BA: Indian Christians in “Fear and Shock” After Extremists Warn “Leave Faith or Die”
The January-February 2021 edition of BarnabasAid (BA) magazine has the following about persecution and bullying of professing Christians:
Indian Christians in “Fear and Shock” After Extremists Warn “Leave Faith or Die”
Christians were warned “to leave their faith or face fatal consequences” before around 16 of their homes were razed by extremists in India’s Chhattisgarh state …
The series of “brazen and perilous” attacks on three villages in the district of Kondagaon left the Christian victims in a state of “fear and shock,” according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI). It said no action was taken against the attackers, even though complaints were lodged at Kondagaon police station.
India has increasingly been hostile to those who profess a religion other than Hinduism. This has caused problems and concerns all across that nation.
But, as reported here last month, India is looking at various speech restrictions as well:
Are social media platforms obligated to protect free speech and expression?
December 7, 2020
As the debate churns on what cannot be posted on social media platforms, and if platforms can take down content on their own should they find it objectionable, the rub lies largely in this context.
The fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression of Indian citizens under the Indian Constitution can be exercised only against the state. The right is subject to reasonable restrictions specified in Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution. These restrictions are also applicable to the press. …
Until the advent of social media, adequate forums to express oneself existed, notably the radio, print media, or television. The prerogative of these platforms was to decide on the content they published. In effect, the content was subject to pre-approval of the relevant medium.
Hence, if private media refuses publication of a citizen’s views, the citizen cannot enforce its fundamental right against a private party. It is only when the state imposes restraints that go beyond Article 19(2), does the citizen have a remedy against the state. https://www.businesstoday.in/opinion/columns/are-social-media-platforms-obligated-to-protect-right-to-free-speech-and-expression/story/424152.html
This is similar to the logic going on in the USA. The government officially is not to curtail speech, but when one political party has allies in the major media and big tech, it happens ‘legally.’
Now, it is not just India that is becoming more intolerant of religions outside the majority tradition. In the USA those not in line with the majority secular views (which change) on sexual matters are bullied, shunned, and persecuted. Very few US celebrities outside the religious world can “get away with” condemning abhorrent behaviors that American society is pushing.
The January-February 2021 edition of BA’s magazine also has the following about persecution of professing Christians in Laos:
Lao Christians Detained for “Violating” Traditional Funeral Customs
Four Lao Christians remain in jail four months after they were arrested for planning a Christian funeral, which was deemed by local authorities to violate traditional customs. …
“They were detained because they came here to perform ceremonies that don’t conform with Lao culture, which creates unrest and divides community solidarity,” said a local official.
He said non-Christian villagers wanted to perform a funeral ceremony “according to our culture handed down to us by our ancestors,” which, under local tradition, would include inviting Buddhist monks to pray at the family home.
“But [the Christians] wanted to do things that violate our traditional customs,” added the official. “They were preparing things that we felt were strange and wrong and do not understand, and so we acted in order to prevent them from happening.”
But they did not just stop people from holding a funeral service, they also jailed them.
As far as doing “according to our culture handed down to us by our ancestors,” the Bible has the following prophecy:
19 O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.” (Jeremiah 16:19)
So, while many around the world rely on improper tradition, the time will come when they will have an opportunity to repent. Although most professing Christians do not understand this (see the free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism) , this is something that early true Christians understood and something that we in the Continuing Church of God still teach today. Details are in our free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation.
As far as being a different type of culture or cult goes, notice the following that the Apostle Paul said after he was arrested and essentially on trial for being a Christian:
14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
(Acts 24:14, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.)
Many today have labeled true Christians as part of a cult. And this includes many who profess Christ in the West (see also Is the Genuine Church of God a Cult?).
As far as persecutions go, Jesus foretold persecution to Christians before He returns:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12, NKJV throughout unless otherwise specified).
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).
9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9).
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:35)
29… Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved…” (Mark 13:3-13).
12… they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake (Luke 21:12).
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).
2… yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you (John 16:2-4).
More speech restrictions, censorship. and persecutions are coming (cf. Revelation 13).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage. This article quotes the Bible and also discusses some of the witness to India throughout history and what is happening in the 21st century (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
India and the Beast of Revelation 13 Do biblical, Catholic, and even Hindu prophecies suggest that many in India will follow, for a while, the Beast and False Prophet/Antichrist? Here is link to a related YouTube video Will People in India Worship the Beast of Revelation 13?
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? Here is a link to a related video sermon: The Past and Future Inquisition.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Is the Genuine Church of God a Cult? There are misleading statements on the internet that this article tries to address.
Orwell’s 1984 by 2024? In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that George Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
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