Anti Christian leadership in India returns to power.

.

DESPITE FEARS, INDIAN CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEIR COUNTRY
Open Doors local partners in India are asking the worldwide church to join them in prayer as the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) returns to power.

Local church leaders told Open Doors contacts that the BJP government has already created a lot of problems for them in their work, and Indian Christians fear that the marginalisation of the country’s minorities will intensify.

“Now that the ruling party comes in again, Christians might have very difficult times,” Sujal*, a church leader, said. “It will be difficult for the churches to function. There will be more violence against Christians.”

Since the BJP came to power in May 2014, Hindu nationalism, radical extremism and the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities have seen a dramatic rise. India’s Christians are expecting that so-called anti-conversion legislation, which prevents people from converting away from Hinduism to any other religion, will be implemented more rigorously and in more states.

While many Christians in India are disappointed to see the BJP return to power, one church leader told Open Doors partners, “Most mature Christians are talking about God’s will. During these times, we believe what Proverbs 16:33 says: ‘The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.’ And we also meditate on Proverbs 21:1, which says, ‘In the Lord's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.’”

In partnership with local churches in India, Open Doors provides emergency aid, training, Bibles, advocacy support, and legal seminars to Christians who have suffered persecution.

PLEASE PRAY:

• That Indian Christians would be filled with peace and courage, and that they will be inspired to continue to pray for India and their government
• That God would surround and protect our brothers and sisters in India from any backlash that this result may cause
• For God’s Spirit to soften the hearts of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP government towards religious minorities, that they would allow more freedom of religion in the country.

*Name has been changed for security reasons

mukk_in said:

There has been some increase in persecution of Christians and religious minorities. However, the current Prime Minister or administration isn't anti-Christian. I'm a thriving Christian in India. Being pro-Hindu doesn't translate to anti-other-religions. The local Authorities generally deal with these Neo-Nazi fringe elements which had always been around. Peace in Christ.

Click to expand...

Well, I'm sure your facts there are correct. However, I believe I have seen anti Christian bias in India. For example I used to sponsor a very bright, English speaking too btw, girl from India through Compassion International. But India shut down CI in their country. Why? What harm was it doing? She wrote me long letter in English telling of the wonderful educational opportunities CI was giving her for example. Pray for her, please.

mukk_in said:

India is a democracy and is the society. There's no bias here. Please don't misunderstand India or Indians and equate them to a few rogue fringe elements.

Click to expand...

I am glad to hear encouraging thoughts about India, and you are there and I am not. I still do wonder, though, why Compassion International was prohibited from helping children there.

mukk_in said:

Should that happen and it had in the past (India has had a history of communal tensions since before Independence and law enforcement has always done it's job admirably) the law will put it's put foot down firmly. India doesn't tolerate communal violence of any kind, period. No single politician, including the current PM who had actually condemned the remarks of a female Hindu nationalist leader that Godse who killed Mr Gandhi was a patriot, is above the law. Few people have always been misled into rioting and the law always punished them. To equate illiteracy with a tendency towards any sort of violence is a misrepresentation of the Indian race. Many of our people are illiterate but not stupid. They didn't tolerate communal violence when the current PM was a CM in Gujarat nor do they now.

Click to expand...

Well, it is interesting that India isn't on Open Doors' list of countries most likely to be persecuting Christian believers.