Baptist Women Visit Hindu Temple

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                   Vol. IX, No. 8, September 1996

The Kansas City Star of 25 June carried an article with the above headline which I have reprinted below. Two interesting facts not mentioned in the article are that this was a WMU group and the home church of these ladies is attended by large numbers of faculty and staff of William Jewel College. Now the article:

"What happened when a women's group from the Second (Southern) Baptist Church of Liberty recently visited the Hindu Temple in Shawnee? They were graciously greeted by Anand Bhattacharyya, formerly president of the Temple, and by the priest, Mayuram M.C. Bhattar, and his children. The women removed their shoes, learned about the Hindu scriptures, and considered the different yogas, or paths to God.

"They also studied the statues of various deities colorfully and joyfully dressed in the front of the temple. God is formless, Bhattacharyya said, but the human mind sometimes needs images to direct us to God. The women remarked how refreshing it was to see images of happy gods.

"Despite the apparent differences from her own faith, Jean Hedges found important similarities between Hinduism and Christianity.

"The trip increased June Martin's appetite to understand the inner core of different faiths. Leta Cummins thinks it is important to build bridges among the religions. Dorothy Jackson said she had known little about Hinduism, but this trip gave her an appreciation for the faith.

"The expectations of the visit were clear. The Baptists did not want to convert the Hindus, and the Hindus did not want to convert the Baptists. 'God loves all people. Surely he [sic] understands those of different faiths', one of the women said.

"'I was awed,' said another. 'The Hindu Temple is a sacred place.'

"Bhattacharyya and Bhattar were delighted with their guests. Citing an Upanishad, Bhattacharyya said that all rivers, despite their different origins, lead to the ocean. And our different faiths all lead to God."

I will refrain from commenting upon all the gullible stupidity, the gushing heresy these ladies expressed lest I wax apoplectic. But I do want to point out the bottom line of their incipient universalism: "The Baptists did not want to convert the Hindus, and the Hindus did not want to convert the Baptists." Not want to convert someone who is heading to an eternity in hell?! Not want to lead someone to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?! Yes, God understands those of different faiths. He knows those faiths are false, created by Satan to mislead and confuse, to deny the unique godhead of the Trinity. Yes, He understands. That's why Jesus was willing to come and die that all who accept Him as the ONLY begotten Son of the Father (No one cometh to the Father except by me). If we maintain that all religions lead to God, we call Christ a liar.

We should pray for these ladies that they will come to see who Jesus is, repent, and be saved.