Sadhu Sundar Singh – Hindu Mystic in Sheep’s Clothing
Sadhu Sundar Singh and His So Called Christian Exploits with Emanuel Swedenborg
I have come across quite a few ‘Christian’ websites who think that Sadhu Sundar Singh was truly a man of God. I’ve spent hours and hours reading about his life and his beliefs and I will say this; if someone knocks on your door dressed in a yellow robe preaching Jesus Christ, don’t open the door!!
On the surface it would appear that Sundar Singh was truly a man of God, he was ostracised by his family for ‘converting’ to Christianity after he had a vision of Jesus Christ in his bedroom, he was Baptised, he took on the life of a Sadhu, barefoot, roaming from village to village preaching and he spent many a month in prison or thrown into a well for preaching the Gospel, until one day he just vanished into thin air (not in a mystic kinda way…no he left for a trip to Tibet and was not seen again).
However, under the surface we find a man who could not let go of his Hindu background, incorporating Hindu mystic teaching and ideas with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I will now briefly analyse his life and his teachings:
“…he decided to become a sadhu, so that he could dedicate himself to the Lord Jesus. As a sadhu, he wore a yellow robe, lived on the charity of others, abandoned all possession and maintained celibacy. He was convinced that this was the best way to introduce the Gospel to his people since it was the only way which his people were accustomed to. In addition, he also wanted to be free to devote himself to the Lord.” [1]
A Sadhu is a Hindu who devotes his entire life to his religion and forsakes all the worldly pleasures. When one becomes truly born again you will abandon ALL things that are not glorifying to God, you abandon the sin in your life. The things you did before you were truly born again you repented of and you will not go back to them. Sundar Singh didn’t do that, he kept the Hindu Holy Man name Sadhu and the Holy Man robes. The only reason for this was because it was supposedly easier for him to approach people and spread the Gospel.
This does not make sense? If he was truly Christian he would not have kept the Holy Man ‘Sadhu’ or continued to wear the robes. This name and the robes represented the lifestyle of a Hindu Holy Man who followed after Hindu gods. Why could he not dress like a normal Indian person. You will see why, later…
I wrote this article on Sundar Singh because right now Todd Bentley from Freshfire Ministries, running the Lakeland Revival recently had a vision of Sundar Singh in Heaven telling him about meditation: contemplative prayer and soaking, etc.
Todd Bentley never abandoned his worldly lifestyle either with all his metal style t-shirts, recent tattoos and piercings. Dressing like the world to try attract the world is the excuse.
Sundar Singh’s vision of Christ:
“But with the death of his beloved mother when he was only fourteen years old, his life had changed dramatically. The young Sundar grew increasingly despairing and aggressive. Convinced that what Jesus had taught was completely wrong, he tore the Bible apart and burned it. He even threw stones at preachers and encouraged others to do likewise. His hatred of the local missionaries and Christians culminated in the public burning of a Bible which he tore apart page by page and threw into the flames.”
“Three days after he burned the Bible in front of his father, he woke up at three in the morning and went out into the moonlit courtyard for the ceremonial bath observed by devout Hindus and Sikhs before worship. He then returned to his room and knelt down, bowed his head to the ground and pleaded that God would reveal himself. Yet nothing happened. He was thinking of throwing himself in front of the train that would pass at 5 a.m. every morning behind their house, in the hope that he would find peacefulness in his future reincarnation.”
“He repeated his prayer once again. He lifted his head and opened his eyes, and was rather surprised to see a faint cloud of light in the room…He then thought that it might be an answer to his prayer. While watching the light, he suddenly saw Jesus’ figure in the radiance. To his sheer amazement he saw not the face of any of his traditional gods, but of Jesus the Christ.”
“Jesus Christ was there in the room, shining, radiating an inexpressible joy and peace and love, looking at him with compassion and asking, “Why do you persecute me? I died for you …”[Acts 9:1-5] At that time, Sundar realised that Jesus was not dead but alive. Sundar fell on his knees before Him and experienced an astonishing peacefulness which he had never felt before. The vision disappeared, but peace and joy lingered within him.”
So what we have here is not Jesus Christ appearing to dear ol’ Sundar, but an ‘angel of light’ as an impostor of Jesus Christ. This ‘angel of light’ said to Sundar ‘Why do you persecute me? I died for you …” and then ‘peace and joy’ lingered within him. Sundar soon after that began a life of spreading the simple message of love and peace and rebirth through Jesus. I still have yet to read anywhere where Sundar actually says he accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour by repentance of sin. Why do I say that is was an ‘angel of light’ that appeared to Sundar and not Jesus Christ? Because if it was Jesus Christ, Sundar would not have believed, preached or delved into the following:
- He would frequently converse with the deceased for wisdom and guidance.
- His communication with the ‘other side’ did not just stop at deceased ‘Christians’ but he conversed with dead unbelievers as well.
- He believed that the dead could receive Christ after death:
“With regard to the doctrine of reincarnation and transmigration also, I have conversed with Swedenborg and some other Hindu saints who, after entering into the spiritual world, have accepted the Lord as the only true God and Saviour and also those who have not yet accepted Him. They all say that reincarnation is impossible . . .” [5]
- Sundar seems to have ties with Swedenborgia – New Church (another Cult) in which Swedenborg (the visionary who established this diabolical church) also had visions very similar to Sundars. Sorry, I should say that Sundar’s visions are very similar to Swedenborg’s. Whether Sundar had read Swedenborg’s books and then mimicked his visions we will never know. Whatever it is, it’s fishy to say the least:
“. . . I want to say that after my book on the “Visions of the Spiritual World” was published, some friend sent me a copy of “Heaven and Hell,” and I was glad to see that this wonderful man of God [Swedenborg] also had similar experiences. I should very much like to read about this seer and saint.” [6]
- Sundar believed that all angles and demons were once men, yet contradicts himself elsewhere by making a distinction between angels and humans that they are not the same.
- Sundar believed that those who have gone to heaven (the redeemed) can act as angels on earth.
- Sundar conversed with Swedenborg in the spiritual realm:
“I saw him several times [in a spiritual realm] some years ago, but I did not know his earthly name. His name in the spiritual world is quite different just according to his high position or office and most beautiful character. He is exceedingly happy and always busy in helping others.”[7]
“Yes, I have talked with the venerable Swedenborg and some other saints and angels about the hells, although I am unable to explain adequately all that they told me . . .”[8]
- Sundar went to Sweden and viewed Swedenborg’s tomb at a Cathedral:
“Sundar Singh’s second tour to the West took place in 1922. During the month of April he visited Uppsala, Sweden, where he was the guest of Archbishop Nathan Soderblom (whose contacts with, and impression of, the Sadhu I have discussed at some length elsewhere.)[3] Among other things, Soderblom took him on a sightseeing tour, in the course of which he entered Uppsala Cathedral and saw the tomb of Swedenborg. Later Soderblom was to write that Sundar Singh had been impressed by three things in the Cathedral — the shrine of Sweden’s patron saint, St. Erik; a medieval cope bearing, an embroidered picture of the birth of Christ, and Swedenborg’s tomb, “For Swedenborg like him was a visionary.”[4]
Sundar Singh on Buddhism:
“Regarding the Buddha, he said that he respected him for the strength of his intellect and the purity of his life; but in the Sadhu’s opinion he was lacking in humility and for that reason did not attain knowledge of God. Had he truly longed for God, he would have gone to the Sannyasi whom he had first met. For it is only through humility that we can know God.” [1]
Really? Is that so. So he respects a demonic entity for its intellect and PURITY of life and then says because it lacked humility it would never attain knowledge of God. Oh please…you gotta be a complete twit to fall for that one!
Sundar Singh on ‘How to enter Heaven’:
“Nobody will be allowed to enter into Heaven who has not a face like Jesus Christ. That is the only ticket, otherwise we shall find ourselves out of place there. Only those who follow Him will feel at home there.” [1]
No where is this in the bible. Not a single scripture to back this up.
Sundar Singhs ‘Universalism’ Beliefs:
“However bad and evil-living a man may be, there is in man’s nature a divine spark … this spark of the divine is never extinguished … If this divine spark or element cannot be destroyed, then we can never be hopeless for any sinner… The Creator Himself will not destroy it (man’s soul)… even though many wander and go astray in the end, they will return to Him in Whose image they have been created; for this is their final destination.” [2]
But here’s the best quote of them all by Sundar Singh himself:
“In regard to Hinduism, Sadhu Sundar Singh, the mystic and Sikh follower of Christ in the early 1900s, had an interesting personal perspective. ‘Hinduism has been digging channels,’ he wrote. “Christ is the water to flow through these channels there are many beautiful things in Hinduism; but the fullest light is from Jesus Christ”
—————
What Todd Bentley (Lakeland Revival) – Freshfire Ministries had to say:
THE GLORY CLOUD OF REVELATION & PROPHETIC MANTLES
“Is your life astonishing, filled with prophetic visions and encounters with the Lord? Are you a sign and a wonder? In a vision, Todd saw the Glory Cloud of Revelation–the cloud of Isaiah 11:1, 2 and Revelation 4:5 come upon the church body. Also in the same vision, the Lord showed him an old Punjabi saint by the name of Sundar Singh, who lived in India and evangelised throughout the world over a hundred years ago. The Holy Spirit spoke to Todd about a new release of prophetic revelation coming. In the first part of this prophetic teaching article, Todd teaches about the river of revelation available to every believer and the need for a life wholly dedicated, consecrated, and devoted to the Lord. Part 2 will examine the significance of Sundar Singh in Todd’s vision, as an example of the extraordinary relationship God wants us to have with Him, a life of devotion, humility, daily discipline, contemplative prayer, and daily soaking in, and seeking of God’s manifest presence. This style of Christian living will see us through the most violent shaking or trying times.”
AT THE MASTER’S FEET
“In this same vision, where I saw the Glory Cloud of Revelation cover believers, I also saw an old saint by the name of Sundar Singh who lived in the latter part of the 1800’s and early 1900’s in India. Then, the Holy Spirit spoke to me about this new release of prophetic revelation coming upon the church, similar to the anointing that was upon this man. It stirred my curiosity, and so I studied the life of Sundar Singh, and discovered that this early Punjabi evangelist experienced profound prophetic visions and encounters.
The Lord Himself regularly visited Sundar Singh. During these visitations, he would ask questions of the Lord and receive direct answers. At the Master’s Feet is a record of these question and answer times with the Lord. Sundar spoke to the Lord as Moses did face-to-face with God, as a friend speaks to a friend. In his writings, Singh describes his visions and experiences, but we also learn that he was humble, faithful, repentant, and spent much time in the presence of the Lord. This has come to be known as the Christian Contemplative Tradition.”
THE CHRISTIAN CONTEMPLATIVE TRADITION (LECTIO DIVINA)
“Sundar Singh spent at least two hours daily in reading the Scriptures, meditation and prayer. He would arise at 5:00 am and finish by 7:00 or 8:00 depending on what his schedule was for the day. He often spent the whole day or night in prayer. His discipline was to read one chapter of the Bible, rapidly at first reading, then to return to reread passages or verses that were more suggestive to him. These he would linger with and meditate on for as long as it was fruitful for him to do so. Next, he would enter into a period of ‘recollection’ for twenty minutes or so. This was a time of silence, in which he would allow the Lord to speak to him in some way. With his own mind and heart quieted, he opened his mind and his heart to hear what the Lord would have to say to him or just simply enjoy companionship with his Lord. Often this period of silence would extend into a deeper state called ‘contemplation’ in which he enjoyed complete rest and refreshment in the love of God.
Often during times of contemplation, he entered into experiences of ecstasy. He regarded these experiences as the same as St. Paul’s entrance into the ‘third heaven’. During his latter years, they occurred frequently, as often as ten times a month. About these experiences he said, ‘I never try to go into ecstasy; nor do I advise others to try. It is a gift to be accepted, but it should not be sought; if given, it is a pearl of great price.
Anyone who contemplates the heavenly calling of the apostle Paul and his being caught up into the third heaven, and again into Paradise, will lift up his voice to God and say: Glory to God who surely gives great gifts to men!” —www.freshfireusa.com/
So Todd had a vision of Sundar Singh sent by God did he? I think absolutely not and I rest my case! But then this story is kinda old news considering that 8 months after writing this article, Todd Bentley had to slip out the back door because of a then pending separation from his wife. Todd was having an affair with another woman during the Revival. Todd is now divorced and seeing the new lady in his life. Shocking!!! And people will still try tell you after all this that ‘God was definitely at Lakeland healing everyone’. OK, but which god? The one that invented adultery?
References: [1] sadhusundarsingh.homestead.com/files/story.htm [ 2] Meditations on Various Aspects of the Spiritual Life in the chapter “Finally All Men Will Return to God” [3] Cf. Sharpe, “Nathan Soderblom, Sadhu Sundar Singh and Emanuel Swedenborg,” cited in note 1 above. [4] Soderblom, Sundar Singh’s budskap urgivet och belyst (Stockholm 1923), p. 129. [6] Reproduced in letter from J. Goddard to the Editor of The New-Church Messenger (February 29, 1928), p. 140. [7] Reprinted in The Helper (January 2, 1929), p. 5. [8] 1bid. [5] 1bid., p. 217. Elijah List: www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/1400 , June 21 2006 Elijah List: www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/4206, June 22 2006 Freshfire: www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Act=read&status=teaching&Id=143&pid=954, June 21 2006 Freshfire: www.freshfire.ca/teaching_details.php?Id=142, June 20 2006 Links In A Golden Chain: © Copyright 1996, by Kathryn Lindskoog
www.consumingfire.com/sadhu.htm
At the Master’s Feet, Sundar Singh: www.ccel.org/ccel/singh/feet.vii.i.html , 4 June 2006 www.baysidechurch.org/studia/studia.cfm?ArticleID=113&detail=1&VolumeID=18&AuthorID=41
“The only reason for this was because it was supposedly easier for him to approach people and spread the Gospel”
Sounds like someone who was willing to become all things to all people so that the gospel might be proclaimed. Sounds like the Apostle Paul.
Did you leave your culture when you became a Christian?
>> Sounds like someone who was willing to become all things to all people so that the gospel might be proclaimed. Sounds like the Apostle Paul.
This is not about culture this is about different beliefs within culture. Please supply verse(s) where Paul remained a Pharisee after he became an Apostle for Jesus Christ?
You wrote:
Sundar seems to have ties with Swedenborgiana New Church (another Cult) in which Swedenborg (the visionary who established this diabolical church) also had visions very similar to Sundars.
Just an FYI: Swedenborg never established a church. No organization was started until after he died. More at [edited URL]
May the Lord continue to bless your day.
Clark
Clark
Thanks for that FYI. I’ll fix the article. This still does not mean a church was not established off Swedenborgs teachings.
Clark seems to have forgotten that Swedenborg started a whole new belief system which his followers call a new Christianity. Now, if Christianity is a movement of church goers who gather in buildings to worship the Lord, then Swedenborg’s followers must surely also gather toegether in buildings where they werve and worship their “Lord” who is not the Christian’s Lord but a new “Lord” of a “new Christianity.” Is’nt that a church? (Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedenborgian and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Church)
Would Clark mind explaining how Jesus Christ established his church after his death, resurrection and ascencion into heaven? Does that mean He never established a church (ecclesia)? The fact that an “organiztion” (organizations do not have doctrines pertaining to matters of life and death) was only started after Swedenborg’s death does not mean that he was not instrumental in the establishment of a new church (with a belief system and certain doctrines).
Hi Thooomaaaaaasssssss!
Good question… hope Clark can expand further.
I am from Sweden and I have NEVER seen a Swedenborg church.
James Hudson Taylor when moving to China became a Chinese to preach for them because they wouldn’t receive him as an English man.
Patrick
Well it just shows that you need to get out and about more.
But more importantly, what on earth has your comment got to do with the article? Ahhhh nothing. It does however tell the readers of this blog that you think Hindu mystics are biblical and that Word of Faith is Godly (as per your comment below). Oh you also think John Piper is ok as well and that everyone else is wrong exept you. https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2010/05/26/john-piper-accepting-one-mountain-with-all-the-others/#comment-15377
There is too much assumption in what you are saying about Sadhu Sundar Singh. Todd Bentley uses many other people besides sundar to justified waht he is doing. He definately had the wrong spirit. However Sadhu Sundar Singh did leave his old lifestyle behind. Just like any one of us, when we followed Christ , we leave our old lifestyle behind. The question here is do we penalize him because he wear an orange robe? Do we penalize the menonites becausde they wear a headdress? Do we penalize the chinese Christian because during somepart of their wedding they had to wear traditioonal chinese costume and cheong sam? Sundar was a punjabi. He minsters in the Indian subcontinent, so that type of dressing is totally acceptable. Thats their simple costume, a robe. Jesus wears a robe too. Sadhu simply means holy man in their language, hindi. but in that culture it refers to him as a teacher. They call Jesus a rabbi too? Is Jesus a Pharasee? In Laos and thailand they call pastors ‘Ajahn’, but they also call monks ‘ajahn’ too. Are they the same? In China, taiwan, singapore and malaysia, they call some one who teaches the word ‘lao shi’ but they also call taoist who teachesrs taoism ‘ lao shi’. In muslim culture, they call God ‘Allah’. But in malay and indonesia, the christians also call God ‘Allah’.Is muslim and Christian the same? Todd Bentley(whom i also believe is demon possessed himself) says he saw Sundar. That is liken to Saul seeing Samuel which is demonic in nature. so What todd bentley claims to see is not sahdu and could be a familar spirit.
Hubert
There are no assumptions. Sundar Singh was a Hindu Mystic. End of story.
There is a difference between wearing ordinary Indian attire and just sticking to the attire of the Hindu Sadhu’s. That is not called culture but religion. Yes, since I was born again, I have left everything that has to do with our traditional ancetral worship. I will not convert any of my loved ones by dressing up like a Sangoma. By looking like a sangoma, I will be auntheticating the practice to people instead of preaching to the then Christ.
I think, we should realise that people must believe, unto salvation, the Word concerning Christ.
Bernard
Exactly!
Hubert is right. If Sadhu was in any way trying to mislead others into thinking that he was not a Christian, then he failed miserably because he was nevertheless greatly persecuted for being one. Apart from his connection with Swedenborg, there is not much in Sadhu’s life that is questionable as to his Christian outlook and that includes universalism.
Doctrinal verification as a means for discernment seems to me to be yet another lie from Satan. From what I have learned, the only true children of God are those in whom an actual manifestation of the fruits of Holy Spirit are evident. If I really go by doctrines, then no one could be saved including Peter the apostle who failed to completely accept the gentile Christians together with the Jewish converts and arguably thereby demeaned the power of the blood of Christ to redeem, not to mention the personal mandate given to him concerning it, through a vision. May be he too was a false Christian after all. And while we are at it, why not falsify St. Paul who failed to see that Christ was not to return during his lifetime and only at the very end of his life does he seem to come to that conclusion as is inferable from his letters. Why accept his conversion as genuine, as well as his prophecies and visions, when clearly his greatest expectation was just wishful thinking.
All of this is just doctrinal fun to me. Probably all of us are going to hell for not keeping the saturday Sabbath as the Seventh Day Adventists would have me believe. Or they are all going to hell as you may have me believe. Or both sides are going to hell for equating Jesus to Jehovah, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses would have me believe. Or they could be going to hell for failing to see the ‘obvious’ oneness of Jesus with Jehovah. But one thing is certain, all the non-christians are going to hell – including Sadhu’s mother concerning whom he said that if she is in hell then I will ask God to send me hell so I can be with her. Of course, the hell-bounds also include the idolatrous Catholics, the pagan orthodox Christians, the mystical charismatics, and almost all the founders of Protestant reformation such as Luther who held on to the dubious sacrament of infant baptism.
Thus seriously looking at the doctrinal divide, I have learned to only judge by the Spirit. The aim of Christ was always to produce the fruits of Holy Spirit in men. So getting your doctrines right only satisfies the human carnality that seeks security concerning salvation through that knowledge. Knowing Christ, is the only true way to produce all the fruits in all their glory that pleases God. All other religions are either absolutely false or ‘incomplete’ as Sadhu would say. Drawing ever nearer to Christ may reveal to you the correct doctrines if you harbor any misleading ideas in your mind. Or it may not. In the end, only those who reflect the light of Jesus are right with God.
I discovered Sundar Singh at a very low point in my life and his sharings brought comfort to me especially about death and life after death. I hv wondered if he really encountered Jesus but most times it felt so right. From what he wrote I understood God’s love better, i lost that fear i always had about the wrath of God and instead of forcing myself to obey i now want to obey. Thru what the Lord taught him, i now yearn to be like my Father, like Him i want to be kind and merciful and forgiving. Is this from the devil? How can Satan divide his own house this way? Sundar Singh is all about love. Satan is all about hate and evil. Can God be put in a box that says He can’t use a sadhu? Didnt mother Teresa wear a sari?
tooki
>>I discovered Sundar Singh
So you discovered Sundar Singh instead of Jesus Christ the Son of God
>>I hv wondered if he really encountered Jesus but most times it felt so right.
No tookie, he encountered Satan, but because ‘it felt right to you’ and you didn’t test it to the Word of God you made your decision, that it was ok. Your emotions guided your thoughts and not the Bible.
>> From what he wrote I understood God’s love better, i lost that fear i always had about the wrath of God and instead of forcing myself to obey i now want to obey.
Again your emotions and feelings are guiding you. You believe Sundar Singh, who says he encountered Jesus Christ, over Jesus Christ who is the Word of God (Bible) – So in effect you have chosen ANOTHER Jesus, one that rejects the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
>> Thru what the Lord taught him, i now yearn to be like my Father, like Him i want to be kind and merciful and forgiving.
You yearn to be like Satan? Satan who came to Sundar Singh as an Angel of Light and gave him a FALSE Gospel Message that appeals to your sinful ways.
>> How can Satan divide his own house this way?
He is not dividing his own how, he is adding you to it.
>> Sundar Singh is all about love.
So is Satan’s false message of love.
>> Can God be put in a box that says He can’t use a sadhu? Didnt mother Teresa wear a sari?
No, God is found in the WORDS of the WORD OF GOD only and no where else. If you don’t like the WORDS found in the WORD OF GOD, then you are the one at ODDS with GOD and on Satan’s side, just like Mother Teresa who was a Roman Catholic was on Satan’s side.
“So he respects a demonic entity for its intellect and PURITY of life and then says because it lacked humility it would never attain knowledge of God. Oh please…you gotta be a complete twit to fall for that one!”
Are human beings now “demonic entities”? Buddha is not some supernatural being, it is a title for the Indian prince Siddartha Gautama, a human being.
Daniel
>> Are human beings now “demonic entities”? Buddha is not some supernatural being, it is a title for the Indian prince Siddartha Gautama, a human being.
The Indian prince Siddartha Gautama, IS a human being POSSESSED by Buddha. Buddha, just like Krishna, and Shiva are demonic beings.
This is not about culture this is about different beliefs within culture. Please supply verse(s) where Paul remained a Pharisee after he became an Apostle for Jesus Christ?
Try Acts 23:6 “I am a Pharisee, a Pharasee born and bred”
IT IS SO SAD IN THIS DISPENSATION IN THE GREAT COMMISSION.GO YE IN ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THIS GOSPEL OF PEACE.WHEN WE HAVE DEMON SPIRITS THAT POSSESS HUMAN BODIES ,WHO GO ABOUT CONDEMNING THE CALL OF EACH CHRISTIAN FROM THE WORLD AT LARGE WHO PREACHES THE PURE GOSPEL BY AN EXPERIENCE.I WILL REFER TO HUDSON TAYLOR FROM ENGLAND WHO DRESSED IN CHINESE COSTUME TO WIN THE LOST FOR CHRIST.WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF THE NEW GOSPEL 2014 WHEN THE ANGLO SAXON NATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE WHO HAS VIOLATED THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IN SUPPORTING THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR INVASION AND OCCUPATION WITH MASS GENOCIDE. VERY FEW HAVE CHOOSON THE WAY OF GOD BY SCRIPTURES, A SEPARATED LIFE UNTO GOD ALONE. I AS AN INDIAN FROM SOUTH AMERICA HAS BELIEVED THE TESTIMONY OF THIS SADU. SHOW ME THE PREACHERS OF THIS ERA WHO CAN LIVE LIKE THIS, VERY FEW. THE PREACHERS LIVED LUXERY.
liaqat ally
Necromancy is an abomination. Do you agree?
An ascetic lifestyle is hardly any proof that you belong to Jesus Christ.
Sadhu Sundar Singh preached another Jesus and NOT Jesus Christ of the Bible. If he had preached Jesus Christ of the Bible he would never have had practiced necromancy.
We can see also this critical analysis of the visions of heaven and hell including those of the Sadhu Sundar Singh :
http://reflexionsjesus.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/the-christian-eschatological-visions-put-into-question/
Those who critique Sundar Singh from Christianity on the basis of his background, nationality, language, attire and culture are missing the essence of Christianity – love and Inclusion!
Hari Har
His background, nationality, language, attire and culture aside. His universalism alone made him a heretic. Furthermore, necromancy (conversing with the dead like Swedenborg) is an abomination in the sight of God. Therefore it’s rather odd that you should focus on his culture and not on the things that made him a heretic.
This is the first time I have read such negative comments about a man who laid down his life serving Christ, and I was compelled to reply to such biased trash that you have poured down here. Sadhu was an Indian Christian, just like me (And like him, I am proud of being one). Stop judging people on the basis of their attire. Nowhere does it say that saffron clothes are attires of Hindus. And even if they are, I think judging a person’s religious beliefs on the basis of clothes he wears, would be nothing short of Pharisaical attitude Jesus would rebuke. I believe symbols like clothes can be redeemed, and that is what Sadhu did. Your article wreaks of judgmental spirit. Its a biased piece with so many wrong assumptions. For instance, Sadhu’s argument that only those whose faces are like Christ can enter heaven are not signs of heresy, but his understanding that we become like Christ as we live for him. Sundar Singh never claimed to have contacted dead (I have no idea from where you got it. I have read his biography several times). He never planted a church (I give you that!), but not planting a church is not considered heresy I m sure! Or else, many of the evangelists should be called heretics. And just a piece of information, Sadhu never fully depended on his feelings. He always told people to believe the Word of God, in case, his experiences contradicted with the Word of God. Sadhu not only repented of his sins, including tearing of the Bible when in school, but also preached the message of repentance very clearly to his hearers (read in his books some of the best analogies he uses to explain sin and redemption). He was one of the best communicator who used ample of analogies to proclaim the message of salvation, and was lucid in his communication of the gospel. He preached to more number of people than you and I, despite the fact that we have more technological benefits than he had) I hope you read books written by him before judging him so harshly.
Charles wrote,
What is your opinion of the following quote from his book “Visions of the Spiritual World. A Brief Description of the Spiritual State of Existence and the Destiny of Good and Evil Men, as Seen in Visions”
Who would you say were the spirits who visited him in his visions. Where did they come from?
Charles
Thank you Thomas for finding this quote. Charles as Thomas has asked so nicely I too ask nicely, who these spirits were that he conversed with and where did they come from?
Most of our critics attack us like a pack of wolves and when you answer them they run away like a litter of puppies with their tails between their legs. Charles is the the most recent example of this. He has just vanished into thin air. Remember, he’s the guy who said,
This is a typical example of those who follow their so-called heroes and not Christ and when you prove to them they are false, their euphoric little bubbles burst and they run away.
Hit and run
Twist and shout
Blab and grab…
God’s judgement will not just be on those false prophets….
Jer 14:16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
God’s judgment will also be upon those who call His true servants false prophets and heretics. Beware who you all condemn–you may be condemning YOURSELF!
Linda,
So, you see nothing wrong in the heinous sin of consulting the dead?
Take note, the LATTER Scripture is in the New Testament, not the Old.
Be careful, Linda, you may be condemning YOURSELF when you applaud and approve others who practice necromancy and are mediums.