Why Ghandi Didn’t Become a Christian
Jul 23, 2013 6441
Mohandas Ghandi was surely one of the greatest moral leaders of the modern times. Ghandi was once asked what he thought about Western Civilisation. Gandhi replied: “I think that it would be a very good idea.” What he critiqued about western civilization, and with which we would all agree, was its selfishness and materialism.
Ghandi’s life was a life of a compassion that was built on self-sacrifice. If Jesus could tell a story about a Samaritan as an example of exemplary morality, then I feel quite comfortable telling a story about a compassionate Hindu.
The story is told that one day Ghandi was boarding a train when his shoe fell off his foot into the gap between the train and the platform. And so what did he do? He took off his other shoe and threw it down beside the first shoe. His fellow travellers were puzzled, and so Ghandi explained to them that a poor person who finds a single shoe is no better off – what’s really helpful is finding a pair.
Ghandi renamed the untouchables in India, calling them “Children of God.” He honoured lepers, women, and the poor in a country where they were sorely oppressed. Through his moral leadership he won freedom for his nation, and today he is revered by a billion people. Surely, here is a person who should have been a Christian!
What many people don’t know is that Ghandi for a period very seriously considered becoming a Christian. He studied the gospels intensely, and it is reported that he even sold Christian Bibles for a time.
In this period, while he was intensely studying the gospel in South Africa, Ghandi heard about a small Christian church in his area, and he decided to attend the church service. But when he arrived, he was stopped at the door by the English elder on duty, who said to him,
“Where do you think you’re going, kaffir?” (Kaffir is a term of racial abuse for dark-skinned people in South Africa.)
Gandhi replied, “I’d like to attend worship here.” Then church elder said to him,
“There’s no room for kaffirs in this church. Get out of here or I’ll have my assistants throw you down the steps.”
Many years later, the missionary Stanley Jones asked Ghandi why he had not become a Christian. Ghandi replied, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.”
It is a true curse upon this world and our society today that all too often Christians have thought that being a Christian is all about working at becoming more outwardly righteous, and more religious. The true change that God wants to see in us is that we should become agents of His mercy and grace. We are called to not only know the gospel, but to live the gospel.
Arthur
Aug 27, 2022
So sad the missed opportunity.
Sharon Alice Turner
Aug 16, 2022
This very minute here in USA, majority of 'so called' Christian churches are still segregated! Not officially, of course*, but by a cold shoulder, a less than warm 'embrace'. So, since our creator, Father (ABBA) God, who sent his Son and then the Holy spirit (*a person) to be our comforter. That God makes abundantly clear HE is no 'respecter of persons' . And of course Ten Commandments, Parables on Jesus' equal treatment of women; encouraging them to learn, and inclusion of "Samaritans" and many 'diverse groups. One wonders do the self proclaimed Christians own or have a nodding acquaintance with our Bible? Great Grandma
lisa
Sep 30, 2020
He was correct in his observation of how Christians act. Most do not understand that we, as Christians should strive to be like the one we follow...we should not take his name in vain.
Jack Schwab
Dec 13, 2024
I just heard the church was a Presbyterian church . But they were missionaries to the Nez Perz in Washington 1830's