Gospel & Culture

1. COACH Institute of Intercultural Studies, Hyderabad
Gospel & Culture
Dr. Pothana

2. “Come out from them and be separate.”

3. Cornelius
wanted to find
salvation
without having
to lay aside his
Roman identity
and social
relationships.
This was his
right, & his
calling for
witness.

4. “God…showed that he accepted them by giving the HS to
them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate….”
Acts 15:8-9

5. “It is my judgment, therefore, that we
should not make it difficult for the Gentiles
who are turning to God.”
Acts 15:19

6. Jesus PERIOD.
vs.
Jesus PLUS+

7. 3. Paul’s experience with…
the Greek TITUS.
(Galatians 2)

10. In India, in the invitation
for Hindus to follow Christ,
to become Christians,
are there any
EXTRABIBLICAL REQUIREMENTS
ADDED to the message?

11. The Contemporary Context
of
Socio-Legal Realities
in India

12. The Likelihood of
LEGAL SEVERANCE FROM
FAMILY & BIRTH COMMUNITY
at the point of
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
especially signaled by
THE RITE OF BAPTISM

13. 1865
The Indian
Succession Act:
a reversal of the
Jerusalem Council

14. When Hindus chose
to follow Jesus
Christ, they
automatically were
place under
British Civil Law

15. The Jerusalem
Council FREED
Gentiles from
having to renounce
Gentile identity &
assume
Jewish identity.

16. British Law made a
legal shifting of
social identity a
default part of a
spiritual decision to
follow Christ.

17. But what of
the legal situation
in Independent India,
TODAY?

18. INDIAN PERSONAL LAW:
There are 4 sets of civil laws that are
community-based,
instead of
1 territorial civil law
that is uniformly applicable
to all citizens
within the nation’s borders.

19. Parsee Civil Law Code
Christian Civil Law Code
Muslim Civil Law Code
1
2
3

20. “Hindu” Civil Law Code
Everyone born into “Hindu” families
Everyone born into “Sikh” families
Everyone born into “Buddhist” families
Everyone born into “Jain” families
…irregardless of actual beliefs & practice.
4

21. “Conversion”
(from a legal perspective)
Part of the “Hindu Marriage Act of 1955” states:
“A Hindu does not cease to be a Hindu merely
because he professes theoretical allegiance to
another faith, or is an ardent admirer and
advocate of such religion and its practices.
However, if he abdicates his religion by a clear act
of renunciation and adopts the other religion by
undergoing formal conversion, he would cease to
be a Hindu….”

22. “FORMAL CONVERSION”
is equivalent to…
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM
(the DOOR into the “Christian Community”)
“…in the Indian context, baptism is
like circumcision in [biblical] times:
the mark of transference of
communal affiliation.”
Julian Saldanha, Conversion & Indian Civil Law (1981)

23. 1977 Statement
(by Supreme Court of India)
“A Hindu may embrace a non-
Hindu religion without ceasing to
be a Hindu….”
The Hindu Soul In Search Of Its
Body....."
https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-hindu-soul-in-search-of-its-body/217372

24. Today, in some parts
of India, there are
Hindus who choose
to follow Jesus
exclusively and yet
remain in their Hindu
families.

25. Many of them are
seeking to multiply
exclusive allegiance to
Christ within their
families & communities
& some are doing so.