Home Coming....

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It was a few days back this happened. There was a health camp happening in a village, taking care of those affected by the flood, as part of a relief program. Young doctors from a Medical college along with some team members from the local hospital was conducting the same. Suddenly a crowd landed up. The busy clinic was interrupted by this crowd, who were creating a ruckus saying there is “forcible conversion” and forcing the team to close the clinic. At the same time another crowd, asking that the clinic should continue. The team somehow managed to finish the work and move out fast, to avoid being manhandled. They were soon called by the District authorities and Police, because a complaint had gone on “conversion”. Other than conducting a health camp, which they have been doing for the last few weeks, in various villages affected by flood, they had not engaged in any activity. Much later they came to know what the issue was. Some of the prescription slips used had the name of the local mission hospital and had an innocuous bible verse on the same. This was construed as evidence of “forcible conversion”.

Forcible conversion, Home Coming etc. are the current topics of discussion in the news. It may be good for us to understand these words a bit more. What is “forcible”, what is “conversion” what and where is “home” and “coming back” to what or where?

Reading through the gospels, and understanding from Jesus life it may be good to reflect on these terms. Jesus never forced anyone, or did he? Was not people leaving their homes and jobs and following him motivated by an inner force responding to the loving call from Jesus. Is an inner force – forcible?  He never converted any one, or did he? People moving out from lives focused on their own careers and plans to one where they started following Jesus and God’s plans for their lives, - was it not converting from one direction of life to another? Was this conversion? What about Home – did Jesus asked people to come back home or leave home – yes and no -  many stayed at home, some left, - anything which stood against following God had to be left, and there was only one coming – coming back to the one who created us, to follow him into his purposes for our lives! 

Even when Jesus gave the last commission - he asked us to go forth and disciple people, people who will follow God and God's plans for their lives and not forcibly converted into a new religion, but move by an inner force into a new direction in life. 

Something which I need to do every day - daily be internally forced to follow God and into His purposes for my life. Similarly come home daily, to the creator God and His purposes for my life...


We need to re-read the Gospels to understand these terminologies from Jesus’ perspective. We also need to ask, in the current context how should we live and act, or rather, how Jesus would have lived and acted? 

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