Stefan, Neeru and their 2-month old son Ashish live in New Delhi, India. Stefan works with the Salt Project, a collaboration of Food for the Hungry International and the Evangelical Fellowship of India, equipping local churches for integral mission.

Growing up in the Evangelical church I have come to know Christ of the past—the account of his life two thousand years ago, and the Christ of the future—the reality of eternal destiny. Much less, however, has been my understanding of Christ in the here-and-now. I long to know Christ in the present, in the here-and-now.

On injustice: To me the issue of injustice is among many things an issue of fear. Injustice seems to be held in place by fear. The systems and structures which perpetuate injustice often do so by violence, direct or indirect, and it is the common man’s fear that allows these to go unchallenged. And the same with me, I fear to speak up and speak out. I fear to challenge those things that are wrong. I fear to stand up for the weak, the slighted, the dispossessed. I fear to act particularly in a context of violence.

But what would Jesus do in a communal riot? His example of self-sacrifice is also an example of supreme fearlessness. Would I run towards the mob? I don’t know. But I do know that because of him I need not fear anymore. He gives us the courage to stand up against injustice in the face of the most overwhelming of circumstances. Because perfect love casts out all fear.

On religious violence: When looking at religious violence a central question is: “How do we go about achieving what we set out to achieve?” History shows that in all the religions, Christianity included, violence has at some point become a means towards achieving our end. Christ’s life, and the demands he makes on life itself, are however all-together different. His is the way of death, but one’s own death. As in my painting, ‘The Last Supper,’ he is the willing hostage held ransom for Creation. Often we the disciples are the terrorists. The massive task of the redeeming all things, and the carrying out of the call to truth, love, and justice, has at its center this strategy.