Sharing the Gospel with a Hindu friend or relative requires a thoughtful, respectful, and patient approach. I am grouping my thoughts into three key sections: Approach, Best Gospel Content, and Common Ground. Remember it as ABC of Gospel Sharing!
1. Approach
Building good rapport and a genuine friendship is powerful preparation for sharing the Gospel. This may involve investing time, earning their trust, building friendship, and showing sincere interest in their life, family, culture, and beliefs. However, I recognize that we may not always have the opportunity to build such a deep relationship with everyone we meet. In those moments, if an opportunity to share the Gospel arises, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and proceed.
Conversation Starters:
- Indirect (Opening the Door to Deeper Topics):
- “What do you believe about God?” or “If there is God, why do you think there’s so much suffering in the world?”
- “Do you ever think about life’s bigger questions, like ‘Why are we here?’ or ‘What happens after we die?'”
- “Have you ever felt a strong sense of guilt or regret after doing something you knew was wrong? What do you do with that feeling, and how do you overcome it?”
- Direct (When Rapport is Established):
- “I’ve found answers to life’s big questions in the Bible. Would you be open to me sharing some of what I’ve learned for a few minutes?”
- “I heard a wonderful message last Sunday in church. Would you like me to share it with you?”
- “I’ve realized there’s something important about my faith that I’d like to share with you. Can we talk for a few minutes?”
- Recently, I have been using a direct approach of asking my relatives/friends 30 minutes to share something important (creating a curiosity!), Then, once a time is set, I proceed with sharing the Gospel, and they appreciated it!
2. Best Gospel Content
It’s essential to learn the basic contents of the Gospel and master their communication in your own words. A helpful exercise is to write down what you would say when sharing the Gospel with someone. Initially, you might refer to your notes, explaining that the message is so important you want to be clear and accurate. However, with practice, you’ll soon be able to share without notes.
What do I mean by Best Gospel Content? As we grow in Christ, our understanding of the glory of the Gospel expands. Therefore, we should continually strive to improve our Gospel content and presentation.
My current preferred Gospel content is structured around five logical questions that people can easily follow and understand:
- Who is God?
- Who is Man?
- Who is Jesus Christ?
- What’s in it for me?
- What should I do?
You can find detailed content for these questions at: https://grbcindia.com/2025/04/25/gospel-in-5-questions/
3. Common Ground
Hinduism is a diverse collection of traditions, beliefs, practices, and philosophies. It has different concepts of ‘sin’ (Karma), ‘heaven’ (Moksha), reincarnation after life, and so on. While a general understanding of these concepts can be helpful, it’s not necessary to know them.
It’s crucial to understand that using Hindu scriptures to try and prove Christ’s deity is unbiblical and can be counterproductive (see foot notes). Our primary job is to clearly present the Biblical Gospel with a personal testimony. We should avoid intellectual debates or endless arguments aimed at winning or demonstrating the superiority of one religion over another. It’s vital never to degrade or disrespect any of their beliefs or gods.
A significant challenge with Hindus is their complete unfamiliarity with the Bible, and they may not readily accept its authority. So, where do we begin? Any orderly Gospel presentation should start with an understanding of who God is and the concept of sin. Without these two realities, the presentation of Christ’s work may seem irrelevant.
- God: Even though Hindus may not believe in the Bible, we can leverage the revelation of God found in nature. By pointing to the beauty, wisdom, power, and goodness evident in the visible world, we can lead them to an understanding of a holy and righteous Creator God, as revealed in Scripture. Paul exemplified this in Acts 17, where he spoke of God as the Creator, sustainer of life, who gives life, breath, and all things, and one who “is not far from any one of us.” This resonates with common human experiences and the innate awareness of a higher power.
- Sin: While Hindus may not understand the Biblical concept of sin initially, we can appeal to their universal moral conscience by explaining the spiritual demands of God’s Law (like the Ten Commandments). Remember, through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Appealing to their internal sense of right and wrong transcends cultural specifics, as God has written His law in every human conscience. I’ve often seen keen interest when explaining the consequences of Eve’s sin on woman and Adam’s sin on man, as these are universal human experiences. Many Hindus are deeply spiritual seekers and often understand the feelings of guilt and the importance of sacrifices.
Practical Tips for Sharing
- Be Patient and Prayerful: Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our role is a clear, logical, and loving presentation of God’s message, accompanied by prayer. Leave the results to God. Pray consistently and follow up with your Hindu friend.
- Share Your Personal Testimony: Explain why you believe and the transformative difference the Gospel has made in your own life.
- Invite them to Church: Encourage them to come to church to learn more. If you sense initial hesitancy to enter a church building, share the church’s website and YouTube channels, encouraging them to listen to messages online.
Footnote:
Some individuals attempt to use Hindu scriptures to point to Christ. For example, the Sahasranamavali (a Hindu hymn with 1000 names of God often used by priests) is sometimes cited for phrases like “Brahmaputra” (son of Creator), “Kanni Sudhaya” (virgin-born), or “Tharithra Narayanaya” (God who became poor), suggesting an exact reference to Jesus Christ. However, such methods of Gospel sharing are not only unbiblical but also dilute and compromise the Gospel’s exclusivity. They can also lead to practical problems, such as the person believing in the divine inspiration of Hindu scriptures or perceiving attempts to prove the superiority of another religion using their own texts as deeply offensive and disrespectful. I do not believe the Holy Spirit uses such methods for the conversion of a soul.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 