The Gospel for Hindus: A Study in Contextual Communication

by Jamie Bean

Contextual biblical witness in the Hindu world has not received adequate attention in today’s witnessing community.

Martin Alphonse. Mission Educational Books, Chennai, India, 2001, 376 pages, $14.95.

—Reviewed by Jamie Bean, executive secretary, Rethinking Forum, Pasadena, Calif.

Contextual biblical witness in the Hindu world has not received adequate attention in today’s witnessing community.

The purpose of this study is to discover in the bhakti strand of Hinduism a most appropriate venue for the contextualization of the gospel for the devout Hindu. Despite the value, truth and importance of this approach there is insufficient clarity in developing this idea.
The book has six major categories starting with an introduction focused on the need for and challenges of contextualization with a traditional overview of Hinduism.

Section two includes a glimpse of bhakti in the Hindu scriptures, historical perspectives and bhakti movements.

Section three is entitled Christian Encounters with Hindu Bhakti. This is perhaps the most helpful section as many important figures in the study of contextual witness are highlighted, though one may be troubled to find the idea of bhakti as pre-evangelism without an ongoing appreciation for the spiritual river it is within Hindu civilization.

Making an Indian Christ known among Hindus is next. However, of concern to the attentive reader will be the failure to address the communal nature of India. Again, the reader will find useful studies cited as Alphonse describes various perspectives from a variety of thinkers. Of particular interest for further study is mention of the Rethinking Group and the work and witness of the following individuals: Dhanjibhai Fakirbhai, Robin Boyd, N. V. Tilak, Sadhu Sundar Singh and Klaus Klostermaier.

Experiments in Evangelism among Bhaktas is the title of section five. Numerous pages are devoted to the life and ministry of Sadhu Sundar Singh. He also mentions the Christian Ashrams, Dialogue movements and work of E. Stanley Jones.

Alphonse concludes his book in the section Bethlehem Beckons Banaras. This section includes several perspectives on conversion and its relation to the way of devotion.

Unfortunately, editorial oversights in this edition are numerous, ranging from spelling to grammar and layout to misquotes.
Despite steps towards a contextual approach to Hindus the author remains within the traditional paradigms, yet points in the direction that will lead to true contextualization in the Hindu world.

Check these titles:
Bharati, Dayanand. 2001. Living Water and Indian Bowl. Kashmere Gate, Delhi: ISPCK.

Richard, H. L., ed. 1993. R.C. Das: Evangelical Prophet for Contextual Christianity. Delhi: ISPCK.

Staffner, Hans. 1988. Jesus Christ and the Hindu Community: Is a Synthesis of Hinduism and Christianity Possible? Gujarat: Sahitya Prakash.

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