186 Book Review

186 Lessons from India BookReviews reach out to all time and place.” In contrast to this portrayal of a The Sharpe book does an excel- psychologically confused mystic is the lent job of recounting the debate continuous report from contemporaries over the authenticity of Singh’s about Singh’s authenticity in personal life, his exploits and encounters presence. For example, Sharpe reports in the Himalayas, his mysti- that the incisive Christo Samaj leader cism and his visions (especially Chenchiah wrote, “He was incompara- his encounters with Emanuel bly superior to all that I had thought of Swedenborg as an “angel”). him.” Nonetheless, the critic would ask The book also explores the if the Christo Samaj leaders also were ecclesiastical/theological context blindly seeking in this sadhu a demon- of the West at the time and strable proof for their Indian convic- how Singh was used as a foil tions just as the Western Christians in those politics and debates. were seeking for themselves. That history helps us reflect on That is “The Riddle of Sadhu Sundar how we in the West still use Singh” as outlined by Sharpe. Does our overseas converts to buttress reaction to Singh reveal much more our faith (and how Christians about ourselves than it does about him? of the East might enjoy being I read these two books simultaneously used/featured/adulated!), our and intermittently. I recommend that contributions and our ecclesias- readers do likewise. It might lead you tical politics. to the same place it led me: it doesn’t The book edited by Comer matter. Like the Hindu intellectuals of ignores that debate. Comer con- a century ago I come to Sadhu Sundar cludes the book lifting up Singh Singh not to be my missionary hero as a great Christian hero whose but to be my practical paradigm. I have “significance [lies] in the devo- always considered Singh to be the one tion and selflessness with which authentically Indian theologian. he spread the Gospel, and in the Singh was not a theologian of the mind Wisdom of the Sadhu:Teachings of sincerity with which he lived what he but of a “devoted Christian heart” says Sundar Singh preached” (pp. 197-98). The critics cited Sharpe. He is the Christian paradigm of Edited by Kim Comer. Plough by Sharpe would cynically snarl that we the Indian “bhakti” (devotion) tradition. Publishing, Sussex, England; OM want such heroes to make us feel better He is the Indian paradigm of “evoca- Books, Secundarabad, India, 2000, and stronger. We don’t want to consider tive” rather than logical theologizing 208 pages the facts that may destroy our cherished (cf. Churchless Christianity, pp. 252-53, image. The Riddle of Sadhu Sundar Singh William Carey Library, 2001). He is By Eric J. Sharp. Intercultural Sharpe also struggles to preserve some the paradigm for authentically Indian Publications, Delhi, forthcoming semblance of authenticity in Singh’s preaching and evangelizing. image. He is willing to attribute the ––Reviewed by Dr. Herbert Hoefer, Wisdom of the Sadhu, therefore, is a more amazing ––and unverifiable treasure trove of analogies, stories and Concordia University, Portland, Oregon ––claims of the sadhu’s life to his mysti- parables for practical Indian theology. It cism. In this interpretation, Singh has is the kind of theologizing that reaches Sadhu Sundar Singh: Hero or not attempted intentionally to deceive. the heart. For the Indian, that is where Paradigm? He lived in the world of mystical any authentic spirituality must take In reading these two books, I was visions as much as in the “real” world. place. reminded of the debate over the histori- His encounters with ancient Christian cal Jesus during the very days of Sadhu “rhishis”(sage) and his miraculous Singh gives us a Christian paradigm Sundar Singh’s life (1889–1933, hereaf- deliverances in Tibet were of the same for the Buddhist koan and the Hindu ter referred to as Singh). The reaction of reality to him as his encounters with metaphor. We leap beyond logic and intellectual Hindus was, “To us it makes the “angel” Swedenborg. Sadhu Sundar beyond history to eternal insight. We no difference if Jesus ever lived or not. Singh, then, is not a charlatan; he’s just become mystical, where all theology His teachings are what matter, what deluded. begins. International Journal of Frontier Missions.

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