of Christ-followers insists your Hindu friend devoted to Christ does not take communion (participate in the Lord’s Supper) and tries to keep him/her from doing so…until he/she expresses exclusive devotion to Jesus AND understands (can articulate something about) the atonement. Your friend must understand: “This is NOT prasaad.”

Final thoughts

In listing all these examples, my hope is that you will be prompted to understand the immense demands that Hindu people considering Jesus have to overcome to meet Jesus. Many Hindu people are asking themselves this question as they consider Christ and the prospect of more closely relating to a Christian fellowship, “What’s being asked of me by these followers of Jesus that will alienate me from my family, my community?” I hope you find someone with whom you can share your thoughts and any experiences of “fences” and the “edge”.