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Christianity Today, November (Web-only), 2008 |

How to Be Un-Born Again

India's biggest radical Hindu group aims to wipe out Christianity through reconversions and violence.

Vijay Simha | posted 11/10/2008 10:14AM

Laba Digal, 50, sits mending flat tires of bicycles and two-wheelers near the thoroughfare in Kasinipada, a village in the district of India that saw the most anti-Christian violence this fall. Digal ...

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TIME	Posted: November 21, 2008 2:47 PM


The time is growing closer every day, these fanatics are driven by satan and will face their judgement soon! How can any lucid person believe that conversion by threats or death is good? I can't wait for Jesus to set the world straight!

Anonymous

Posted: November 21, 2008 2:00 PM


Do those Hindu extremists really think their forced re-conversions are truly lasting? This situation reminds me of the parable of the mustard seed. Once planted, mustard plants rapidly spread and are almost impossible to uproot from an area. I Pray for the Indian martyrs

jars	Posted: November 18, 2008 4:21 AM

The whole issue has many sides to it. Although India is a secular democratic country in papers, in practice there is variance. Constitution has provision for any individual to practice or profess his her own faith. But the issue is insecurity among both sides. Christians trying out number games to gain popularity or at times prosperity… a curse. This comes as a reprimand to those who have ‘comodified’ evangelism. Serious issue is caste system for selfishness. What are we praying for or working on? Can we genuinely seek Him for answer than all our small wisdom put together? Let us unite in prayer that those who are worried with the projected religious demography will realize the need for the Savior and not statistics. Similarly, those serving in the name of JC will also do so only for His glory. It is exciting to know that the 'BODY' is shaken. Let us not be weary in doing good even at this time of uncertainty. Appreciate CT for expressing concern & providing space for dialogue

Clinton

Posted: November 17, 2008 3:56 PM

Alice, it is very easy to say they were not born again unless you were in their position. These people have had their homes burned, their relatives killed, and seen all kinds of atrocities in their lives. The violence and persecution in India is so intense right now that its not even a joke...and the mainstream media does not even care. Plus the US continues to support India and overlook this crime. As an Indian, I am ashamed of what is going on, and my friends tell me the persecution is bad indeed. So I can't see how you can say many of them were not born-again in the first place. Yes, perhaps many feared the sword and have caved in or have departed from the faith. We need to pray for them, for the Lord to strengthen them and help them, to protect them and encourage them and give them courage to stand in the day of trouble. I am pretty sure, you and me would also be tempted to succumb. Only Christ and the Spirit can give us strength. God Bless my Indian brothers & sisters.

Paul Sureshkumar

Posted: November 13, 2008 4:29 AM

The Hindu friends should know that mere conversion is not at all easy. If a person really accept by heart Jesus as their Saviour, then the person's life will be bloom. Hence, God loves every one of us and let us not worry about mere conversion. Let me tell you one secret, almost one or two persons in a family of Hindus are real Christians and one or two persons in Christian families are non-Christians. That is those who are accepted Jesus as their Saviour and leads their life for others are called CHRISTIANS. Partiality should not be there in front of Jesus. There is no caste, creed, colour, sex,....before Christ. Jesus loves you too.

dawn	Posted: November 11, 2008 9:01 PM


Mainstream Hindus and mainstream Muslims do not hate Jesus. Let us not judge all Hindus and all Muslims by their reactionary kindred. I don't think that they would like that any more than mainstream Mormons would like people judging them by their FLDS kindred.

Manoj Padhi

Posted: November 11, 2008 8:29 PM


You might have heard about the Sanskrit shloka : "Shathe Shathyem Samacharet" : i.e. Cunningness to be dealt with a befitting cunning reply. RSS is just returning the cunningness of missionaries with interest. Please read.. http://hindtoday.com/Blogs/ViewBlogsV2.aspx?HTAdvtId=797&HTAdvtPl aceCode=IND http://hindtoday.com/Blogs/ViewBlogsV2.aspx?HTAdvtId=422&HTAdv tPlaceCode=IND

Alice

Posted: November 11, 2008 2:20 PM


The title of the article is somewhat misleading. These people are not being "un-born again", they are renouncing a faith they did not truly believe and were not born again to begin with. Believers throughout the ages have faced the same choice: renounce your faith or be persecuted and die. True Believers stand the test, the rest will fall away as these have done.

Anonymous

Posted: November 11, 2008 11:55 AM

THESE PEOPLE SOUND LIKE THE PARABLE OF THE SEED THAT FELL ON SHALLOW GROUND, AND WHEN TROUBLE AND PERSECUTION CAME THE FELL AWAY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ROOTS TO KEEP THEM GROUNDED. WE NEED TO PRAY FOR NEW CONVERTS AND WELL AS THE OLD ONES BECAUSE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE NOW HAVING TO CHOOSE WHICH GOD THEY WILL SERVE. IT'S COMING AND IS ALREADY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND COULD GET WORSE. LOOK AT CALIFORNIA THE GAYS ARE GETING VIOLENT AND CALLING FOR VIOLENCE AND THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING WHAT WAS PASSED ON BANNING GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG. OUR VOTE MEANS NOTHING WITH THE CRAZY JUDGES THAT ARE SITTING ON THE COURTS TODAY. PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL DIRECT THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WITH GODLY DECISIONS THAT COME BEFORE THEM. WHEN WE DON'T PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE BY LEAVING IN OPEN TO THE ATTACK OF THE DEVIL.

John from Canada

Posted: November 11, 2008 9:07 AM

Brothers and sisters of the faith join me in prayer for the Christians of India. Through prayer anything is possible. The Bible says we can move mountains with the faith of a mustard seed. May the Lord send thousands of missionaries filled with the Holy Spirit to India so that his will may be accomplished. God bless those that are committing the violence against your faithful may you overwhelm them with your mercy and grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

Mark	Posted: November 11, 2008 8:30 AM

We Christians in the West can take positive action here. Do you realize how many Global companies outsource service industry jobs to India! We need to tell our phone companies, banks, computer companies etc that if they are going to outsource jobs to India they must put pressure on India to stop this persecution! India is becoming a very important ally to the US. We need to tell our Representatives to put pressure on the Government of India to stop the persecution or it will hurt them in their pocket book!

Christian

Posted: November 11, 2008 2:15 AM

It's true that Hindu fundamentalists are targeting Christians in parts of India. They have this insecurity that people are leaving their 'religion'! Their beliefs have always been discriminatory even in their own religion so frustrated people are looking for answers outside in other faiths like Buddhism, Christianity etc. India is a secular democratic country with right to practice any religion being a fundamental right. Government should work towards ensuring that this right is not taken away by a handful of fanatic groups.

A Bernard

Posted: November 11, 2008 1:34 AM

Who might spread Christianity at the point of a sword, May I ask? From Delhi to Kerala, from Imphal to Mumbai, from Kolkotta to Kanya Kumari, the nearly 3 % Christians contribute the nation-building of India more than all RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal put together. In Christian Institutions, how many nuns and priests do wield swords? Mr. Advani himself is a product of a Christian school? Was he forced to become a Christian in his scholastic days? The Christian presence in India is nearly 2000 years old. Both the history and the contempoary practices must bear witness to the fact that no one is forcing anyone. On the contrary, willed conversions perhaps might create certain social inconveniences in a caste-ridden, hierarchically structured hellhole of Inida. And finally, if Christian Faith is a man-made novelty, I am sure RSS or any other agency would surely be capable of wiping it off the face of India; if not, better days are yet to come, despite saffron dressing and urine drinking. Alpho

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: November 10, 2008 11:47 PM


Denouncing the church as evil is right on target! Who afterall is "Satan" or Enemy #1 of the cross of Christ --"the tree of life" (Matt. 16: 13-28)? Check it out very carefully!

George Nye

Posted: November 10, 2008 10:45 PM


I'll add these folks to my prayer list. In trying to work through the tragedy in Orissa and elsewhere in India, I'm wondering how the once-saved-always-saved folks interpret these types of events, from a theological perspective?

tony	Posted: November 10, 2008 9:35 PM


but spreading Christianity at the point of a sword is OK ...

The G

Posted: November 10, 2008 8:45 PM

This article is an UNDERSTATEMENT of how huge the persecution is. Pray hard and often for our brothers and sisters in India! Muslims and Hindus hate Jesus and are intent on exterminating His followers by the cruelest of means. The underground church is growing but the price is the growth of the worst of torture and persecution for as many Christians they can attack. The media is not reporting the violence of these religions. The West is asleep to the reality of following Jesus in the East.

Tiny	Posted: November 10, 2008 7:41 PM


I agree with Matt and Rob. What an uncivilized practice...

Thomas Gray

Posted: November 10, 2008 7:29 PM


I just wonder, how many "Christians" are really Christians. The star rating doesn't seem to work. I would give it 4 stars.

David Taylor

Posted: November 10, 2008 4:04 PM

What is truly sad about this is that Hindus have been oppressing the Dalits for centuries, even millenia. They have been regarded as less than human, and treated as slaves. What is worse, Hinduism teaches them that's their karma, they deserve to be slaves, and even more despicable, tells them they should worship their slave masters. Now that millions are turning to Christianity and Buddhism, and are beginning to get educated and unite together, the RSS fears their ability to upend their political dominance in a democratic India. The idea that Hinduism is a religion of tolerance now lays smoldering in the ashes where it belongs.

Matt	Posted: November 10, 2008 4:03 PM


"Their reconversion campaign is called 'homecoming.'" Home coming alright, home coming to the pit of hell!

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