HG Paulose Mar Gregorios a.k.a. Gregory of India of blessed memory
was one of the most profound thinkers the world has seen in the last
century. This leader has led many a world forums on the world
council of churches and world religions and witnessed Christ in each
of them while displaying an amazing regard for the other religions.
This Thirumeni challenges us and the entire church to follow the
example set by him.
Thirumeni had been enagaged in many dialogues with other religions.
Thirumeni understood the growing mistrust of the others towards
Christians.
An excerpt from one of HG's many writings on the subject --
"I remember a dialogue with Hindus in the Himalayas a long time ago
in 1955. I was still
rather young, and everything was quite new for me. During a coffee
break
(where the real dialogue takes place), a Hindu professor said
to me: "You seem to be an honest man, can I ask you a question? Now
you Christians talk about dialogue. Is this because your
evangelization failed in the past and you want to try new
tactics?" I think that his comment applies to the dialogue of the
Christians with other religions. Because we were not successful in
our mission, we try now to create communication by dialogue. Many
official explanations of Christians suggest this.
During this dialogue I had another unforgettable experience. A
second Hindu professor said during another coffee break: "You seem
to be strong enough to hear what I have got to say. So let me tell
you something which I cannot say in the meeting. If you Christians
speak about Christian love, we Hindus think automatically of a
spider, from whose body oozes a sticky substance called the
Christian love, with which it spins a net, in which she would catch
me, a harmless fly. That is how we understand the word Christian
love. We know that you really do not care for us, but that your
concern is only to catch us and to make us members of your
churches. "
(Source: Gregorian Study Circle (Yahoo Group)--> Files --> HG Paulose Mar
Gregorios --> Articles and Speeches -->
"Interregious Unity Must become a Reality")
The over zealous "missionaries" (both Indian and foreign) of today are
squarely to blame for this mistrust of Christians among our fellow citizens.
By the way, I do not think that HG Paulos Mar Gregorios taught that
Christianity is just another means to God. He never lost an iota of his firm
belief in Christ as the Saviour while engaging in meaningful dialogue with the
other religions:"One does not hide one’s own faith; one is not ashamed to
confess one’s faith when called upon to do so in dialogue."
"Christ is the first-born of Creation, the head of all created reality...It is
love in Christ that sends me to dialogue...What God does in history cannot be
confined to Christians alone. How Christ has affected people who are not
members of the Christian Church is an important aspect of God’s action..."
This guru of our era says that "Dialogue and evangelisation are both tasks of
the Church". In fact he views dialog with other religions as an effective and
essential way to learn more about our own religion. Being a true Christian
does not mean you need to be indifferent towards other religions. "If dialogue
with “secular” man is justified on the ground that he is my neighbour,
then “religious” man is also equally my neighbour and I must communicate with
him." Thirumeni's writings are revelations and must reads for the student of
the truth. This great teacher was an eternal student "I need to learn from
all, and have indeed learned from many."
MY OWN VISION OF THE ULTIMATE: WHY AM I AN EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN?
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/English%20Articles/My%20Own%20Vision.htm
Dialogue with World Religions
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/English%20Articles/Dialogue%20with%20World%20\
Religions.htm
My issue with the missionary is the lack of tolerance and the self righteous
approach that forms his character. If Evangelisation and Dialogue are both
duties of the church, then they need to complement each other, not be
contradictory by approach. This thinking will sow respect and regard for other
religions while witnessing our own religion more meaningfully and go a long way
in removing the distrust of Christians among the so called "others".
Read another quote:
"The Orthodox Church in India lives at peace with followers of other
religions like Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsee, Jains, Buddhists,
etc. They are not aggressive in trying to convert the others but are prepared
to live with them in peace and concord, and with respect."
(Source: Gregorian Study Circle (Yahoo Group)--> Files --> HG Paulose Mar
Gregorios --> Articles and Speeches --> About Mission)
This last statement of Gregorios Thirumeni is sadly being undermined by
the activities of several "homegrown missionaries" in the recent
years.
First of all, we must recognize there is a problem. Then see what we
can do to tackle it. If we feign ignorance of the problem, the
problem will not go away. We need to act because it affects our
witness and it affects our country.
If the church has "Official" Missionaries, then the church must
also take up the responsibility to be accountable for the
actions of these "officials". In my opinion, baptism makes it "official" that
each of us are missionaries for Christ, not to convert and bring in more
numbers by way of prozelytizing, but to show Christ to the world by our lives
wherever we are placed and however small or big ways we can,
and in the process try to "wipe the tear from every eye" as Gandhiji dreamt.
If the church agrees to the work of the "Official" Missionaries, then she
needs to embrace and nurture the "converts", and own up to their actions. Else
she needs to make a statement and distance herself from them. In either case, I
feel the church authorities need to be bold and take a stand.
So-- are you for the Missionary or are you for Christ?
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
To read more about HG Paulose Mar Gregorios go to
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9428
was one of the most profound thinkers the world has seen in the last
century. This leader has led many a world forums on the world
council of churches and world religions and witnessed Christ in each
of them while displaying an amazing regard for the other religions.
This Thirumeni challenges us and the entire church to follow the
example set by him.
Thirumeni had been enagaged in many dialogues with other religions.
Thirumeni understood the growing mistrust of the others towards
Christians.
An excerpt from one of HG's many writings on the subject --
"I remember a dialogue with Hindus in the Himalayas a long time ago
in 1955. I was still
rather young, and everything was quite new for me. During a coffee
break
(where the real dialogue takes place), a Hindu professor said
to me: "You seem to be an honest man, can I ask you a question? Now
you Christians talk about dialogue. Is this because your
evangelization failed in the past and you want to try new
tactics?" I think that his comment applies to the dialogue of the
Christians with other religions. Because we were not successful in
our mission, we try now to create communication by dialogue. Many
official explanations of Christians suggest this.
During this dialogue I had another unforgettable experience. A
second Hindu professor said during another coffee break: "You seem
to be strong enough to hear what I have got to say. So let me tell
you something which I cannot say in the meeting. If you Christians
speak about Christian love, we Hindus think automatically of a
spider, from whose body oozes a sticky substance called the
Christian love, with which it spins a net, in which she would catch
me, a harmless fly. That is how we understand the word Christian
love. We know that you really do not care for us, but that your
concern is only to catch us and to make us members of your
churches. "
(Source: Gregorian Study Circle (Yahoo Group)--> Files --> HG Paulose Mar
Gregorios --> Articles and Speeches -->
"Interregious Unity Must become a Reality")
The over zealous "missionaries" (both Indian and foreign) of today are
squarely to blame for this mistrust of Christians among our fellow citizens.
By the way, I do not think that HG Paulos Mar Gregorios taught that
Christianity is just another means to God. He never lost an iota of his firm
belief in Christ as the Saviour while engaging in meaningful dialogue with the
other religions:"One does not hide one’s own faith; one is not ashamed to
confess one’s faith when called upon to do so in dialogue."
"Christ is the first-born of Creation, the head of all created reality...It is
love in Christ that sends me to dialogue...What God does in history cannot be
confined to Christians alone. How Christ has affected people who are not
members of the Christian Church is an important aspect of God’s action..."
This guru of our era says that "Dialogue and evangelisation are both tasks of
the Church". In fact he views dialog with other religions as an effective and
essential way to learn more about our own religion. Being a true Christian
does not mean you need to be indifferent towards other religions. "If dialogue
with “secular” man is justified on the ground that he is my neighbour,
then “religious” man is also equally my neighbour and I must communicate with
him." Thirumeni's writings are revelations and must reads for the student of
the truth. This great teacher was an eternal student "I need to learn from
all, and have indeed learned from many."
MY OWN VISION OF THE ULTIMATE: WHY AM I AN EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN?
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/English%20Articles/My%20Own%20Vision.htm
Dialogue with World Religions
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/English%20Articles/Dialogue%20with%20World%20\
Religions.htm
My issue with the missionary is the lack of tolerance and the self righteous
approach that forms his character. If Evangelisation and Dialogue are both
duties of the church, then they need to complement each other, not be
contradictory by approach. This thinking will sow respect and regard for other
religions while witnessing our own religion more meaningfully and go a long way
in removing the distrust of Christians among the so called "others".
Read another quote:
"The Orthodox Church in India lives at peace with followers of other
religions like Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsee, Jains, Buddhists,
etc. They are not aggressive in trying to convert the others but are prepared
to live with them in peace and concord, and with respect."
(Source: Gregorian Study Circle (Yahoo Group)--> Files --> HG Paulose Mar
Gregorios --> Articles and Speeches --> About Mission)
This last statement of Gregorios Thirumeni is sadly being undermined by
the activities of several "homegrown missionaries" in the recent
years.
First of all, we must recognize there is a problem. Then see what we
can do to tackle it. If we feign ignorance of the problem, the
problem will not go away. We need to act because it affects our
witness and it affects our country.
If the church has "Official" Missionaries, then the church must
also take up the responsibility to be accountable for the
actions of these "officials". In my opinion, baptism makes it "official" that
each of us are missionaries for Christ, not to convert and bring in more
numbers by way of prozelytizing, but to show Christ to the world by our lives
wherever we are placed and however small or big ways we can,
and in the process try to "wipe the tear from every eye" as Gandhiji dreamt.
If the church agrees to the work of the "Official" Missionaries, then she
needs to embrace and nurture the "converts", and own up to their actions. Else
she needs to make a statement and distance herself from them. In either case, I
feel the church authorities need to be bold and take a stand.
So-- are you for the Missionary or are you for Christ?
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
To read more about HG Paulose Mar Gregorios go to
http://www.paulosmargregorios.info/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9428
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