The Khatri Parivaar

In the evangelical circle, Christians verbally acknowledge the Bible as God’s Word that it is the final authority for both what they should believe and how to live. Yet in reality there is seen a clear contrast between their public confession and personal conduct. We need to understand that a true Christianity is not based on our external morality, religiosity and Church traditionalism; but on the basis of our personal love for Jesus Christ and a desire to obey HIM (John 14:15). India is known as the birthplace for many religions i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. We live in a pluralistic society in which it has been a challenge to present the Gospel exclusively.   There are people who born and brought up in different environment of religion, but they are saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and has become the member of the body of Christ. They come with their cultural and social customs and religious experience. It is very easy to counsel them about the cu

(This sermon is delivered in Sunday fellowship at Phulbari Sewa Mandali on 25th February, 2018) Every age of our Christian history even today, there were / are many preachers “who must be silenced” (Titus 1:11); who taught that believing in Christ or faithfulness to HIM guarantees health, wealth, success and prosperity in our life. But we need to understand that these things fuel only our false pride, fleshly lust and worldly prestige. Our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us totally opposite of it. It is also true that there are physical needs within us which should satisfy with physical things. When we are hungry we need food, not a sermon on grace. When we become sick, we need medical help, not a lecture on Christian ethics. Our body has certain desires and appetites, which are given to us by God HIMSELF. They are good and inevitable for being a human, but we have distorted and misused them because of our fallen nature and eventually it has brought sorrow and ruin in our

(It is presented to you that you may pray for this unreached people group, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross)  Assam is known for its ethnic diversity and it is least unevangelised state in the Northeast region of India. Hundreds of ethnic groups are residing for centuries and can been seen the Assamese touch in their culture and language. Nepalese are one of them, who migrated from neighbor country Nepal many centuries ago, now they have become the inseparable body of Assamese society. It is said that before the 16 th Century Nepalis migrated as Gopalak (Cattle Herders), Soldiers and semi-skilled professionals; and resided in different parts of Assam. The term ‘ Asomiya Gurkhalis’ is used to Nepalis, who have born and brought up in Assam; and to differentiate from other Nepalis, who live in other parts of India and Nepal. In Assam they are the 5 th largest people group in the state which has enabled them t

Indian women especially Hindus have custom to wearing a round, red mark between the eyebrows. Generally, it is called ‘ Bindi’ in Hindi, which derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Bindu’ meaning ‘point’ or ‘dot’. It is called different names in different states i.e. ‘phot’ in Assam, ‘ Pottu’  or ‘ Kunkuma’  in Tamilnadu,  ‘ Netri’  or  Tilakam' in Kerala, ‘ Kunkoo’ or ‘Tikali’ in Maharastra, ‘ Tilakam’  in Andhra Pradesh, ‘ Bottu’  in Karnataka and so on and in Nepal, it is called ‘ Tika’ . The application of the ‘Bindi’ is common amongst Hindu women in other countries like in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bali. It is often an essential part of a Hindu woman make-up. Most of Christian ministers prohibit its use for Christian women. It is still in debate that is it appropriate to use for church going believers. Before going to any conclusion, we need to understand its religious, social and cultural significance. RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE In Hindu metaphysics, ‘ bindi’