While in India we visited and even participated in quite a few church services and special events. In several churches I saw women wearing this symbolic dot. Of course they may have been Hindus who wandered into a church. But in one instance, I'm certain this was not the case. We participated in a service on Sunday and followed with lunch with some of the church leaders. All this was followed by chai time with a lady from the church. As we were leaving the area, a woman and two children stood by the church and spoke little English phrases to us to send us off. The women had the typical dot on her head. Yet she said to me "praise the Lord." This was a typical exchange between the Christian Indians and us.
As we got on the bus, I asked Suyash if he was sure that the dot was for Shiva. Of course, he knew what he was talking about. My teammates and I discussed why a perceived Christian would still wear the bindi. Our best guess was that since Hindus worship many gods, perhaps Jesus was just another god to them. Maybe they trusted Him- not alone but also.
As I have reflected on this whole situation, I think it shows us how the church has messed up. This woman appeared to be readily welcomed in the church, the building and the family, even though she had clearly not gotten it all figured out yet. Would this woman be repeatedly welcomed in your church?Perhaps we think she would definitely be welcomed in our churches at first. But what if she continued coming and participating in church events? What if she sang your worship songs and continued to offer tribute to Shiva with her accessories? Would she be asked to leave or indirectly un-welcomed because she did not fit the church mold, even the Christian mold? I have been in some churches where I think this woman would be ruled out. I don't mean ruled out in the context of a court. I mean it in the way that we Christians have rules of behavior and appearance that everyone should immediately follow in order to be godly.
Let's figure out an American equivalent of this woman. An unsaved girl with an eyebrow piercing walks into church. We can definitely expect looks from across the congregation. But perhaps the people are welcoming even if with hesitation. But I bet if she continued coming back, someone would eventually ask her to remove her piercing, whether directly or by suggestion. She doesn't "look Christian" after all. If she accepts Christ as Savior, someone will still openly or discreetly disapprove of her facial accessories. This is even less offensive that the bindi because as far as I know, a nose piercing is not a direct tribute to a false god.
I have been in churches where this girl would be pushed out of the church by rules if she does not quickly abide. Many of us have made Christianity into a behavior modification program. We have forgotten grace as we created a Christian image. For some the goal is no longer salvation of the lost. The goal has become the creation of a picture perfect church where perfection is skin deep and often compared to man-made standards. Beneath a picturesque surface is a rotten heart that looks nothing like the Light of the world.
I want us to evaluate our motives. If we push this lost person to remove the piercing or the symbolic third eye, are we seeking their salvation? If read the Gospel correctly, these modifications do nothing for our souls. I don't think we are seeking the lost to be found. I think we are trying to create a world that is less offensive to us.
Listen. If that Hindu woman removes the dot from her head, what has changed? If the girl removes her nose piercing, is she better off? No, they are not. They are still going to hell. They may look better to you. You may feel better about your world. You don't have to feel uncomfortable. Your environment looks so much better. Good job. No. They are going to hell. We have wasted our own salvation if we live for anything other than the redemption of hearts and eternity.
We have to check our motives. What are we aiming for? Christ left His comfort to die for us. We cannot dare to ignore doomed souls for our own standards. I am going after the Hindu woman's soul. If she does not grasp the significance of the bindi on her face until years after her salvation, that is ok. If the girl does not see any discrepancy between her piercing and her new walk with God, I am not going to shove her out of my world. Sanctification is a process. It will be complete in heaven. It's not gonna look perfect to us-ever- on earth.
The Saul to Paul life change did not happen in a day. Sure, his name changed. But he changed for the rest of his life.
Don't lose the lost trying to make your world look pretty. It's gonna have some ugly in it until we are with Christ. Pursue people for their hearts. Christ Himself came only for that.
