Faith
Bishop Calls Indian Church Back to First Love
Faith Facts
- Bishop P.K. Samantaroy urged believers at AICOCIM in New Delhi to renew their commitment to Christ and embrace the mission field outside the church’s walls.
- He called for a return to Biblical foundations, highlighting the need for strong discipleship and bold evangelism modeled by figures like Sadhu Sundar Singh and William Carey.
- Samantaroy warned against empty rituals and commodification of faith, calling every Christian to actively share the Gospel and love all neighbors as children of God.
Bishop P.K. Samantaroy addressed Christian delegates in New Delhi, expressing gratitude to God for the Church’s growth, yet lamenting missed opportunities to transform society for Christ. Reflecting on Pentecost, he urged the Church to move beyond comfort, spreading the Good News to all people as true witnesses in love and humility.
“The church does not exist for itself,” he said. “We do not come to the church to remain in the church but to go out. That is the very basic purpose of being a Christian.”
He warned against shallow foundations, noting that without deep discipleship and faith formation from childhood, believers may falter in trials. Bishop Samantaroy called for lives that daily reflect God’s glory and reconciliation, emphasizing genuine relationships with fellow citizens and persistent love in action.
Looking to Christian forerunners, he pointed to Sadhu Sundar Singh’s sacrificial choice of the Gospel over earthly riches and William Carey’s lifelong dedication to serving and uplifting India through education and Scripture translation.
“If you find a pearl, you sell everything else to make it your own,” he said, quoting the gospel to reveal true spiritual treasure found in Christ and His mission.
Bishop Samantaroy cautioned that the Church in India risks losing its “first love” by replacing true faith with commercialized rituals and superficial comforts.
“My heart pains when I see this,” he said. “We are still feeding people with milk, not with solid food.”
He insisted every Christian be an evangelist, ending delegation of Gospel witness, explaining that each congregation’s faithfulness depends on its missional action and sacrificial love.
“Love knows no bounds,” he said.
Let us remain steadfast in faith, push back against worldly compromises, and boldly share Christ’s love with our neighbors, seeking revival in our own hearts and in our nation.