by william g. wells  

The curious crowd of Indians parted to make way for the strangely dressed man. His long beard was marked by a serious expression, his turban wrapped tightly around long, uncut hair. He walked over to the unconscious leper, an outcast, and gently picked him up. “Do not ask for the caste!” he shouted to the crowd, who watched horrified at this violation of Hindu caste law. “There is no caste in the next world!”

Sikhs (pronounced SEEKS) may not be familiar to most teens but you may have seen them stereotyped in the movies (remember “Punjab,” friend to little orphan Annie?). They appear to be fierce warriors with curved swords, yet their teachings preach tolerance, peace and the abolition of castes (social classes). This movement was begun by the Guru Nanak as a challenge to a medieval world dominated by Hindus and Muslims. The Hindus upheld caste law, separating people according to social class. Meanwhile, the Muslims worshipped Allah with little room for tolerance of non-Muslims.

Even more important to Nanak than social reform was his belief that his god should be worshiped not through ritual, but through continual prayers to the “True Name.” Nanak believed he could reconcile both Hindus and Muslims to a better path of worshipping the true god who could never be named.

Since the time of Guru Nanak, nine gurus (official heads of the Sikh religion) followed, after which it was declared there would be no more human gurus. The “guru” for Sikhs today is the Granth, the words of Nanak. Although Sikhism is not very popular in the United States (just over 250,000 in the United States, 20 million worldwide), it does continue to grow as its followers appeal to people with the simplicity of their beliefs and the positive moral code they promote. Most Sikhs today live in Punjab in India. Check out the comparison of beliefs chart and then read on to see the striking similarities—and the profound differences between Sikhism and Christianity.

Belief in One God
Like Muslims, Jews and Christians, Sikhs believe in only one true God. Sikhs reject the polytheism (belief in many gods) of the Hindu and focus on worshiping the god who creates, sustains and destroys all life in the universe. The Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are only disciples to God and not truly “gods” at all. Rather than name God, who is “unknowable,” Sikhs refer to God as the “True Name” and one of their most important observances is repetition of “True Name” as a simple act of devotion to God. Names like Allah or Yahweh, Nanak claimed, limit God and should be avoided.

Reincarnation + Salvation
Like Hindus, Sikhs accept reincarnation and the law of karma as reality, which can only be escaped by worship and obedience to God. Salvation is possible but not heaven or paradise. Salvation results in absorption into God—what Hindus call nirvana.

way of Life
Sikhs believe in the importance of respecting women and allowing them to participate in worship. Devout Sikhs do not cheat, gamble, steal, drink alcohol or use drugs. They strive to engage in hard work to make an honest living, be faithful to their spouses and show compassion to those who are less fortunate. All Sikhs begin their day with this prayer: “There is but one God whose name is True, the creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great and bountiful. The True One was in the beginning; the True One was in the primal age. The True One is, was, and the True One also shall be. So says Nanak.”

compared to christianity
Christians can strongly relate to many of the beliefs that Sikhs hold dear, especially as Sikhism tries to “correct” some of the religious excesses of Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs reject the idea of “priests” having special access to God, teaching that anyone who follows God may have a relationship with Him. Similarly, many Christians hold dear the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. For Sikhs, no living person has religious authority over them personally, choosing rather to follow the teachings of their scriptures (the Adi Granth). Sikhs reject infant baptism for the same reason Baptists promote believer’s baptism, emphasizing that each individual must come to a personal understanding and decision. All of these similarities are important bridges in building relationships between Sikhs and Christians.

However, there are several very important differences between the two faiths that make them incompatible. Sikhs reject the deity of Christ and the reality of heaven and hell. Their scripture is the Adi Granth, not the Bible. Most importantly, Sikhs do not look to a relationship with Jesus as the key to living here on earth or for hope hereafter.

sharing with sikhs
By building on common concerns of Sikhs and Christians, believers may find an open door to share their personal faith with Sikhs. Of course, no matter what faith a person holds, remember to exercise love and compassion in everything you say and do, and pray for God’s guidance in sharing. (Tips courtesy of The Interfaith Evangelism team at the North American Mission Board.)

01  Establish positive relationships with Sikhs. Let them see Christ’s love lived out in you. Give them Bibles in easily read English and be prepared to talk with them about what they read.

02  Be aware of the similarities between Sikhs and Christians, such as belief in one God and the need for a relationship with God. Lead them to God’s teachings about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Savior.

03  Invite Sikhs to attend a Christian worship service and explain the meaning and purpose of each part of the service. Help them understand “churchy” terms like new birth, salvation and worship.

04  Emphasize the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as humanity’s Savior and as God’s perfect revelation of Himself.

05  If you encounter Sikhs through the “virtual world” of the Internet, point them to www.thekristo.com where they can experience an evangelistic message online.

The Khalsas: Warriors of Sikhism
— Khalsas are a brotherhood of devout Sikhs begun by the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. Once baptized into the Khalsa, Khalsas set themselves apart from the world around them by adding the word “Singh” to their name and wearing the five “K’s”:

01  Kesh: long uncut hair on head and chin signifying spiritual devotion

02  Kangha: comb signifying discipline and hygiene

03  Kachha: special short underwear signifying chastity and morality

04  Kara: steel bracelet signifying restraint

05  Kirpan: sword signifying the Sikh struggle against injustice

words you 
should know

Adi Granththe holy writings of Sikhism, compiled by Guru Arjan.

GudawaraSikh temple, or place of worship. Gudawaras are centers of social concern and have community kitchens where hungry people of any religion may come and eat.

Guruholy teacher and leader of Sikhism; the tenth and last guru died in 1708 and since then the Adi Granth serves as the guru of all Sikhs.

Kirpana ceremonial curved sword carried by Sikhs as a symbol of struggle of good against evil; devout Sikhs carry a kirpan at all times (some kirpans are a few inches long, others are up to three feet long).

Nirvanaabsorption into God or nothingness after death; the end of the cycle of karma.

Yogian Eastern religious leader who practices spiritual disciplines; today, the highest ranking Sikh.

Many Sikhs became Khalsa Singhs in India in a military struggle against the tyranny of Muslim rulers during the early 1700s. After the British subdued the Singhs in 1849, the Singhs and British developed a relationship of mutual respect, and to this day, many Singhs serve in the British armed forces worldwide. Today Singhs want Punjab to become an independent Sikh state, while others want to help India become more democratic.