Originally posted by fini
LOL
There are a lot of indian ( people whose desendants came from india no more than 4 generations ago) here that converted from hinduism and islam to various forms of christianity.For some reason along the way , a lot of these sects have advised their followers, devotees whatever, not to take sweets from hindu festivals. For most festivals( religious) and hindu prayers, we make sweets and offer a very small portion for a blessing. As a result a heck of a lot of these christian groups ( mainly evangelicals) dont take the sweets saying that they were prayed upon, like some kinda stupid voodoo ritual.
ITS ridiculous. For non-indians, I have to explain that what they are saying is the same for if we refused to eat food by them, if someone said grace. Its insulting when someone refuses sweets or food on that basis. A lot of them understand that point of view.
AS for indian christians, I am beyond mystified as to why they think this. Refusing sweets because they were offered in a hindu ceremony is quite frankly turning your back on your heritage. All of their ancestors were most likely hindu, so they are not only insulting the people now, but also their ancestors. Changing religions is all fine and all, but dont turn your back on the memory of you ancestors.
One of my dearest friends, is muslim and he only takes sweets from a very few hindu friends( lol for divali I have a huge bag prepared for him, he raids me hehe). I can understand taking sweets( or as it is called, Parsad and prashad) from people you know, but flat out refusing aint right.
I'm waiting for a day to talk to my collegue about this.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God told Abram (the Lord God later changed his name to Abraham) to leave behind his country, family, and father's house (all relational ties as it were with his relatives). Now why would God command Abraham to do such a thing? Well, Abraham grew up in a pagan, heathenistic culture that worshipped idols (false-demon gods). In order for Abraham to have a relationship with the one, true God it would be necessary for him to break allegiance with other false gods, but his family worshipped those gods. There are many cultures that will disown a family member who breaks allegiance to the family gods. God was well aware of this so He instructed Abraham to leave his country and his family (relatives). Otherwise, there would be inevitable, perennial conflict and friction with his relatives because they were so entrenched in their lifestyle and religion. The two cannot mesh anymore than light and darkness, oil and water, or two positive poles. So with regard to Christians refusing sweets because they were offered in a Hindu ceremony and your opinion that they are turning their back on their heritage, I disagree. If anything they are turning their back on a culture whose religion contradicts the Bible. Believers in Jesus Christ are called out of darkness and into Christ's marvelous light. Our allegiance is to Christ and to Him alone, for He is our Lord. The things that other people perceive as trivial the Bible prohibits. For example, believers in Jesus Christ are forbidden from consulting psychics, from engaging in or practicing necromancy, augury, witchcraft, interpreting omens, soothsaying, sorcery, conjuring spells, the practice of mediums i.e. calling up the dead, spiritism (or spiritualism), stargazing, prognostication, astrology, and other occult practices. This includes reading horoscopes, palm reading, Ouija boards, tarot cards, idol worship, dungeons and dragons, black and white magic. All of these things are an abomination to God, and permit the devil to have a place in our lives. The Bible is clear that we have been transferred from the power of darkness and into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son—Jesus Christ. We are now light in Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar (i.e. different but in a good way) people; that we should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you, this is the underlying principle behind God’s decision for His children to avoid certain activities. Here is another Bible principle: For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Those are the words of Jesus Christ. Jesus knew that confessing Him as Lord would cause division in the home (unless other family members have received Christ as Lord and Savior). It has nothing to do with turning one’s back on one’s heritage, but even if it did, I believe that our relationship with Jesus Christ supersedes all other relationships. This includes husband and wife, father and mother, son and daughter, siblings, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, and in-laws. We can still love them and pray for them but we may not be able to fellowship with them if they are engaged in things that overtly violate God’s will. So I hope this helps clarify the whole Christians refusing sweets thing.