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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

Speaking Out

Philip Yancey: Escaping the Bullets

A speaking tour in India led to a few close calls.

Philip Yancey | posted 12/08/2008 01:57PM

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We also visited a clothing workshop that makes high-fashion clothes for an outlet in Colorado organized by a friend. We met six beautiful, young Dalit women cutting out patterns and sewing silk jackets by hand, little guessing the tragic lives they had already lived. Our guide later filled us in: One was raped three times before she turned 14, another was kicked out of her home when she delivered a girl baby.

I must admit, it seemed surreal to drive in from the airport here and see all the cars proceeding in an orderly fashion in their respective lanes, with no cows, goats, or water buffalo wandering through traffic. The air is so clean. And the atmosphere so quiet: many trucks in India have a notice, "Okay, Honk Horn Please," painted on the back, the one traffic rule all Indian drivers unfailingly obey.

Ah, India. Longsuffering, magical, baffling, mysterious, chaotic — any adjective you can think of applies.

Related Elsewhere:

Philip Yancey's previous columns are available on our site.

Christianity Today also has a special section on India.

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December (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 53

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David Hermawan

Posted: December 15, 2008 11:00 AM

I come from Indonesia. As India, Indonesia has always been biased represented by the westerner medias. We are not that poor. Give us a break. Westerners often feel pity for us after they read such not-balanced put report. I am a Christian. Yes we face some difficulties. Yes we are persecuted. But please don't look on us as the unlucky one. We are struggling. We are developing. Please keep the open-minded perspective in viewing us as a nation. I belief we are created equal. Therefore, we have the same dignity as Americans have. Have a balanced perspective on us. After all, I respect Philip Yancey. However in this article, I have to disagree with him on his "hope India will have same life "quality" as westerners" paradigm.

SSW	Posted: December 14, 2008 1:19 AM

I am very sad to read the way the article concluded about India. The problem with western missionaries is the way they present India. Whenever I return to India, on the way from airport to home I am relieved to see that there are no porno shops and gay bars. I am grateful that there is still a strong family system here. The western life may be clean and orderly but far from morality and values. It is also a materilistic society. To be a Christian and an Indian is a great blessing. I would not trade it for a life in the west. Dirty and noisy, yes but simple, relationships and values is what makes India the country of choice. This attitude injures the Church in India more than any other.

L_Canby

Posted: December 11, 2008 1:10 AM

Namasté Philip and Janet, Very glad to learn that you were not physically hurt during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights into the changes taking place in the urban areas of India as contrasted with India's larger, ancient culture. Since you are experienced globe-trotters, I am curious about what parallels and differences you see in terms of social, economic and evangelistic progress in India and the continent of Africa? LC

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