Christians, is it OK to compromise on your basic beliefs?

Question

I heard a lot of Christian missionaries in India are mimicking the Hindu religion in order to convert the local population. Some of the things they are doing are:

1. Building temples for Mary and Jesus - to appeal to the native Hindus. (Whatever happened to not worshiping to Idols?)
2. Fathers running Yoga centers chanting Christ’s name.
3. Modifying Sanskrit hymns that glorify Hindu gods by replacing with Jesus and/or Mary.
etc.

Answer 1

This is no different than what Christianity has done over the past 2,000 years to convert native populations to Christianity.

They keep the local festivals, but put new deities in them, and tell them "Well, you can keep doing this, but we'll just change the names and poof, now you're Christian."

Christmas is ALL about this.

Answer 2

It depends on the compromise,.... Paul used a statue of "An Unknown God" to witness to people about his God. I don't think it would be a good idea to say.... start praying to other beings to apease those who have many gods. Yoga and Jesus, I think can go together. We do a lot of things that Pagans do but just do it for God instead. Like meditation, prayer, singing and whatnot. Changing a song to be about Jesus when it wasnt, isnt any more than directing it to Him instead of someone else. Worshiping an idol, statue or someone other than Jesus is idolitry no matter how you slice it and no, that shouldn't be compromised but those who built the statue to Jesus and Mart were Catholics and most Protestant Christians wouldnt do that.

Answer 3

As Chris said, it sounds like Catholics. They're the same people who started the tradition of Christmas being Jesus' birthday & made it fall in December to usurp the celebration from Solstice & Saturnalia. Ditto Easter, which is tied to the moon for its date (40 days after the last projected frost) and is named for a pagan fertility goddess, Eoster. Personally I pray that I will not compromise my beliefs if ever set in that opportunity.

Answer 4

Nope!......"Jesus Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life, No Man Cometh Unto The Father (Heaven) Except Through Jesus"!..(John 14: 6)........simple as that!.....

Answer 5

Its not okay to comprise your faith. The first item you list, I agree, should not be done. The second two, I don't really see that they are comprosmising your faith, with the exception of your last part on #3, as I do not in any way worship Mary, even though, yes, she was a holy women, she still is not God.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

No. Absolutely NO. There's no need to. Here's Jesus' thoughts on the subject:

John 10:25-30
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.
KJV

Answer 8

# 1 does sounds Catholic. In some things you do have to appeal to the culture you're ministering to; you have to bring Christianity to them, not Christianity in an American box (or wherever you're from), but if any of your methods go against scripture, you're at wrong and need to revise.

Answer 9

They are repeating what catholicism has done. Taking the the statues of tammuz (as baby YHVHSHUA), zeus, etc.. and putting them up in rome, calling them peter, YAHVEHSHUA (jesus), etc.....That is sad, and it is totally wrong.

Answer 10

If what you are saying is true, I don't agree with it. Paul did say we are to be all things to all people, that is, meet them where they are, but I don't think we should try to amalgamate other belief systems into Christianity.