Undercover Boss is a TV show that sends the CEO or owner of a company undercover to work as an employee in his/her firm for a week. They have to do everything that is expected of a normal employee: cleaning the restrooms, taking out the trash, washing the dishes, and all the menial jobs that we take for granted will be done by some faceless employee. They face the worst and the best sides of people who work for them. The CEO comes face to face with overstressed and overstretched employees who continue to work because of their need to support their families and also out a sense of loyalty. There were others who were tyrants who used their positions to take advantage of those working under them!
After a week, the CEO is asked to reflect upon his/her experiences and very often this has resulted in a deep appreciation of the hard work that the employees put in that enables the company to grow and make the kind of money and impact that they enjoy so much and take so much for granted. In the particular episode that I watched the CEO brought in his executive team and shared his experience and how it has made him appreciate the struggles and hardships the employees face on a daily basis, it helped develop a deep respect and love for the faceless employee who is a human person. It resulted in positive changes in the work culture of the organization and practical expressions of gratitude like offering employees more time to spend with the family, a fully paid yearly vacation and a more empathetic leader who could fully understand the pressures and constraints under which his workers performed under.
What about us Christians? How do we fare? If we were to take an anonymous survey of those who serve in various Christian organizations across India many a horror story would emerge. Pathetic pay (missionaries, evangelists, Christian workers, and pastors often draw salaries that are far below what a driver, security guard or service staff get!), overwork, overstress, lack of appreciation, no savings or security leaves behind families that are deeply resentful of parents who are in the ministry. Interestingly, another survey of families in ministry will reveal that most children of those in ministry don’t follow their parents. On the other hand leaders of Christian organizations in India grow richer and richer! In a short period they amass property, wealth, secure the future of their children and grandchildren and nothing but the most basic support is provided to those who serve the Lord in their organizations.
How many CEOs and leaders of Christian organizations, missions and churches know of the struggles of those who they lead in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ? Will they be willing to leave behind the comforts of their centralized AC homes and offices and trade it for the grind and discomfort of those who serve at the grassroots? And if they do what will they learn and change in the struggles and heartaches of those serving under them? Think about it –In many cases the milk bill of a Christian leader’s home and the salary of his personal cook is more than that of the support received by a missionary on the field!
We seem to have forgotten what Christ came to do: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 45. Christian leaders are called to serve as a servant of Christ, to have the same attitude that Christ displayed. Let us learn and not forget, let us serve and not be served. For one day Christ is going to tell us,
“ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25: 40 – 46.
Let us not be found wanting!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
THE WORLD RUSHES ON...
A thought struck me yesterday as a young boy rushed past me on a moped. Isn't he the epitome of the world around us? People rush to who knows where and all they are rushing towards is an eternity that is fast approaching them and as yet they don't want to or seem to care where they want to spend eternity!
How to share the Gospel to a people who are not the least bit interested in God or even their own future? Quite frustrating actually! We have become a people who only think and have time only for the present. Thank God that His Holy Spirit is the one who touches hearts of stone and transforms them into hearts of flesh - And I always take a step back and think - If not for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ - I too was just another man rushing on towards a swift and eternal, never-ending life of regret that I never paused to make a choice for Christ!
How to share the Gospel to a people who are not the least bit interested in God or even their own future? Quite frustrating actually! We have become a people who only think and have time only for the present. Thank God that His Holy Spirit is the one who touches hearts of stone and transforms them into hearts of flesh - And I always take a step back and think - If not for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ - I too was just another man rushing on towards a swift and eternal, never-ending life of regret that I never paused to make a choice for Christ!
Friday, May 1, 2009
CASTE OR CHRIST
Ramesh was a new Christian. Till recently he was a person from one of the “lower castes.” He was told by the evangelist who shared the good news about salvation in Christ to him that once he became a believer every Christian would treat him as his or her brother. Ramesh was thrilled, after a lifetime of discrimination and oppression he was finally happy. He was now a child of God and he belonged to a community that treated everyone equally. His identity was derived from his relationship with Jesus Christ. The problem started the Sunday he went to church for the first time.
“You cannot sit on this side of the church! There are seats that are meant for people like you!”said the angry old man. “But sir, I am Christian” said Ramesh, not understanding what the old man meant. “So what?” the old man asked with a sneering voice, “It doesn't change your caste, does it?” “What, what do you mean?” asked a brokenhearted Ramesh. “I thought that when I became a Christian I became a child of God. You and I are equal in God's sight!” “Never!” shouted the old man, “even your shadow is unclean to me! Get out and go to a church where people like you meet. But never come back here. This church is only for the high caste.” Ramesh ran out in shock and pain, his eyes blurred with tears as he stumbled away into the dusty lane. “It is a lie! Everything that the evangelist told me was lie! It was better if I had remained a non-Christian, at least there people don't say that I am your brother and treat me like a dog...”
Are you angry? Is your face a mirror of disbelief? Are you saying, “this doesn't happen in the Indian Church?” Think again. The above story is a daily occurrence in the lives of people who come to Christ from “lower caste” backgrounds all over India.
The question is, “Can caste and Christ coexist? The Bible is very clear about this – Paul says, in Galatians 3: 28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In other words, in this context, there can be no discrimination on the basis of race (Jew or Greek). What is casteism but a form of racism or apartheid? We just have to look at the matrimonial column in Christian magazines to understand the enormity of the problem.
"Christian bridegroom (particular caste) is looking for bride from the same caste." Churches congregate on the basis of caste, pastors and office bearers are selected and elected on the basis of caste, even communion in certain churches is administered on the basis of caste.
What about you? And what about me? Do we secretly hold to this practice that is dehumanizing and discriminatory? Is caste identity more important that Christian identity?
This is not an appeal to abandon cultural identity, it is to abandon the practice of casteism because it is contrary to everything that Christ stands for.
“You cannot sit on this side of the church! There are seats that are meant for people like you!”said the angry old man. “But sir, I am Christian” said Ramesh, not understanding what the old man meant. “So what?” the old man asked with a sneering voice, “It doesn't change your caste, does it?” “What, what do you mean?” asked a brokenhearted Ramesh. “I thought that when I became a Christian I became a child of God. You and I are equal in God's sight!” “Never!” shouted the old man, “even your shadow is unclean to me! Get out and go to a church where people like you meet. But never come back here. This church is only for the high caste.” Ramesh ran out in shock and pain, his eyes blurred with tears as he stumbled away into the dusty lane. “It is a lie! Everything that the evangelist told me was lie! It was better if I had remained a non-Christian, at least there people don't say that I am your brother and treat me like a dog...”
Are you angry? Is your face a mirror of disbelief? Are you saying, “this doesn't happen in the Indian Church?” Think again. The above story is a daily occurrence in the lives of people who come to Christ from “lower caste” backgrounds all over India.
The question is, “Can caste and Christ coexist? The Bible is very clear about this – Paul says, in Galatians 3: 28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In other words, in this context, there can be no discrimination on the basis of race (Jew or Greek). What is casteism but a form of racism or apartheid? We just have to look at the matrimonial column in Christian magazines to understand the enormity of the problem.
"Christian bridegroom (particular caste) is looking for bride from the same caste." Churches congregate on the basis of caste, pastors and office bearers are selected and elected on the basis of caste, even communion in certain churches is administered on the basis of caste.
What about you? And what about me? Do we secretly hold to this practice that is dehumanizing and discriminatory? Is caste identity more important that Christian identity?
This is not an appeal to abandon cultural identity, it is to abandon the practice of casteism because it is contrary to everything that Christ stands for.
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