10/19/25 - Engaging South Asians

The following are some things to know about Hindus and their beliefs:

There are nearly one billion Hindus around the world.

Hindus strive for perfectly good lives in order to achieve a spiritual existence.

They believe that following a personal guru (leader/teacher) helps one be freed from darkness and the evils of life.

Many Hindus are looking for true peace, so all life decisions (food, friends, clothes, body) are weighed for their spiritual impact.

Key ways to pursue higher spiritual life include personal purity, mystic disembodiment, and specific devotion to a chosen god(dess).

Brahman is the supreme being expressed in many gods and goddesses, each of which have unique virtues and vices. Jesus and Mary are acceptable to some modern Hindus as part of the Pan-Indian pantheon.

There are three major Hindu paths ( Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism) based on three different primary gods.

Many Hindus value race and caste hierarchies, believing that certain types of people are naturally more holy.

Some are highly superstitious, skilled at interacting with the spirit world, and believe in dreams and divination.

For many Hindus, spirituality is connected to social and class standing. Personal agency and positive life direction are extremely important, as is maintaining social respect. Most Hindus are born into their religious system, and often, both family threats and spiritual fear hold them to it.

CORE VALUES: prosperity/hard work, ethics/duty, freedom from the cycle of suffering (enlightenment)

According to Hindus

Some Hindus will see Christianity as the West's colonizing missionary religion.

For many, Jesus could be a good example of a guru who leads to one of many spiritual paths to transcendence.

Parts of the Bible contain meaningful teachings,

but other parts are too violent and manifest the evil things of the world—

Christians cannot be on the path to light while soaking in darkness.

Christians do not take seriously enough the need for good deeds and a pure life,

so their devotion to Jesus (as a guru or a god) is weak.

Some Hindus see Christians as lower-caste people who have sold out

on their long, rich identity heritage for money or handouts.

Connect with Hindus

Respect their long tradition of spirituality,

and agree if necessary about the colonizing,

divisive nature of Christianity's history.

Work to isolate conversations about Jesus

rather than engaging in religious discussions,

and focus on your shared need for peace (spiritual, personal, etc.).

Jesus has the power to overcome all evil in the world.

He has made clear the way to eternal life.

When your Hindu friends are open,

you can share how your life is being transformed by God's Spirit.

Remember

You are not a converter,

but someone who has found the true Light and wants to share it (Him).

Find ways to share how Jesus identifies Himself:

"Did you know that Jesus calls Himself the Light of the World?"

Refer often to Jesus' Way.

"Jesus' way has important teachings about peace (fill in the blank), too!"

or "Jesus' Way gave me hope for spiritual life when I was desperate."

Remember not to make assumptions about your new friends.

Try to understand their personal and spiritual stories.

Questions such as the following may help:

How do you know when you find a path/guru/teaching worth following?

What's your deepest hope/fear in life right now?

Who is the most perfect/best person you have personally known? What are/were they like?

How does one transform themselves? May I share how following Jesus changed me?

May I share why Jesus is different and better than any guru in history?

Ministry to Hindus

Offer a compelling explanation of the world

Teach the biblical narrative

Communicate the distinctiveness of the way of Jesus

focus on contrast, not commonality

Talk to the person in front of you

don’t assume people know or follow formal Hinduism

Tell stories of Jesus life

Don’t engage in comparative religion or rational apologetics

Conversations

Three Story Conversations

The first Story is Their Story

Ask leading questions about what they are doing?

Ask some personal questions about where they are from originally?

Listen

Learn

What areas of their life are in desperate need of the Kingdom of God?

Are there any parts of their story that connect to your story?

The Second story is your story

15 Second Testimony

There was a time in my life when I was...

But then I ...

came to know about Jesus

began to follow Him

And now I ...

Try to connect your story to their story.

The third story is God’s story

God created us for a love relationship

Our sin broke that relationship

God sent JEsus to restore that relationship.

He paid for our sin on the cross and gives new life.

We must turn from sin and receive God’s gift or reject it.

Parts 1 & 3 are God’s responsibility

Parts 2 & 4 are our responsibility

Three stories conversions

Three stories is a conversational tool.

It is not a guaranteed formula for success

Making disciples requires

COnnecting with people

Oour ability ot hear God’s voice and obey

Having Kingdom conversations as the Holy Spirit leads

Confronting the spiritual realm that keeps people in bondage

Be prepared to go out on a limb.

That’s where the fruit is.

GOd created us for Kingdom ministry, a supernatural adventure

that often begins with a conversation.