Expert: Susan Milillo - 8/18/2009

Question
Dear Ma'am,

I have decided to become a Protestant Christian. However I have some questions:

1. I will be staying with my parents (who are staunch Hindus) for 1 year. So in this 1 year, I cannot take any "visible" steps towards Christianity. I really want to be a Christian, and be proud about it. And I don't want to hurt my family. If I tell them about my becoming a Christian, they will disown me and get deeply hurt. I am so confused about how to manage this situation. And right now, is there anything I can do without getting baptized? I am not a scripture oriented person. I just want to lead my life as Jesus taught. Can you please suggest me a simple lifestyle till I get baptized?

2. I want to know why there are denominations within Protestantism.

3. There is a Protestant Church in my city that I have been to once. Since I am a Hindu now, I feel somewhat weird and a little scared as to how the Pastor and others may feel and react. Is it normal? And what should be my first step towards becoming a Christian?

4. How should I pray to Jesus? I don't have His photo. Is that required? What is the "method" to pray to Him?

5. Should I change my name on baptism?

Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Shruthi

Answer
Dear Shruthi,

   Please forgive the delay in my response.   Your questions are very consequential, and I want to make sure I give them my full attention.
   I am so excited to read what you say about how you want to live your life as Jesus taught.  He has touched you, and opened your eyes.
   The ONLY step towards becoming a Christian, is to ask Jesus to be your Savior from sin - to come in and wash your heart clean, and give you new life, and bestow on you HIS righteousness.
   Then you are His child !
   Once you are 'reborn' in this way, through Him . . . . you do not need to change your name, even once you are baptized.  You do not need a photo of him to pray to Him.  "God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (Jn. 4:23) You just speak to Him, and He listens to you. When He becomes your Savior, He indwells your spirit at all times, so He is always listening.
   I understand your meaning, that you don't want to be 'visible' in your Christian practice so as not to offend or upset your parents.   I would advise , don't go out of your way to make a visual 'performance' of your new-found faith just to be dramatic; but also, you need to realize and acknowledge that if you live your life for Jesus, the way He taught, it WILL show in your life.  It is impossible to hide.  I would say, if baptism is something that you feel will be especially upsetting to your parents, you could wait till you move out -- but at the same time, won't they be upset no matter when you do it ?  And it is Jesus' teaching for you to be baptized - it is not what saves you - but it is a public declaration of your faith in Christ, which is important to make.  There is a passage in the Bible that I think you should read. It may not all apply to you at this point in time, but be open to what Jesus may say to you through His Word.  I'm not sure if you have a Bible of your own -- It's a little long... I hope you can read it. The reference is Matthew 10:16-39.  But I will type out a couple of the verses here for you:   

"Therefore, whoever confesses Me (Jesus speaking to His disciples) before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.  Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  (vs. 32-42)   

    The simple lifestyle which you seek, to live as a new Christian, would be as follows: read the Bible every day, and pray to the Lord Jesus, and do what His Word (the Bible) says.  This is the single way to make your faith grow, and to follow Him.
    There are denominations in Protestantism because we are encouraged to read the Bible for ourselves and trust the Lord to help us interpret what we read.  Therefore, there are differences in opinion as to what interpretations of key doctrines are.  For one thing, different denominations emphasize different aspects of the truth, but also different denominations have come to interpret different passages of Scripture differently.    But all true protestant, evangelical denominations have the one most important thing in common, which is salvation of the soul by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone.
     To pray to Jesus, you can kneel on the floor, or you can spread your hands to heaven, or . . . any way at all - you can even pray to Him in any position at all, it does not matter. He will hear  you whether you are closing your eyes (which is usually the best way to block out distractions) or whether you just make a quick prayer for wisdom while you are having a conversation, for example.   All the Lord requires is a humble heart before Him. It's more about the position of your HEART than the position of your body.   "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
     Sure , the anxiety you feel at going to the Protestant church and interacting with the Christians there, is perfectly normal.  You wonder what they may think of you, and maybe they wonder what you may think of them!  But I wouldn't worry, or let this keep you from going.  You have much to gain from relationship with them.  As a matter of fact, the Lord commands us to 'not give up meeting (with other Christians) as is the habit of some....'(Hebrews 10:25)  AND, I want to add, they have much to gain from relationship with you, too.  There is much that in time you could teach them about where you come from with your religious history, and you could help them understand how best to share your faith with a Hindu, for example.
     Thank you Shruthi, so much, for the honor of being able to help guide you towards Jesus.
This is one of the most fulfilling and exciting endeavors I have ever undertaken.
"The Lord Himself loves you" (cannot find reference, sorry)
"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace" Numbers 6:24-26  

Much love in the dear Lord Jesus,
Susan M.