The First Vision of Sundar Singh

[_daheshism]

On another day, my work being finished, I again went into the forest to pray, and seated upon that same rock began to consider for what blessings I should make petition. Whilst thus engaged it seemed to me that another came and stood near me, who, judged by his bearing and dress and manner of speech, appeared to be a revered and devoted servant of God; but his eyes glittered with craft and cunning, and as he spoke he seemed to breathe an odour of hell.
He thus addressed me, "Holy and Honoured Sir, pardon me for interrupting your prayers and breaking in on your privacy; but is is one's duty to seek to promote the advantage of others, and therefore I have come to lay an important matter before you. Your pure and unselfish life has made a deep impression not only on me, but upon a great number of devout persons. But although in the Name of God you have sacrificed yourself body and soul for others, you have never been truly appreciated. My meaning is that being a Christian only a few thousand Christians have come under your influence, and some even of these distrust you. How much better would it be if you became a Hindu or a Mussulman, and thus become a great leader indeed? They are in search of such a spiritual head. If you accept this suggestion of mine, then three hundred and ten millions of Hindus and Mussulmans will become your followers, and render you reverent homage."
As soon as I heard this there rushed from my lips these words, "Thou Satan! get thee hence. I knew at once that thou wert a wolf in sheep's clothing! Thy one wish is that I should give up the cross and the narrow path that leads to life, and choose the broad road of death. My Master Himself is my lot and my portion, who Himself gave His life for me, and it behooves me to offer as a sacrifice my life and all I have to Him who is all in all to me. Get you gone therefore, for with you I have nothing to do."
Hearing this he went off grumbling and growling in his rage. And I, in tears, thus poured out my soul to God in prayer, "My Lord God, my all in all, life of my life, and spirit of my spirit, look in mercy upon me and so fill me with Thy Holy Spirit that my heart shall have no room for love of aught but Thee. I seek from Thee no other gift but Thyself, who art the Giver of life and all its blessings. From Thee I ask not for the world or its treasures, nor yet for heaven even make request, but Thee alone do I desire and long for, and where Thou art there is Heaven. The hunger and the thirst of this heart of mine can be satisfied only with Thee who hast given it birth. O Creator mine! Thou hast created my heart for Thyself alone, and not for another, therefore this my heart can find no rest or ease save in Thee, in Thee who hast both created it and set in it this very longing for rest. Take away then from my heart all that is opposed to Thee, and enter and abide and rule for ever. Amen."
When I rose up from this prayer I beheld a glowing Being, arrayed in light and beauty, standing before me. Though He spoke not a word, and because my eyes were suffused with tears I saw Him not too clearly, there poured from Him lightning-like rays of life-giving love with such power that they entered in and bathed my very soul. At once I knew that my dear Saviour stood before me. I rose at once from the rock where I was seated and fell at His feet. He held in His hand the key of my heart. Opening the inner chamber of my heart with His key of love, He filled it with His presence, and wherever I looked, inside or out, I saw but Him.
Then did I know that man's heart is the very throne and citadel of God, and that when He enters there to abide, heaven begins. In these few seconds He so filled my heart, and spoke such wonderful words, that even if I wrote many books I could not tell them all. For these heavenly things can be explained only in heavenly language, and earthly tongues are not sufficient for them. Yet I will endeavour to set down a few of these heavenly things that by way of vision came to me from the Master. Upon the rock on which before I sat He seated Himself, and with myself at His feet there began between Master and disciple the conversation that now follows.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

And then did Jesus tell him the Hindus and Musselmen and Christians were all wrong and he should start a new religion?

[_Chap]

And then did Jesus tell him the Hindus and Musselmen and Christians were all wrong and he should start a new religion?

The Musselmen: a bizarre riparian cult of bivalve worshipers, some members of whom dedicate themselves to body-building because they don't spell too good.

[_Nomomo]

And then did Jesus tell him the Hindus and Musselmen and Christians were all wrong and he should start a new religion?

The Musselmen: a bizarre riparian cult of bivalve worshipers, some members of whom dedicate themselves to body-building because they don't spell too good.

ROTF! Where's the "like" button? ;^)

[_daheshism]

Sundar Singh was not told "all churches are wrong" and to start a new Church. He was simply told what a true Christian was, and was not.

[_Nomomo]

Sundar Singh was not told "all churches are wrong" and to start a new Church. He was simply told what a true Christian was, and was not.

I am curious, do you consider yourself to be a "true" Christian?

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

And then did Jesus tell him the Hindus and Musselmen and Christians were all wrong and he should start a new religion?

The Musselmen: a bizarre riparian cult of bivalve worshipers, some members of whom dedicate themselves to body-building because they don't spell too good.

Hmmm, I'd be interested in a religion that throws clams at the moon and can't spell too good. Probably, their missionaries will be knocking on my door within the week now, right?

[_daheshism]

Asking "me"?

I'm not sure what a "true Christian" is! On my mission for the Mormon Church, in San Jose California (1983-85), during the time "The God Makers" was being shown at "Christian" churches, we had large angry "Christian" men using language so foul that it would make a drunken sailor blush. Some of them claimed I screwed my own mother. Some would spit on us or near us. Others would punch us or threaten to. A few slapped us. A few tried to run us off the road or cause us to have accidents. Others threatened to kill us or beat us. Where THEY "true Christians"? After all, they believed....

*Only the 66 books of the Protestant Bible were inspired of God. All else is of the Devil.

*Salvation by saying "The Sinner's Prayer" alone.

*All those who are NOT born-again fundamentalist evangelical Christians to burn in Hell forever.

*The Golden Rule ("Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you") applies ONLY to fellow Christians, not to Mormons or others, whom you can spit on, lie to, steal from, rape, or even kill (because Mormons are blasphemers and the Law of Moses is still under effect for blasphemers).

Now, what do ""I""" believe? Well....I DO NOT believe that the 66 books are the only inspired ones. I DO NOT believe that all who are not born-again Christians burn in Hell forever. I DO NOT believe that salvation is via reciting the Sinner's Prayer, I DO NOT believe that the Golden Rule applies ONLY to fellow Christians (I believe it applies to everyone). So, I CANNOT be a "Christian" as defined by the Evangelical Christian world.

I'm with Ghandi: "I like your Christ, but you Christians are so unlike your Christ!"


I will let Jesus Christ decide who is a "true Christian" or not. Not me. I won't even decide that for myself. Jesus told Sundar Singh who was a true Christian or not. Read his works and decide for yourself. Did Jesus Christ REALLY appear to Sundar Singh in visions, or was Sundar Singh just another Joseph Smith? Read his works, and decide for yourself.

p.s. Sundar Singh learned English by going to an Anglican high school near Delhi, India, where 'Mussleman' was the common English spelling for "Muslim" at that time according to standard English-language spelling of the day. The Muslims of India at that time referred to themselves NOT as "Moos-lems" but as "Moomins" which means "Believers" in Urdu.

Sundar Singh was not told "all churches are wrong" and to start a new Church. He was simply told what a true Christian was, and was not.

I am curious, do you consider yourself to be a "true" Christian?