CHRIST, CHRISTIANS AND MAHATMA GANDHI

Today is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s 154th birth anniversary – 1869-1947. Gandhi greatly admired, respected and followed the teachings of the LORD Jesus Christ. Sadly, Gandhi was assassinated by an Indian, within six months of the Indian independence, for which he struggled so vigorously, by the principles of non-violence as laid out by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. A tragic ending to a man who lived by the principles of non-violence, love and forgiveness.

Gandhi was richly influenced by the teachings of Jesus Christ. He not only admired, appreciated and greatly respected the LORD Jesus, and His teachings, but Gandhi meticulous and scrupulously followed it. It is very clear from his writings about Christ.

Will Durant, writes this about Gandhi in his book, ‘The Story of Civilization’ Volume I – “He did not mouth the name of Christ, but acted as if he accepted every word of the Sermon on the Mount. Not since St. Francis of Assisi has any life known to history been so marked by gentleness, disinterestedness, simplicity and forgiveness of enemies.”

Gandhi considered Jesus Christ of Nazareth in the highest esteem. These are his views – “Jesus, a man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.”

Gandhi was thoroughly captivated by Christ of the Bible. Gandhi’s biographer, Louis Fischer, reveals that, when he arrived at Sevagram Ashram in May 1942, to spend a week with him, he noticed there was “…only one decoration on the mud walls of his hut: a black and white print of Jesus Christ with the inscription ‘He is our peace.”

Gandhi’s closest friend, C. F. Andrews, writing in his book, “Mahatma Gandhi : His Life and Ideas” thus quotes Gandhi’s views about conversion – “Conversion must not mean denationalization. Conversion should mean a definite giving up of the evil of the old, adoption of all the good of the new and a scrupulous avoidance of everything evil in the new. Conversion therefore should mean a life of greater dedication to one’s own country, greater surrender to God, greater self purification.”

From a Christian view point, Gandhi did not consider the exclusive claims of Jesus to be good enough for him, to personally believe. Gandhi held the view that all religions are good, and need to be respected equally. We disagree respectfully. As Christians, we should and must learn to respect people who are differ from us. This is being Christ like.

Christian missionary E. Stanley Jones, once asked – “Mr Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is it that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower (Christian)”?* Gandhi’s response should startle us – *”Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It is just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

The further expansion of this thought should be even more startling to us – “It is a first class human tragedy that people of the earth who claim to believe in the message of Jesus, whom they describe as the Prince of Peace, show little of that belief in actual practice.” Isn’t it true? “24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you…” – Romans 2:24. 

What should we do as the followers of Jesus Christ? How are we to be truly representing our LORD and our Master, as His ambassadors? By simply following what our LORD taught us, and be like Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. Just like Jesus said, “Follow Me.”