Christianity - A Journey from Facts to Fiction — Page 161
Christianity Today 161 rapidly with such a firm step. It is not a cult, nor is it a popular craze. It is a serious message, an uphill task which requires great effort and discipline on the part of those who venture to follow it. Those who follow it do so by accepting grave responsibilities that are to be discharged throughout their lives. It is almost as austere as the early Essene society. To accept Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s as claim as the Promised Messiah is not hobnobbing with romance, but is a commitment of a lifetime. Those who get initiated in his Community have to deny most of the vain pleas- ures of their lives, not in the style of the ascetics and the hermits, but with a deep conviction, commitment, satisfaction and con- tentment of heart that enables them to sacrifice and persevere in his cause to a high degree of excellence. He has created a world- wide community which has no equal in financial sacrifice. All earning members of the Community commit themselves to pay at least a sixteenth of their income towards the noble cause. The spirit of voluntary sacrifice and the amount of voluntary labour which is performed throughout the world is mind boggling. Yet all this is done without the least coercion of any type. Those who are able to put in their share of labour or financial offerings consider themselves fortunate to be able to do so. This is a community that is entirely independent in its financial affairs. This universal system of voluntary contribution is being exercised for the last hundred years with remarkable purity and moral integrity. Therein lies the secret of its success in maintain- ing its independence from outside influences for over a century. That, however, is only one angle of observation. Looking at the quality of his followers from other angles provides no less a