Wise men from the East
The Feast of Epiphany is the feast of the manifestation of Jesus as Saviour of the world. In the three magi, we have the representatives of the Eastern nations who were among the first to pay homage to the new born Child of Bethlehem and receive the Good tidings of salvation. And yet even after two thousand years, Asia, the Eastern continent, is the least Christian continent in the world. Today, on the Feast of Epiphany, as we look at the three kings from the East kneeling before the child and presenting him with gifts, we, people of the East, should seriously ponder over the words Samuel Hugh Moffett in his introduction to the 'History of Christianity in Asia'. He writes,
“All the great religions of the world were born in
Asia. Why is it that Christianity, which is larger and more than any one of
them, spread more slowly in the land of its birth than on any other continent
on Earth?
Buddha was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Buddhists live in Asia. Confucius was born in Asia and most of the world’s Confucianists live in Asia. Hinduism was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Hindus live in Asia. Mohammad was born in Asia, and most of the world’s Muslims live in Asia. Abraham was born in Asia, and the only Jewish nation in the world is in Asia. Jesus was born in Asia. But statistically, at least, Asia is the least Christian continent in the world.
Why is it that if judged by the total reported number of members and adherents of the world’s Christian Churches, Latin America is 92.7% Christian, North America is 84.5 percent Christian, Oceania is 82.6 percent Christian, Europe is 76.5 percent Christian, Africa is 45.6 percent Christian, but Asia is at the most 8.5 percent Christian?”
- - Fr T.V.George sdb, Feast of Epiphany
A good point indeed! But I think there is a different perspective from which we can look at this phenomenon of Christianity not having greater numbers in the Asian Continent where it was born.
ReplyDelete• That is: this is precisely what the uniqueness of Christianity is about, compared to the other religions.
• This is exactly what EPIPHANY points to: Christ did not come only for one continent or one group of people! He came for all the Nations. He was manifested beyond the boundaries of Israel, and Asia!
• Unlike other religions which grew where it was born and stayed there as a majority religion, Christianity grew and became strong across the nations! CHRIST CAME TO EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF PEOPLES!