India - 330 Million "gods"

Sai Baba Temple at Machilipatnam

Here is the break down of religion in India:
Hindu - 81%
Muslim - 14%
Christian - 2%

They are big, they are small, they are everywhere - even on the beach.
So much so that you kind of forget what they are and what they are saying.
I know this seems simple, but if you think about the poverty in India, it seems to me a major part of that comes from trying to make 330 million gods happy by bringing offerings and building them temples that require constant up-keep.

According to the "Asset Mapping" we did with the pastors, each church sees only two salivations per year.
Many who may choose to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior do not do so publicly because of the harsh consequences.
Being a "Christian" is considered one of the lowest levels in the caste system of India.
Therefore very few own property, farms, stores or business.

While talking to Raju I asked him if it was really true that India had 330 million gods and a temple every 100 feet.
Yes, he said but, we have the only God who has risen from the dead.
I explained that I had a hard enough time with just one God let alone 330 million of them.
Later as I processed this conversation I also remembered we have a "Savior" not a god and what He gives us is a gift and we get this gift with out works, it is free.

The book of Romans seems to be speaking right to the heart of the matter.
Not to mention Paul's point - that what I don't want to do I do and what I do I don't want to do.
Jesus gave us salvation and it isn't by our works - it is a gift.
Period.
End of story.