|
Churches
in India Rejoice over Election Results
AIMS News: Posted 7/1/2004
When
the results of the recent national elections in India
were revealed, at least two things became abundantly
clear: the Congress Party had defeated the governing
Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the
Sovereign Lord Almighty had answered the prayers of
His people.
|
Election
Results:
India
National Congress (INC).....145 Seats
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) .......138 Seats
Other Parties (Combined)...........260 Seats
Total
Seats.............................543 Seats
|
"As
I cast my ballot," reported an Indian pastor and
friend of AIMS, "I prayed, 'Lord, let Congress
win.'"
More
than 670 million ballots were cast, and in the end,
the Congress victory was a surprise to political pundits
and pollsters. "I was surprised by the outcome,
too," stated our friend. "A veil of great
evil has been lifted, and we feel refreshed." That
evil, the spirit of Hindu nationalism, has led to increased
persecution of Christians and Muslims in recent years.
Legal persecution has been one method used by those
who oppose the Church.
The
BJP platform included passing a national anti-conversion
law, which claims to protect individuals against forced
conversions from one religious faith to another. In
reality, the law makes voluntary conversion and baptism
very difficult. Similar laws, already enacted in five
Indian states, require new believers to register their
new faith with the government to prove that their choice
was voluntary. Hindu nationalist groups have used these
anti-conversion laws to justify physical persecution
of believers.
A
great veil of evil has been lifted... |
With
the BJP's defeat, the passage of a national anti-conversion
law is unlikely, and one state enforcing this legal
persecution has already taken action. Following the
election, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first
state to institute the legislation, repealed that stateís
anti-conversion law.
Please
continue to pray for India, asking the Lord to repeal
the laws of the four remaining states. Thank Him for
the change in the political climate and for the renewed
hope and evangelistic zeal of our brothers and sisters
in India. Ask the Father to bring all the people groups
of India under the authority of the Son, accomplishing
completion of the Great Commission in India.
Related
Stories:
|
