Thread by @mahesh10816

I had an interesting conversation with a Christian Pastor (CP)
Me :Good Morning
CP :Morning, nice meeting you
Me : what's your name
CP :David Suresh
Me :David Christian name , suresh is a Hindu name. Are you a convert ?
CP :No iam a born Christian , my father got liberated

Me :What do you mean by liberated
CP :those who worship Idols are sinners, they are Satan's my father got liberated from committing Sins
Me :So you guys don't worship Idols ?
CP :No never
Me :Why do you have statue of Jesus Christ in each church & house.Aren't those Idols?

CP : (long silence ) You see Jesus died for Us.

Me : How can God die? Why should He die for your sins? Does He have no power to free you from your sins without suffering Himself ?

CP : you don't understand

Me : in .BhagavadGita Lord Krishna says in ; aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. I will deliver you from all the sins, do not fear. And He does not have to suffer or die for that, thats why He is God. Why should God die to save you ?

CP : you should read Bible

CP : But I have strong faith that Jesus will save me from my sins

Me : Faith is not enough, you have to stop sinning. How many times does he have to die for you before you stop sinning

CP : No one can claim that he is sinless

Me : Yes, that is true. But we shouldl do our best to avoid sin

CP : Yes I agree

Me : We should be truthful, merciful to other living beings, keep our minds and deeds pure,practice austerity. All religions should teach these basic principles.These are the 4 pillars of religion

CP : I agree

Me : The Vedas says that there are four sins which we shall always avoid, otherwise they will destroy those four pillars of religion.

CP : what 4 sins

Me : Meat eating, illicit sex, gambling, intoxication.

CP : why meat eating ?

Me : It's sinful

Me :It is wrong to kill innocent animals just for the sake of our tongue.Why should we cause unnecessary suffering to other living beings. Better to stop it by avoiding meat eating. The commandment is there in Bible “Thou shalt not kill”

CP :But that refers to killing of a man.

Me : Thou shalt not kill means thou shalt not kill anyone. Meat eating is the direct disobedience of the Lord’s instructions. If you love Him, you cannot be disobedient to His orders. And if you are disobedient, your love is not true.

CP : Many Hindus are eating meat too

Me : Again you are speaking about Hindus. Muslims, Christians, these are all designations, but here we are discussing how to follow the laws of God. He says we should not kill, so we shouldn’t kill. All of us.

CP : But .,

Me : Otherwise we are sinners, and we are not going to develop mercifulness towards other living beings, and what to speak of loving God.

CP :Still I think that the main point is to have faith. If I believe in Jesus – that is enough.

Me : But it seems that you do not believe him when he says thou shalt not kill. I believe him, and simply by following Lord Krishna’s teachings  I amautomatically following all  the 10 commandments and much more.

Me : So the true followers of Jesus or Krishna, must avoid sinful life, follow the laws of God, and glorify Him by chanting His name.

CP : We have only one God

Me : Who ?

CP : Jesus

Me : But Jesus says that he's son of God , then who is God ?

CP : Well, there are three things. The father, son and the holy spirit.

Me : So there are three God's ?

CP : No they are all one

Me : seems like a big confusion

Me : Who is your God , Jesus or Jehave ?

CP : there is even more confusion in Hinduism , there are so many God's

Me : The ones who are confused are only the ignorant people who do not read the scriptures. The Vedas say God is one, there are no two Gods

Me:The Sastras describe 33 crores of demigods (God empowered beings) who are all engaged in management of universal affairs under the guidance of one Supreme Lord; Krishna. It is just like in the government where you have many ministers but ultimately one PM above them all.

CP : All those devatas with elephant heads and many arms look to me like imagination.

Me : Those are Devatas superior to us and they have different powers, abilities and different bodies. The same thing you will find in the Bible, the angels – humans with the wings.

CP : But the Gita is written by man, and the Bible is the word of God, how it can be the same?

Me : No, in the Bhagavad-gita God speaks Himself, and the Bible is written by so many people like Paul, Mark, Luke etc.

CP : But Jesus says that he is the only way and the only truth.

Me : Lord Krishna says in .BhagavadGita there is no truth superior to Him, and that one should surrender to Him only.

CP : hmm

Me : Jesus said that he is the son of God, and Krishna says: aham bija pradah pitah I am the seed giving father.

CP : You seem to be learned

Me : Iam just learning , by the way how can you do violence in the kitchen & talk of love & peace in the living room ?

CP : Hmm. You are making me think. You have a point. Visit me home one day. ( hands over his visiting card )

Me : Sure I will 🙏

Thank you all for your amazing response , truly humbled 🙏🙏🙏