p. 331 | CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 20, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 21

CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA.

A correspondent of the Christian Union, writing from Bombay, recites the following interesting incident, which shows what it costs to be a Christian in that Mohammedan country, and how highly these heathen converts prize the religion of Christ. How few, in this free country, are willing to obey God by bearing the comparatively light cross of espousing an unpopular truth.

The difficulty of missionary work among the Mussulman population of India is well illustrated by an incident which took place in Bombay a few months ago. A young Mussulman of quite high position and of very good family, was brought under the influence of Christian truth several years ago. He read the New Testament and other Christian books; he conversed frequently with missionaries and other Christians; he attended Christian worship. Ere long he became convinced of the truth of Christianity, and for a time endeavored to live outwardly as a Mohammedan, while cherishing a secret faith in Christ. His conscience, however, was not satisfied, and a few months ago he asked for baptism, proposing to take the irrevocable step of joining himself boldly to the Christian church. His friends, on becoming aware of his decision, were enraged. He has no father, but lived with his widowed mother and elder brother. His brother gave him twenty days in which to reconsider the question, and give up all thoughts of becoming a Christian, telling him that if he still adhered to his determination to abjure Islamism, he would do to him “whatever he liked.” The meaning of this threat was plain enough. Before the twenty days had elapsed, his brother, seeing that there was but little prospect of the young convert’s giving up his new religion, turned him out of the house, bidding him “to look out for himself.” [That meant look out for his life.] The young man went to a missionary friend with a Bible in his hand, and the clothes he had on his person—everything else he had given up. He was asked if he could not go back and get some articles he needed, and said it would not be safe. From what we know of the temper of Bombay Mussulmans, as shown in cases of this kind in previous years, there can be but little doubt that his life would have been in danger had he remained in Bombay. He was quietly sent to another place, where he was duly baptized and is now living as a Christian, and studying to fit himself for usefulness as a Christian laborer in India.