why misuse hinduism

[Guest guest]

If this guy has converted why is he still trying to fool poor people

and still using a hindu name.

 

 

Murli Menon

 

 

In the year 1960, I was born to a devout Hindu Menon family in

Kerala. The Menons are a proud high class Hindu community in

Kerala, totally committed to their beliefs, culture and traditions.

Our family was no different. My parents were devout Hindus who

faithfully worshipped at the temple, participated in all the Hindu

festivals and strived to bring up their two sons with a firm belief

in their deities.

 

Eventually, my parents migrated from Kerala to the teeming

metropolis of Bombay. They continued to be devout practicing

Hindus. But, during my teen years, I refused to share their

religious fervor and commitment. I did occasionally visit the

temple, more to please my parents and share in the religious gaiety

at festivals than for anything else. Although I shunned being

actively involved in religious practices and ceremonies, I loved my

religion and was proud of being a Hindu. My motto in life had also

been inscribed deep within - "Live life and enjoy it to the

fullest." By no means virtuous, I found myself involved in all

kinds of vices.

 

Meanwhile, my younger brother Rajiv, a tall strapping young man

encountered Christ in a remarkable way in the year 1981 through the

witness of a committed young Christian. In no time, he shared his

faith with me, but to me it made no sense. But, what I could see

was a tangible difference in his lifestyle. No longer was he the

neighborhood bully. There was a gentleness and temperance in him

I hadn't ever seen before. Soon he led my father to the Lord. My

father was a man who used to smoke like a chimney; overnight he gave

up this addictive habit. Now he attended church, read the Bible and

even prayed. Then, to top it all, my mother also accepted the

claims of Christ, and this really unsettled me. We Menons come from

a Matriarchal family system where women are held in high esteem. I

was proud of my mother and couldn't believe that she would even

envisage thinking about some other god apart from her deities. And

what about society's disapproval? Nothing seemed to matter to my

family anymore. All that mattered was Jesus Christ. I now remained

the odd one out. I knew the truth, but willed myself never to

succumb. I tried resisting the truth, but could not stand still in

my resistance and ran in the opposite direction.

 

However, while much change was happening in my family, changes of

another kind had begun to grip my life. I was being strangled by

the vices that I refused to part with. My body had become enslaved

to many a bad habit. Peace of mind was far away to find. I was in a

tight corner. Then in desperation, I turned to my younger brother.

He had been praying for me all throughout. On that eventful night

as he prayed over me, I felt a deep conviction of sin in my life. I

repented and committed my life to the Lord. My chains fell off and

I was free at last.

 

The road uphill to Christian faith and maturity has not been easy.

Being a Christian also brought about much ridicule amongst family,

community and friend circles. But to me, life only became all the

more richer. Getting to know and love the Lord I serve and His Word

continues to be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience. I became

very active in my church life. The church now became the focal

point of our lives. I served as leader of the Church's Evangelistic

Department. Much has happened since that great day. The Lord

wonderfully brought Usha, my precious wife into my life. He also

blessed us with a daughter and two sons (twins). And today, I serve

Him fulltime in ministry along with my family after resigning from a

promising job in a German Company in Bombay. Today, nothing has

steered my life to happiness and fulfillment more than being fully

participative in His ministry, faithful to His great calling in my

life. Praise Him who makes all things beautiful in His time.

 

Today, a significant change has taken place in our ministry. We have

changed our name from Murli Menon Ministries to Impact

International. This name fits well with our mission statement: "A

wholistic process of empowerment to impact eternity."

 

We live in exciting times in India. Today, the buzz over the issue

of conversion has risen to a crescendo. The pitch has reached

feverish levels. The twin issues of religion and identity that have

been simmering on the cauldron for a long time have now spilled onto

the main platter of social and political discourse in India. Some

have even seen this as the possible harbinger of a new religious

revival in our country. However, Buddhism remains the most popular

option as a religion for the 300 million marginalized Dalits

(untouchables) who are looking for an escape from the stranglehold

of Hinduism. Christianity continues to be portrayed as a foreign

religion. However, we need not remain in the shackles of the past.

The onus of changing this equations rests on us Indian Christians.

Gimmicks and staged managed shows playing to the gallery cannot and

will not do!

 

We need to present Christ authentically and relevantly, creatively

and contextually. We hope to build and raise a new generation of

young people through our training and equipping programs. Our

passion undergirds this vision to equip and train 500 people in the

next three years through our residential and non-residential

programs, conferences, seminars, and refresher courses. I urge you

to partner with us and be a part of this great and historic

awakening in India.