Persecution of Christ-followers: Avoidable and Unavoidable
I saw a video of some Hindu leaders in Orissa torturing a Christian family from a Hindu background. The Hindu leaders commanded the Christ-following man to apply sindoor –vermillion– on his wife’s forehead in the presence of the villagers. Hindus consider sindoor as a “sign of marital covenant.” It is a sign of a woman's loyalty towards her husband. If a married woman removes the sindoor, it signifies widowhood. I think Christian pastors should not tell people to remove such cultural identity markers. Paul told the Jews, “If you were circumcised before believing in Christ, don’t uncircumcise.” He said to Gentiles, “You don’t need to get circumcised.” What matters is not circumcision or uncircumcision but a new creation. “For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.” (Gal 6:15)
After this, Hindus made the Christ-follower stand on the Holy Bible. It is disrespectful. One day, these persecutors will also become Christ-followers. Right now, they are afraid that Jesus will destroy their culture. But someday, they will know that God is love, and his gospel is not about changing their culture. The gospel is about sins forgiven, entering a right relationship with God, living holy lives, and the promise of a future resurrection. A true Christ-follower honors his parents, loves his siblings, respects marriage, values children, and serves his people patriotically. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). We forgive!
Persecution is unavoidable. It comes with the territory. The wicked Jews of Jesus’ time persecuted Jesus and his disciples despite their honorable behavior and humble attitude. They persecuted them for a vast number of reasons. The main ones are fear of cultural, political, and religious sabotage. The scenario is no different today. Hindus generally accuse Christ’s followers of following a foreign deity and alien ways of life. However, persecuted Christians can convey a powerful message to their observers by emulating Stephen’s Christ-like, Spirit-filled attitude of endurance, love, and forgiveness in the face of persecution (Acts 7). Such an attitude can be a potent spiritual weapon to turn the hearts of malevolent oppressors towards Christ, the Lord of love.
Even so, we can avoid harassment based on cultural misunderstandings. For instance, new believers from Hindu families can easily avoid the torture related to food habits and dress codes. If they are vegetarian, let them remain vegetarian. As Paul argues, food does not bring people closer to God, nor does it take them away from God (1 Cor 8:8). If they like to wear colorful clothes, why force them to wear white clothes that signify widowhood in some Hindu cultures? I often envision a Hindu-culture Christianity that is different from its European counterpart. Why cannot we have a Christ-following group that respects the Indian culture and Hindu way of life? Of course, we cannot include idol worship and celebrations contrary to God’s Word. Still, we can follow the same diet and dress code as Hindus.
Including Christian Bhajans in worship and avoiding footwear in the worship place are good places to begin. India needs Poorna Swaraj (Total Self-governance). It hasn't happened until now. Western culture, language, and traditions still dictate our lives. They have hegemonised even God, his Word, and the Church. Jesus was a Jewish man, a Middle Easterner. However, the Jesus the West preaches is a greedy hypocrite who respects mannerisms, hygiene rules, and false humility instead of honesty and integrity. We must return to God's truth, His Word, and find our way of life in line with it rather than conforming to the Western consumerist way of life. It will help us avoid cultural persecution and present our version of the Christian faith.
We can have a vegetarian, non-alcoholic, and culturally sensitive Indian Hindu Christianity. Hindu culture plus Christian faith. Perhaps Sanatani Christianity (like Western Christianity and Adivasi Christianity), a Christianity that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, meat, and prostitution. Following Jesus Christ does not require cultural conversion. My name is Manoj Kumar Khatore, and I am a Hindu Indian and a Christian. I wear traditional Indian clothing, eat vegetarian food, respect my parents, love my community, and share my kindness with those in need. I don't use alcohol, drugs, tobacco or meat. It helps me to communicate my faith with them.
We need to dispel the fear and hatred against Christianity in our country by loving our neighbors and joining the government's development agenda. Instead of shying away from the Bharatiya Janata Party, our people need to engage with them positively. Remember, this is how the church fathers convinced the Roman emperors in the first century AD to address Christian persecution, both state-sponsored and led by mobs. The Jews of the time had misled Rome against Christians, and Roman people developed many misunderstandings about our faith. The Romans compelled all their citizens and slaves to worship the Emperor and idols. They thought that Christ-followers were atheists because Christians did not worship idols.
The Roman government had allowed the Jews of the time a special exemption to worship their God because they wanted peace in the Roman state of Palestine. They told the Jews to pray for their Emperor to their God. However, no other people enjoyed such exemption from emperor worship except for the Jews. Therefore, the Romans persecuted the Gentile Christ-followers who refused to worship the Emperor or idols. For a long time, the church suffered Roman oppression because they failed to properly communicate their method of worship of God to the Roman government. However, some church fathers refused to accept the status quo and challenged it. They boldly wrote to the Emperor about how Christianity was a sect of the Jewish community, and they worshipped the same invisible God.
Consequently, they got permission to freely worship their God. Moreover, in the third century AD, the Roman Emperor himself became a Christian follower – Constantine. Therefore, we need to clearly articulate our position to the government and engage with them more effectively, rather than simply complaining about our mistreatment. I will share my experiences with my Hindu parents and family. It's a microcosm of the macrocosm –our nation. I am a Christ-follower from a Hindu family. I hope people reading this will understand how much persecution I would have gone through to follow Jesus from a Marwadi, Maheshwari, Hindu family. I have described all these in my testimony book.
In brief, I lost my inheritance rights, relationships, community, and further education prospects, and I got beaten up by family members several times. I don't fault them for it now or before. They did not understand what I believed or why I held that belief. They thought Christians had brainwashed me. However, after several years of prayer and conversations, things are improving. My father, who was hostile to Christianity, is much more accommodating and benevolent now. I still honor my parents, even though I follow Christ in many matters related to my faith. I won't say everything is rosy now because of what many Christians did to me in between. Nevertheless, I am happier than before because God intervenes in my life and the life of my parents.
Before Hindus persecuted any Christians, Jews and Muslims persecuted Christians regularly. Therefore, nobody is better than the other in this matter. If any community claims to be better than another, it would be like the pot calling the kettle black. It seems that compared to the number of Christ-followers killed by Hindus, the Jews and Muslims have killed more Christians. Besides, Hindu Kings gave refuge to many Jews and Christ-followers persecuted by Muslims in Arabia and Israel. Ironically, nowadays, both Jews and Muslims need Christian support for their survival and fight against each other.
In Acts 4, the Jewish authorities persecuted the apostles who preached that God had raised his Messiah, Jesus. However, amid the persecution, they prayed to God for strength to boldly preach the message of resurrection. They also lived the Kingdom life of love by sharing their possessions and caring for the weak. God heard their prayers and emboldened them to preach by doing many signs in Jesus’ name. He led many Jewish priests to follow Jesus (Acts 6). Then, God removed the tyrant –Herod– who persecuted them (Acts 12). God expects us to do the same: pray and love. When tortured by wicked rulers and authorities, we follow non-retaliation, prayer, and acts of love. God has allowed the wicked to reign in the world and the church for a time, but God’s just wrath will overthrow them eventually.
After this, Hindus made the Christ-follower stand on the Holy Bible. It is disrespectful. One day, these persecutors will also become Christ-followers. Right now, they are afraid that Jesus will destroy their culture. But someday, they will know that God is love, and his gospel is not about changing their culture. The gospel is about sins forgiven, entering a right relationship with God, living holy lives, and the promise of a future resurrection. A true Christ-follower honors his parents, loves his siblings, respects marriage, values children, and serves his people patriotically. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). We forgive!
Persecution is unavoidable. It comes with the territory. The wicked Jews of Jesus’ time persecuted Jesus and his disciples despite their honorable behavior and humble attitude. They persecuted them for a vast number of reasons. The main ones are fear of cultural, political, and religious sabotage. The scenario is no different today. Hindus generally accuse Christ’s followers of following a foreign deity and alien ways of life. However, persecuted Christians can convey a powerful message to their observers by emulating Stephen’s Christ-like, Spirit-filled attitude of endurance, love, and forgiveness in the face of persecution (Acts 7). Such an attitude can be a potent spiritual weapon to turn the hearts of malevolent oppressors towards Christ, the Lord of love.
Even so, we can avoid harassment based on cultural misunderstandings. For instance, new believers from Hindu families can easily avoid the torture related to food habits and dress codes. If they are vegetarian, let them remain vegetarian. As Paul argues, food does not bring people closer to God, nor does it take them away from God (1 Cor 8:8). If they like to wear colorful clothes, why force them to wear white clothes that signify widowhood in some Hindu cultures? I often envision a Hindu-culture Christianity that is different from its European counterpart. Why cannot we have a Christ-following group that respects the Indian culture and Hindu way of life? Of course, we cannot include idol worship and celebrations contrary to God’s Word. Still, we can follow the same diet and dress code as Hindus.
Including Christian Bhajans in worship and avoiding footwear in the worship place are good places to begin. India needs Poorna Swaraj (Total Self-governance). It hasn't happened until now. Western culture, language, and traditions still dictate our lives. They have hegemonised even God, his Word, and the Church. Jesus was a Jewish man, a Middle Easterner. However, the Jesus the West preaches is a greedy hypocrite who respects mannerisms, hygiene rules, and false humility instead of honesty and integrity. We must return to God's truth, His Word, and find our way of life in line with it rather than conforming to the Western consumerist way of life. It will help us avoid cultural persecution and present our version of the Christian faith.
We can have a vegetarian, non-alcoholic, and culturally sensitive Indian Hindu Christianity. Hindu culture plus Christian faith. Perhaps Sanatani Christianity (like Western Christianity and Adivasi Christianity), a Christianity that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, meat, and prostitution. Following Jesus Christ does not require cultural conversion. My name is Manoj Kumar Khatore, and I am a Hindu Indian and a Christian. I wear traditional Indian clothing, eat vegetarian food, respect my parents, love my community, and share my kindness with those in need. I don't use alcohol, drugs, tobacco or meat. It helps me to communicate my faith with them.
We need to dispel the fear and hatred against Christianity in our country by loving our neighbors and joining the government's development agenda. Instead of shying away from the Bharatiya Janata Party, our people need to engage with them positively. Remember, this is how the church fathers convinced the Roman emperors in the first century AD to address Christian persecution, both state-sponsored and led by mobs. The Jews of the time had misled Rome against Christians, and Roman people developed many misunderstandings about our faith. The Romans compelled all their citizens and slaves to worship the Emperor and idols. They thought that Christ-followers were atheists because Christians did not worship idols.
The Roman government had allowed the Jews of the time a special exemption to worship their God because they wanted peace in the Roman state of Palestine. They told the Jews to pray for their Emperor to their God. However, no other people enjoyed such exemption from emperor worship except for the Jews. Therefore, the Romans persecuted the Gentile Christ-followers who refused to worship the Emperor or idols. For a long time, the church suffered Roman oppression because they failed to properly communicate their method of worship of God to the Roman government. However, some church fathers refused to accept the status quo and challenged it. They boldly wrote to the Emperor about how Christianity was a sect of the Jewish community, and they worshipped the same invisible God.
Consequently, they got permission to freely worship their God. Moreover, in the third century AD, the Roman Emperor himself became a Christian follower – Constantine. Therefore, we need to clearly articulate our position to the government and engage with them more effectively, rather than simply complaining about our mistreatment. I will share my experiences with my Hindu parents and family. It's a microcosm of the macrocosm –our nation. I am a Christ-follower from a Hindu family. I hope people reading this will understand how much persecution I would have gone through to follow Jesus from a Marwadi, Maheshwari, Hindu family. I have described all these in my testimony book.
In brief, I lost my inheritance rights, relationships, community, and further education prospects, and I got beaten up by family members several times. I don't fault them for it now or before. They did not understand what I believed or why I held that belief. They thought Christians had brainwashed me. However, after several years of prayer and conversations, things are improving. My father, who was hostile to Christianity, is much more accommodating and benevolent now. I still honor my parents, even though I follow Christ in many matters related to my faith. I won't say everything is rosy now because of what many Christians did to me in between. Nevertheless, I am happier than before because God intervenes in my life and the life of my parents.
Before Hindus persecuted any Christians, Jews and Muslims persecuted Christians regularly. Therefore, nobody is better than the other in this matter. If any community claims to be better than another, it would be like the pot calling the kettle black. It seems that compared to the number of Christ-followers killed by Hindus, the Jews and Muslims have killed more Christians. Besides, Hindu Kings gave refuge to many Jews and Christ-followers persecuted by Muslims in Arabia and Israel. Ironically, nowadays, both Jews and Muslims need Christian support for their survival and fight against each other.
In Acts 4, the Jewish authorities persecuted the apostles who preached that God had raised his Messiah, Jesus. However, amid the persecution, they prayed to God for strength to boldly preach the message of resurrection. They also lived the Kingdom life of love by sharing their possessions and caring for the weak. God heard their prayers and emboldened them to preach by doing many signs in Jesus’ name. He led many Jewish priests to follow Jesus (Acts 6). Then, God removed the tyrant –Herod– who persecuted them (Acts 12). God expects us to do the same: pray and love. When tortured by wicked rulers and authorities, we follow non-retaliation, prayer, and acts of love. God has allowed the wicked to reign in the world and the church for a time, but God’s just wrath will overthrow them eventually.
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