There is a new video making the rounds that has everyone talking, and rightfully so. Here it is, in case anyone is interested:
I’ve seen this video being discussed in several Christian circles, and the comments are as expected and as warranted. “This is how we should be,” “Christians need to wake up, and start doing more,” etc… Again, this is all well and good, but there are several points I never see addressed, and will attempt to do so here.
First, it has to be pointed out that the situation portrayed here, and in some other Hindu sections of the world, are caused, in part, by the religion itself. It was brought up peripherally in the video; Brahmins aren’t even supposed to associate with Untouchables. That is the Hindu caste system; it is a built in part of their religion. Why? Karma. Don’t forget a main tenet of Hinduism; reincarnation. You see, all those destitute people are destitute because of their past lives; they are reborn Untouchable because of something they did in a past life, so says Hinduism, so they deserve their lot in life.
I come from the Midwest USA. We don’t have people this destitute, literally starving skeletons, living out on the street. Even in places like Chicago and St. Louis, our poor are not living in the same conditions, and our dominant religion here, Christianity, stresses that these ARE the people that need compassion and love and help. Christianity does not have a caste system with one group of humans deemed “untouchable.” Quite the contrary.
Secondly, everyone that responds to this video does recognize that helping others that can’t help themselves is an admirable thing, something we should all keep in mind and strive to do. However, one key aspect that is missed in the video and in conversation stemming from the video even amongst Christians is: Physical food is one thing, but is meaningless apart from Spiritual food. Jesus Himself was quick to make this point, and it is a main tenet of the Christian faith.
Narayanan Krishnan, the man in the video, made the point that he feeds the body and the mind (or emotion). He’s right, he does. But humans are triune in nature, being made in the image of God. Our body, mind, AND spirit needs fed. You can physically make someone feel good, and mentally make them feel good, but in the end, at some point in time and for a myriad possible different reasons, that person is going to die. If we only feed the physical and/or mental, it amounts to nothing. Feeding the Spiritual and making sure someone is in right relationship with God culminates in eternal life.
The miracle of the loaves and fishes shows that Jesus clearly understood and acknowledged physical hunger, and cared for his disciples and those following Him around. However, the events in John 6 also show what the stress should be placed on; Spiritual food. The only spiritual food that is true and fulfilling are the words and teachings of Jesus Christ. He is the bread of life. If we do not tell others of Him while we are feeding them physical food, all our human effort is wasted. Time for a nice healthy chunk of food:
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
We see in John chapter 4, the same is said of water:
John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Those fed physically will hunger again. Those given physical water will thirst again. Those given the Truth of Christ, and those who accept it, will never hunger nor thirst again, spiritually. When this life is left behind, those that have partaken of Christ spiritually, will have eternal life where hunger and thirst have no more meaning. Now, will someone who is physically starving to death be able to hear, comprehend, and accept the gospel. Probably not. So, the physical and mental needs do need met, but to neglect the spiritual while feeding the other is not an act of mercy with any lasting value. Anyone who reads this and construes it as, “Well, then, I don’t need to help see to someone’s physical needs,” is fooling themselves. As God guides us,we should be “hilarious givers,” we should be helping those who need it, through God’s provision to us…but more than anything people need Christ, if we feed the body without feeding the soul The Bread of Life, then it is cruelty masquerading as kindness. It is feeding the body while letting the soul starve.
Believers need to realize that we have been given Living Water, and The Bread of Life, and be willing to help our fellow human beings body, mind, and soul, through God’s grace and His blessings.
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I found this blog while googling around for something and felt the need to comment.
Love nourishes the soul. How can you post something like this and give only a cursory mention of “love”?
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Dismissing this man’s work as un-spiritual is a cop out for Christians who don’t feed anyone body OR soul and produce no fruit.
Please take a moment before attacking me and reread my post; everything you jump on is indeed mentioned there. However, esp. notice the first full paragraph; “I’ve seen this video being discussed in several Christian circles, and the comments are as expected and as warranted. “This is how we should be,” “Christians need to wake up, and start doing more,” etc… Again, this is all well and good, but there are several points I never see addressed, and will attempt to do so here.” There are plenty of other Christian sites and messages doing exactly what you’d apparently have EVERYONE do. I point out things that need pointing out; without Christ any of those people, that have heard the gospel, that this guy has helped will wind up in Hell.
Notice that the preference in scripture for love is toward our brothers; only believers in Christ are our brothers and sisters. Non-believers are to be loved, even our enemies, but there are two categories of humans in the age of grace; those saved and those unsaved. The saved have the duty to make sure the unsaved are fed emotionally, physically, AND spiritually. The only efficacious food that lasts into eternity is Jesus Christ Himself.
Let me ask you something-
If Jesus could promote Narayanan Krishnan’s program or your publications, which do you think he would choose?
Let me ask you something; are you a Christian? If not, you are lacking a fundamental understanding of what Jesus was all about, and if you are, you need to read Jesus’ own words in scripture a little closer. Jesus is not a used car salesman, He doesn’t do “promotions” like the local grocery store; however, if you are asking what He would say, you only have to look at what He has already said. He would “promote” Himself, and teach that eternal life is what He offered despite the trials and tribulations of this life. He is more important than physical food and drink.
John 6: 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
John 4: 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Matthew 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
John 14:6 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. etc…
Narayanan Krishnan only offers physical, emotional comfort in this limited life (which Christians do as well on large and massive scales), but he cannot and does not offer eternal life that can only be found through Jesus Christ.
“and the greatest of all is love.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Brother, I cannot take issue with the point you are making because from a scriptural standpoint you are spot on. However, your tone is what concerns me. It is a tone that I hear far too often from Christians, especially those of a conservative evangelical bent. Intellectually acknowledging that we must serve the needs of the whole person, yet focusing so much on the spiritual, in a sense saying that if you can do only one thing, then do that, seems cold and inhuman. The man who is truly hungry – not in the American sense – but in the 3rd world “I have no idea where my next meal is coming from” sense cannot hear the Gospel. His body and mind are slaved to the effects of hunger and disease. First, we must touch his body and heal his hunger, then in doing so, by showing love and risking ourselves in the process, we earn his trust. That trust, founded on unconditional love, gives us the right to tell him the Truth. Pouring water into a broken vessel only wets the ground and wastes the water.
Please take the time to re-read my article, with your own points in mind; they were all touched upon. And, just as a note, if you are a born-again believer, then I’m a “Sister,” not a “Brother.”
Here’s the main point; Jesus never ever fed or bathed or clothed someone without the lesson of faith in Him. We even get the famous John 6 discussion because people were following Him around so that He’d physically feed them; but He did not. Instead He pointed to Himself as true food and drink. Pouring water into a broken vessel is one thing; a human coming to Christ and drinking is quite another. One drink out of the fount of living water insures eternal life and eternal security. To offer physical comfort while neglecting the truth of Christ can only bring pain and suffering into eternity.
The man I was discussing in this video is a Hindu, not a Christian, so until he comes to Christ and/or points others to Jesus, he will not be able to adequately help someone enough to insure their eternal salvation.
Sorry, Sister…I didn’t read your “About” page until just now.
It seems we are talking past one another. My contention, based on my experience as a missionary, is that until a bridge is built by addressing the immediate human suffering — be it hunger, disease, mental anguish, etc. — there can be no effective presentation of the Gospel. First, unless you are in a position to show God’s love by attempting to comfort the afflicted person, you have no right to share the Gospel. Preaching the Gospel to the suffering, when you are clearly healthy and well-fed, is a form of mockery, in my opinion. Second, the ability of a person to receive the Gospel and truly grasp the eternal consequences of the choice facing them is dramatically impacted by their mental and physical state. This is why I tell anyone considering a mission trip to consider the stakes and prepare themselves to deliver the Gospel not only by words, but more importantly, through their actions and attitudes. The only thing worse than no Gospel presentation is one delivered badly to a person not prepared to receive it.
I feel that modern evangelical Christianity focuses too much on “the message” and not enough on preparing the unbeliever to receive the message. While our ultimate concern is for a person’s eternal salvation, we cannot ignore the temporal needs of a stricken world.
As for Mr. Krishnan, he is doing God’s work among the people of his village. Who are we to say how his efforts factor into God’s sovereign plan?
There are several points in your post, that I can’t agree with, based on what I see in scripture. While I agree that our mission in interacting with others isn’t limited to the spiritual, you absolutely cannot take it out of the equation. Man is triune and each part of man is what needs to be addressed with the gospel. In my experiences, a person’s mind, body, and soul needs the gospel. So, while it is true that the body needs seen to, it is equally true that the spirit needs seen to. A Hindu cannot see to another’s soul, because they do not have the Holy Spirit, nor do they have the Truth. Living water is necessary, the Bread of Life is what is necessary… a Hindu simply cannot offer that to another.
In other words, he isn’t doing God’s work, because Jesus clearly states that for us to do the work of God, we have to believe on (faithe on) the one God sent; Jesus Christ. Another aspect of all this is; we can die of physical starvation in this life, but if we have Jesus, we will instantly be with Him upon death. However, if we live a fat, physically full life here, without Jesus, when we die it will be suffering like we have never known.
Once more; to feed the body and mind, without feeding the soul is cruelty. One final note; most evangelicals are the ones eating up this news report, wrongly claiming that we should hold this gentleman up as a Christian role model, when we already have the perfect role-model in Christ.
You have validated my thesis, and that saddens me. If Mr. Krishnan has never had the Gospel presented to him, then he is responding to general revelation that is written on the heart of every person. You do not know his heart, and you are walking on dangerous ground by judging his actions and motivations. Again, you have no idea how this man’s actions factor into God’s sovereign plans. Unless you are claiming that God cannot work good from the actions of unbelievers — which would be limiting God to make your point. Again, very dangerous.
I find your interpretation of scripture to be quite narrow-minded, and harsh in tone. Perhaps spending a few weeks in a remote village in a 3rd world country would soften your tone a bit. Just a suggestion.
I’m sorry, but I choose to listen to what God has actually revealed in scripture as Truth. I don’t doubt for a minute that God can use non-believers in His plan; however, His will is for all to be saved, and to be saved a person needs Jesus, for it is only by being in Christ that we are no longer held up to the law. Mr. Krishnan has indeed done works that most humans would deem “good.” However, Christians know there is none good but God. Mr. Krishnan will, without Jesus, be held up to the Law upon judgment. If he does not come to Christ, his actions will be judged against Perfection itself, and he will not be able to pass muster. I hope that he comes to choose Jesus if he hasn’t already.
That isn’t my opinion. God tells me not only to see to people’s bodies and minds, but to make sure they hear of Christ. Don’t presume that you know me, or what I have or have not done. I appreciate the conversation, as it highlights my main points in my article.
Just stumbled upon this…. You are right on target, “sister”.
At the very least Mr.Krishnan is displaying very ‘Christ-like’ behaviour, I use the term ‘Christ-like’ as opposed to Christian as being a Christian does not automatically mean that we are infact behaving ‘Christ-like’. As a believer I understand that we can find no salvation except through Jesus however this does not discredit this man’s actions, nor does it mean that Christian’s should not find this story inspiring and perhaps even convicting.
I don’t believe Monty Fowler above was suggestion that Mr. Krishnan is doing everything exactly right nor do I believe Kliska was saying that he was doing everything wrong so perhaps the argument can be laid aside and the matter of who is right and who is wrong can take a back seat for a moment. I don’t believe for a moment that any Bible believing Christian would forget by seeing this story that Jesus is the only way to salvation and Mr. Krishan is not preaching any other God in this video so I’m not really sure why there is a need to be critical of it. We do not know all of the facts about this man and considering that he is at Hindu, there is in fact a chance that he could even be acting out of a revelation of the person of Jesus as Hindu’s are polytheistic.
I guess for me the main question is can Christian’s learn something from Mr. Krishan’s example? I am reminded by this story of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus was speaking to a group of Pharisees who as we know despised Samaritan’s and yet he used the Samaritan as an example to teach these ‘experts of the Law’ who their neighbour is.
If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s cerntainly good enough for me.
It doesn’t discredit his actions, but we are told specifically that the righteousness of man is like filthy rags to God; that is the “good” things men do are not “good” at all. The only truly good acts we can muster are those that originate with God Himself. I would also argue that the Christ-like action would be to feed and clothe these individuals and then point them at Jesus. That is the model that Jesus gave us.
One of the main points of the story is that a Brahmin is “stooping” down to help the untouchable caste, so Hinduism is pervasive in the storyline. However, I did make the point in the article that indeed Christians should learn from this example, but should absolutely not stop there. See to the poor, but don’t neglect to also give them the gospel. It is both/and, not either or.
I truly see all your points but I have to mention, how are we as Christians Christ like supposed to be spreading and being about our fathers business if we can not build that bridge. If we shut the door how can we share the gossple? Another thing I haven’t herd or read anyone saying ill pray that god will send some soldiers of Christ his way. Once that bridge is made then we can start throwing seeds and as we pray just stand back and watch our lord Jesus Christ go to work love you brothers and sisters please take time to build that bridge in a loving way. If anyone wants to go to {snip} in riverside there is a Muslim who found Christ because one brother took the time to build that bridge praise The Lord
If you read the article that I wrote, I’m all for building bridges, but the bridge that must be built is Jesus. Again, it isn’t an either/or proposition, but a both/and. We should be helping others physically, mentally, etc… AND telling them about Jesus so they can make a decision.
PS, had to snip your link, it was to an electronics site, not a Christian one.