Awake

Wisdom of the Sadhu: Teachings of Sundar Singh (A Book Report)

Wisdom of the Sadhu: Teachings of Sundar Singh is a unique anthology of the writings and words of a Sundar Singh, a wandering holy man who lived from 1889-1929. To be completely linear about a totally non-linear book and teacher, there are three things that struck me about this book.

The first thing that fascinated me was Sundar Singh's actual teachings. He had a very consistent, authentic and simple way of what I would call "presenting the gospel." This presentation was boldly and courageously infused with every aspect of his being. And he was a person whose heart and soul was so saturated with the life and love of God. Words that flow from such a life are themselves deeply drenched and dripping with the peace that comes from knowing the love of God.

The second thing that struck me was the way in which Sundar presented his teaching. The dialogue and conversation, the parables and stories, the common questions answered with uncommon responses, the inevitable and purposeful acknowledgement of the tension between Western and Eastern thought and belief, discipleship and religion -- all of this was instructive of a way of presenting the gospel, of advancing the kingdom, of following Jesus that sharply contrasts with traditional Western methods of doing these things. It is a very attractive pedagogy.

Both Sundar's teaching and presentation were exceptional and refreshing and food for much thought and action; but, there is one more thing that I believe is a most valuable lesson of this book. This observation is set within the framework of the question, "Why would they have us read this book as preparation for a short three-week mission trip to India anyway?"

What finally struck me about two-thirds the way through was that a materialistic, ethnocentric Western church has little place instructing a people of deep spiritual heritage about peace with God. But there’s a big "unless" here: Unless the people of the Western body of Christ awaken from what is an effective spiritual coma, induced by the love of money and material things. The Church must declare to the West a call of repentance – to leave a life of idolatry to the almighty dollar -- and call for true discipleship -- to follow and serve with everything the living Christ. Until this is done in the power and work of the Spirit, there will continue to be little use for the Western church in the Eastern hemisphere. (This is not to say that God does not do many things in spite of the heavy baggage Westerners bring into its well-intentioned mission to the East, nor to say that all Westerners that go into the East as missionaries are ethnocentric and materialistic. Read on…)

Indeed, the teachings of Sundar Singh simply call the Western Church to understand and recognize its own ethnocentric and materialistic cultural values that it brings to the world in a very dominating and powerful fashion. This call I think underscores the vital importance of cross-cultural training in the church if Westerners especially are to experience witnessing God's presence and kingdom as it exists in the East. Furthermore, I believe this book affirms a strategy of building up the Indian body of believers: training and sending out Indian evangelists, pastors and teachers to the farthest reaches of the earth -- both within India and without (instead of sending Westerners). This is, I believe, the strategy currently being employed and pursued by my church through partnerships with various people and organizations in India. And for that I am thankful and excited to be a part!

Finally, I pray that my own life will be an authentic expression of love and service to God and neighbor as I daily receive the gift of faith that enables me to receive the gifts of grace and "release," which are freely given by the only truly loving, peace-giving and living God and Savior.

And that someday, I will be able to tell a story as good as Sundar Singh.