Women holding voter registration cards.
(Photo cred: Goutam Roy via Flickr)
India (MNN) — What if the fate of your religious freedom hung on the outcome of your nation’s elections? That’s kind of the case in India. India is now entering into its final stages of general elections, and a Hindu nationalist candidate is favored to win.
“It’s a little different than here in America because religion and politics are so closely intertwined in India,” explains Dave Stravers, President of Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India.
“Some people are saying that this election will result in people in control who will push through a nationwide anti-conversion law.”
Five of India’s 28 states already have anti-conversion laws in place. This legislation makes it very difficult for people to change their religion.
“The effect of an anti-conversion law is to severely restrict evangelistic workers and churches, and in some cases, lead to the imprisonment of people who were baptized or those who baptized them,” Stravers adds.
Persecution happens mostly on the local level, Stravers says. Hindu radicals recently targeted two national Gospel workers involved in Mission India programs. The first woman was targeted because she operates a ministry with children.
“They beat her up, they threatened her; eventually she was rescued by her relatives,” shares Stravers. The other target was slightly older but just as vulnerable.
“The intention supposedly was, according to the report, to offer her as a human sacrifice to the gods in one of the local temples.”
(Image courtesy Mission India)
Mission India is holding an international day of prayer for India on May 7 to stand with concerned believers in South Asia.
“We’re dividing the day up into 15-minute periods and asking people to sign up to pray for India during that time, for the Lord’s intervention,” explains Stravers.
“This is a big deal, and we’re asking the Lord to intervene in a way that would protect the witnessing activity of Christians, who’ve been so tremendously effective in bringing many, many thousands and even millions of people to know Jesus.”
Click here to join with Mission India for a powerful Day of Prayer.
Yes I would like to join in prayer on may 7th Kindly continue to pray for India.
Please sign me up for 6 am. I will pray throughout the day for India, the election, and our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
I don’t think we are doing right. India being a secular country, we should not interfere with its internal affairs. Election is a democratic process where people vote and elect their leader. What Jesus can do in this? Are we praying to alter the ‘free will’ of the people? Is it not against our teachings?
Second, Modi does not appear to be a bad leader. He promised to protect and uplift all communities. He said he will give equal respect and space for all religions.
For these reasons, it is wrong to seek the intervention of God through prayers and that too on electoral verdict. This is insane. Instead we should ask forgiveness from God for all the sins we committed on India.
Conversion of tribal people into Christianity is a sin. Second, converting Hindu temple architecture into Church is a sin. Third, adopting local religious artifacts such as – saffron color dress, Hindu prayer material such as lamp, crucifying Hindu gods, and creating christian devotional songs copying Hindu movie songs.
As a Christian I am ashamed that we continue to indulge in such sins.
We need to stop converting tribals and other low income groups. If not, Modi government will throw us in jail.
I will pray to God to save India from being engulfed by this darkness called christianity. I will pray to God to save it from this barbaric, demonic creed practiced in the west. No more genocide of non-white, non-Christians for the sake of spreading this intolerant belief system. I will pray that no more people and funds will be sent to India to persecute, harass, murder and terrorize the local Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and tribal religions
Chris,
Thank you for sharing your opinion, but I’m curious — why is it wrong to share the Gospel with India’s people? (the “tribals” as you call them) And why would Modi’s government throw believers in jail for this if “he said he will give equal respect and space for all religions”?
Hey Pat,
I’m sorry we are unable to sign you up 🙁 You’ll have to do so by clicking on the link in the story
Katey Hearth >> “but I’m curious — why is it wrong to share the Gospel with India’s people? ”
This is why :
https://twitter.com/UttamaSimha/status/462789682330226690/photo/1
Why is your heart bleeding for Indians? you have systematically erased Native Americans, now their culture remains as a show piece in museums. You have shared your message of christ with them didn’t you? and they still live in poverty.
And dont spread lies about individuals when you dont know them.
Venu
Katey Hearth >> “but I’m curious — why is it wrong to share the Gospel with India’s people? ”
Let Gandhi ji answer that question, here:
“If I had the power and could legislate, I should certainly stop all proselytizing in Hindu households the advent of a missionary has meant the disruption of the family coming in the wake of changes”
Do you have a clue how many Hindu families you guys have broken?
Sorry Venu, but I hold Christ’s command in Matthew 28 higher than Gandhi’s:
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God is not an impersonal entity, but is a loving, perfect, and just God who cares for his people. When we rebel against God, He responds with mercy and forgiveness as the father runs to forgive his son…mercy changes how people respond to each other. What forms the foundation of mercy is the core of the story of Christ. Mercy is born of Christ’s love, and that’s what is being shared.
Although mistakes have been made along the way, some grievous, when a heart gives up bitterness, anger and fear and understands the way to a perfect God is through the forgiveness of Christ, people usually don’t want to keep that to themselves.
Katey:
Neither Hindus nor I too care about Jesus or your preaching. If you love your religion, it is for you to practice. There are millions of atheists and anti-christ people in US or where ever you live, why dont you do your preaching there, spread your “good news” to them, that will help cut down shootings, rapes etc in a big way.
And didn’t answer, you converted native Americans, what good did that do to them? they still live in pathetic conditions. Why don’t you set your home straight first?
If you don’t care about breaking families in India, you made your statement about your religion. Thank you, intelligent people will understand what it means – soul harvesting any rate even if that meams breaking up families and destroying society and culture.
ooie32:
What makes you think that other religions dont preach love? what makes your religion to be imposed in the name of true God who is jealous of other Gods?
Mistakes have been made? well friend, in the history of Christianity, there is plunder, destruction, blood shed, subjugation, imperialism and deaths. In Indian under the British rule there are engineered famines that killed 80 million people in 200 years, all in the name of Christ.
There are the facts which preachers and missionary dont tell. So many lies you guys tell just for soul harvesting? and this is your religion and this is what your God taught you? no where do I see the love you talk about.
If Christianity is a religion which preaches love, then respect others, others beliefs. If you don’t then you are just spreading “religious imperialism” and don’t say you are preaching love and your religion is based on love. That would be a lie.