Nepal criminalizes Christian conversion and evangelism

[Sarah G]

''Last week, Nepal enacted a law to curb evangelism by criminalizing religious conversion, joining neighboring countries like India and Pakistan, where the region’s small-but-growing Christian minority faces government threats to their faith.''


''As CT previously reported, Christians were banned from living in Nepal prior to 1960. Over the following decades, “Christianity grew by 10 to 20 percent annually, especially among Dalits at the bottom of Hindu society, making Nepal one of Asia's most stunning church growth stories.”

Despite the legal threats in recent years, Nepal has seen its Christian population triple over the past decade or so due to conversions. Popular folk singer Raju Pariyar joined the faith and was baptized in 2015. But Christians still make up just 1.4 percent of the 29 million residents.''

Nepal Criminalizes Christian Conversion and Evangelism

 

[brinny]

Praying (((hug)))

 

[Serving Zion]

''Last week, Nepal enacted a law to curb evangelism by criminalizing religious conversion, joining neighboring countries like India and Pakistan, where the region’s small-but-growing Christian minority faces government threats to their faith.''


''As CT previously reported, Christians were banned from living in Nepal prior to 1960. Over the following decades, “Christianity grew by 10 to 20 percent annually, especially among Dalits at the bottom of Hindu society, making Nepal one of Asia's most stunning church growth stories.”

Despite the legal threats in recent years, Nepal has seen its Christian population triple over the past decade or so due to conversions. Popular folk singer Raju Pariyar joined the faith and was baptized in 2015. But Christians still make up just 1.4 percent of the 29 million residents.''

Nepal Criminalizes Christian Conversion and Evangelism

Actually, the writing of the law as I quote it, does not necessarily need to say that evangelism is forbidden:

No one should convert a person from one religion to another religion or profess them own religion and belief with similar intention by using or not using any means of attraction and by disturbing religion or belief of any ethnic groups or community that being practiced since ancient times.

If found guilty; there will be punishment of five years of imprisonment and penalty of fifty thousand rupees [approximately $770 USD]. If foreigners are found guilty; they will have to be deported within seven days after completing the imprisonment in third clause.

.. Teaching about Jesus Christ does not necessarily need to endanger an ancient religion, but rather to provide knowledge about historical events that happened 2,000 years ago (namely: that an innocent man was executed in the name of The Supreme Holy God). If a person who is Hindu desires to be baptised, then that should be their right of their own unction, as drawn by The Holy Spirit. Any person who teaches that a person needs to be baptised or to change religious identity is only representing their own selfish interests.

I pray for The Lord to grant discernment to the people in Nepal, that they can recognise what is right and what is wrong, and that they will keep in mind that Jesus Christ is holy and good even though they may not see it in Christians. I pray that the rulers in Nepal would recognise that as humanity, we do need to collectively rise in support of our common interests, to overcome the devil's antics that through our passions and afflictions, provokes us to abuse our advantages to harm each other when it is not fair to do. Heavenly Father, I ask for your mercy in that place. May you raise and equip true soldiers of Christ to take your untainted spirit into the core of this problem, and support them to prevail in proving Exodus 20:7 and Zechariah 2:12-13. Father, may your execution of judgement against all liars in the churches be swift and effective, and may your name be sanctified for all time to come. I pray in Jesus name, amen.

 

[elliott95]

Christianity very possibly fulfills a need in South Asia, where social stratifications can dictate the ultimate the perceived spiritual worth of an individual of those societies.
The foundation of Christianity, that we are all created in the image of God, adopted into the Divine family as brothers and sisters of Christ himself, is indeed subversive to any society that has developed out of the caste system.
I can't imagine Augustus being too pleased to see the myth of his birth being replicated in the birth of the King of Kings to a lowly peasant girl and her carpenter husband. It doesn't surprise me either than the Highest order of Incarnations are being challenged by the untouchables who dare to dream that they too are created in the image of God.

But it is true, isn't it? There is nothing special that those of high birth possess that those of low birth do not also possess, except for material goods and social status.
Pants on one leg at time, feet touching ground with every step, to say nothing of the more crasser comparisons having to do with bodily functions.

Yup, we are all humans underneath our clothes.
And blessed are the poor in spirit, for the Kindgom of God belongs to them!! Those that have the least are often the most spiritually blessed people that you are ever going to meet.
That is as subversive as it is true.

That is the formula for persecution too. Truth is very discomfiting for anyone whose lifestyle is based in the lie that they are somehow better than everyone else.