RSS' Mohan Bhagwat and Mother Teresa

The saffron brigades have once again made an unkind remark on the Christians in India. This time specifically by saying that Mother Teresa's work is not as worthy or valuable as theirs because the former had conversion as the motive while the latter's motive is just to serve. 

There are so many Christian educational institutions and healthcare centre in the country. Millions of people have benefited from the services provided by these institutions. The motivation for these institutions is the love of Christ Jesus; no doubt there But what is the purpose for their existence? Why is there an educational institution -- to provide education or to convert people to Christianity? Why is there a hospital -- to provide healthcare or to convert people to Christianity? For RSS, the answer is clear -- to convert people to Christianity. 

Christianity is a missionary religion and so there are so many organisations that work to bring people to Christ. But institutions that are set up to provide healthcare, social service or education are there to provide for what they are set up. Mother Teresa set up a home to care for the poorest of the poor, and that institution is to care for the poorest of the poor. There are those who may ask why the cost is so low there when it's just so high outside or why such a  well qualified person is working there when an outside job would fetch so much more money. Well, you have to tell the truth there-- the love of Christ motivates. If a person is impressed by the answer and want to follow Christ, he is welcome to do so. However, these institution or the workers will not say ' become a Christian, and you will be given a job or better service'. Christians don't do that and ought not do that. 

What is there that is so difficult for RSS to make sense of this aspect of 'service'? Hatred or ignorance? The religion that RSS follows teaches against hatred. So though there may be a few of them who are driven by hatred, this may not be pervasive. So I would think that it's due to ignorance -- Ignorance of what Christianity is or who Christ is. But ignorance is not a bliss. The longer time RSS spends in ignorance, the more frequent its blunder will be. RSS may as well be doing so much of community service. But understanding why Christians too are providing service will not be harmful. I think it would rather help every one.