Here’s Something to Be Thankful For: In India, Your Life is Worth $250
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, November 25, 2008
- Viewed 365
- (15) comments so far
You can read the whole article here...
I don’t know if this article overstates what is going on or not, but regardless, I extra-thankful this morning.
And to think that I got upset this morning because my son was texting too much.
Todd
Hindu extremist groups are offering money, food and alcohol to anyone who murders Christians and destroys their homes. The going price to kill a pastor: $250. Seriously.
According to a spokesperson for the All-India Christian Council, ""People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene."
One Christian woman named Jaspina was told by neighbors, "If you go on being Christian, we will burn your house and your children in front of you." She and her family were forced to eat cow excrement to "purify" themselves of Christianity...
Comments
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Leonard on Tue, November 25, 2008
I know this is true and it is localized into a couple places in India but will spread. India is a strategic place for the gospel reaching the world. The second largest Muslim population is in India and yet they do not have a ruling power like Iraq or Iran… This means Muslims can come to Christ more easily than say in Indonesia. It is still costly and life threatening but to a slightly smaller degree. India could become the next sending center for missionaries to the whole world. The third largest religion in the world is Hinduism. This means that 2 of the top 3 largest religions in the world are very well represented in India. God is up to something big people. Pray like crazy.
Having traveled to India a few times now, I believe more than ever of India’s strategic place in the next wave of the Gospel in this world.
CS on Tue, November 25, 2008
Comparing this article to the one below, you have to wonder if these Christians would be worried about engaging in a seven-day sex challenge.
Yep, the times in which we live…
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Tue, November 25, 2008
CS…
THAT hits the nail on the head. In the USAmerican church, we grumble about the music, the preaching, the temperature, the loud guy next to us in the pew… you name it…
I am thankful that I am free to worship and follow Jesus, regardless of how I respond to Ed’s 7-day challenge.
Let’s all take a moment and pray for those persecuted in India today.
bishopdave on Tue, November 25, 2008
Amen to Leonard, CS, and Peter.
Really, what does “relevant” look like in India? What would be “innovative”? I don’t mean to be Ingrid about this, but I isn’t it an eye opener to compare what we consider persecution (zoning laws against home Bible studies, prayer in schools) vs. this (bounties on the heads of Christians).
It really is the gospel, not our presentation, that carries the power.
fishon on Tue, November 25, 2008
A couple of weeks ago in my sermon, among several questions I asked the congregation [they filled out an answer sheet], I asked them: If I receive a call next Tue., and the person on the other end of the line tells me, “If you preach one more time that Jesus is the only way to God, we will kill you,” do you still want me to preach that? All but one person said, “Yes.” I was proud of them.
This past Sunday I read to them this story of persecution in India after I gave them the results of the survey I had given. It made there answer about there decision for me to die a little more real.
We stopped and prayed for the Christians and the Pastors. May our Lord give those brothers and sister of ours the strength to endure. I know He will.
fishon
Stewart on Tue, November 25, 2008
To be fair to the Muslim and Hindu rightwing zealots in India, some of their anger at Christians comes from Christians not acting much like Christians. Some of the most irresponsible, unChristian evangelism tactics I’ve ever seen have been used in India.
I’m not condoning the death treats. I’m just trying to offer a balanced view of how it came to this.
The saddest part is that these self-appointed Christian evangelists create a very dangerous environment for the legitimate missionaries and local Christians.
Leonard on Tue, November 25, 2008
Stewart, no offense but that is really a stupid statement. Really stupid.
CS on Wed, November 26, 2008
“I’m not condoning the death treats. I’m just trying to offer a balanced view of how it came to this.”
Here’s the most, “balanced,” view, courtesy the Bible:
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18)”
And despite you saying the above, you came off as defending the Hindu and Muslim extremists. Evangelism tactics and techniques are no excuse for violence.
—
CS
Dave Z on Wed, November 26, 2008
Stewart’s comment does make me curious. What are some of these objectionable evangelism techniques and have you seen such problems first hand?
fishon on Wed, November 26, 2008
Yes, Stewart, a little info please.
fishon
Stewart on Wed, November 26, 2008
Leonard - Saying “no offense” at the beginning of an offensive post doesn’t come across to me as genuine. I am trying to offer some perspective. I’m doing it genuinely. I don’t think I offered it in arrogance. The intention was love and adding to the conversation. So I’m at a loss to understand your anger. Generally I agree with and appreciate your posts. So I’m a bit hurt.
CS - I’m not sure why my post came across as defending the extremists. I’m sorry for that. I do not intend to defend them. I do think that we, Christians, have stired the pot a bit. Perhaps that opinion is not one that can be expressed out loud.
Examples of what I was talking about… I have seen “Christian evangelists” trick Muslim and Hindu families into sending their children to what amounted to Backyard Bible Camp. These so called Christians come into a village claiming to represent international organizations. They tell mom and pop that the camp is about education. They assure them that it is NOT religious. (Religious tensions have been high in some regions for years.) Then the little ones come home having learned all about Jesus and how if they don’t reject Islam or Hinduism they and their families will die and go to hell.
How would you act if a local mosque tricked you into sending your kids to a program where they taught them all about the goodness of Islam and the evil of Christianity? I hope I wouldn’t be violent. But I’d be very upset.
Another tactic - I’ve known guys who go into poor villages and distribute pricey gifts ONLY to the Christians. They spread the word, wide and far (I’ve heard people brag about their “communication plan” that the “gifts” are only available to those who are Christian). Not surprisingly over the next week - there are mass conversions. Only the most stubborn and devout and radical refuse to convert. The gifts are the difference sometimes between struggling to feed and house your family and having plenty. Imagine the bitterness and anger this fuels.
Again - I am not supporting the terrorists. I am not excusing the reactions. But I do think it is reasonable to point out that some of the Indian violence is a reaction (a wrong one, but a reaction nonetheless).
I hope this explains some of what I meant. I realize that I have some bitterness toward these “evangelists”. They come to Bangkok on holiday trying to raise more money for their so-called missions. They contact all the churches. They abuse the Christian networks. They lie and deceive. I believe the book of Jude is a good warning about such people.
Leonard on Wed, November 26, 2008
Stewart, I apologize for offending you. I really did not mean offense but the comment was frustrating to me. I was not angry. first off, where this is taking place there is none of what you are speaking of is actually the issue. This is about the belief that some Christians killed a Hindu. I do have first hand knowledge of what is happening in India, in my home right now is an Indian pastor from Kashmir.
your statements also came across without any explanation and seemed to justify persecution. There is not “to be fair” in this matter. So while not angry I found your statements to be incredulous.
Stewart on Wed, November 26, 2008
Hi Leonard - thanks for explaining a bit.
We’ll just have to disagree about the “being fair” part. I think it’s always a good idea to try to see things from the perspective of the other. That’s what I mean by “being fair”. It’s a two way street.
Leonard on Thu, November 27, 2008
Stewart, we can disagree. Again your comments have nothing to do with what is happening in Orissa right now. That being said, when does anyones tactics justify murder? When does being fair and seeing the other side in this matter even matter. Do those people being killed or having a price put on their head deserve to be killed by extremist Muslims and Hindus?
Go re-read your original post and see if maybe it wasn’t worded poorly. Then read your second and see the generalities. Who do you “know” and how are you first hand in this knowledge.
Then look at your two post in light of the information concerning this article and you will see why such strong reaction.
Be blessed today.
CS on Thu, November 27, 2008
Stewart:
Thanks for a little bit more background. And you’re right—underhanded techniques used for the advancement of Christianity are no good. But…
“How would you act if a local mosque tricked you into sending your kids to a program where they taught them all about the goodness of Islam and the evil of Christianity? I hope I wouldn’t be violent. But I’d be very upset.”
Exactly. That’s the big difference. As a Christian, I would not go off and kill those people who did such an action. But for these Muslims and Hindus, they had no problems doing it and continuing to issue death warrants. And nothing can justify that.
—
CS
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