True Joy in the Grace of Christ

Earlier this year, Engage Today published the testimony of a pastor in northern India who was formerly a Hindu Brahmin. (Click here to read the article: “A Living Hope for a Hopeless Hindu Brahmin” (We will call him Sanjar in this article in order to protect his identity.)

When Sanjar pursued studies at a Bible School, the principal was hesitant to accept him because he was from a Brahmin background. This kind of hesitation exists because of two realities: 1) Very few Brahmins have come to faith in Christ. They are on the top of the totem pole of the Hindu caste system and have very little incentive to turn their back on possessing the world’s benefits for a life of discipleship with Christ. Because it is rare for a Brahmin to become a Christian, the principal was suspicious if this brother’s faith was genuine; 2) The second reality is the potential societal resistance of associating with a Brahmin who has come to faith in Christ. Hindu society gives very little concern to the untouchables and scheduled tribes and castes. However, there is a much more significant societal consequence for the esteemed of the religion to turn their back on Hinduism.

Pastor Sanjar has endured that hostility.

This fall Engage Today received a note from a pastor who knows and labours in the gospel together with Sanjar. He informed us that Sanjar was attacked and badly beaten by a group of radicals.

We praise God that Pastor Sanjar has remained strong in his faith in Christ. Following this incident, he has Psalm 31:7 written on one of his online profiles: “I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul.”

Sanjar informed us that the trials have continued. He writes, “Altogether, it has been more than two months of hardships, but by God’s grace, we are holding on. … We are strengthened by the love and support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a reminder that even in the midst of hardships, God’s grace sustains us.”

Sanjar’s joy in the grace of Christ is evident after all the suffering he has endured. He is an example of what it looks like to have peace and joy which are not based of life’s circumstances.