Lausanne World Pulse – World Pulse Archives – World Pulse Archives

More than 400 violent attacks have occurred against Indian Christians since 1998. Some local governments have allowed brutal violence and have misused the law to intimidate and curb activities of NGOs that speak against the spreading fascist ideology and movement. Some state governments have tried to take away religious freedom.

Hindu reformer Kancha Iliaah says that Christian mission is among the biggest threats to Hindutva, the religious fascism that wants absolute political, social and spiritual control in India. Its prominent founders and ideologues openly followed and admired Hitler’s racial ideology. Hindutva is the ideology of the extremist Sangh Parivar, which wants to maintain the caste-based social system and to create a “one nation, one religion, one culture” society.

Many Hindus, including some upper-caste Brahmins, do not subscribe to Hindutva doctrine and lead the struggle against it. Noted journalists rightly say that Hindutva and other extremists do not represent Hinduism. Indian Christians, too, love and respect Hindus, their culture and way of life. Christian missionaries work at contextualizing the Gospel and know that aspects of Hindu lifestyle and devotion can enrich their own faith. But even this has come under attack. Government minister and Hindutva ideologue Arun Shourie has accused Christians of using contextualization to deceive Hindus.

Rightly, Hindutva proponents view Christians as threats to their spiritual, social and economic power base. Oppressed “untouchable” Dalits and the backward castes find spiritual and social liberation in Christ. The Gospel inspires even non-Christian Hindus to reform society within their own framework and end the Brahminical order that has enslaved them for millennia. Some might embrace Christ.

Christians and missionaries in India haven’t grasped India’s evolving political and social complexities. Some wonder why peaceful Christians have been attacked. Others are terrorized and distance themselves from those who share the Gospel. One Christian in Delhi, who has conveniently worn the evangelical hat and leads a theological organization, has called for a moratorium on conversions. Some Christians are willing to follow religious leaders at the World Peace Summit, which declared all religions equal. But the extremist Hindu VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad -World Hindu Council) that dominated the talks only paid lip service to the declaration. It believes in upper-caste elite supremacy that allows only Brahmin priests direct access to God in major temples because of karma, which no one can change in this life.

Christian mission had not anticipated Hindutva violence. Church leaders assumed they could continue work without conflict with the extremists. The Hindutva extremists have struck back because Jesus’ mission is effective. The burning of Graham Staines and his sons was part of a larger Hindutva design. More attacks will come. In offering backward castes and Dalits direct access to God in this life, and access to all priestly functions in the church, Christian mission has directly challenged a major Hindutva plank. The Gospel teaching of the priesthood of all believers challenges the right of the few Brahmins as spiritual leaders. That Dalit and backward-caste Christians can become priests and spiritual heads of churches has not been lost on the masses.

The church has been ignorant of the temple economy’s power. Hindu temples and religious sites headed by the priestly caste collect huge sums of money. Woe to those who challenge this control by spreading another value system. Supporters of elitist domination who want to keep this social structure control much of India’s rural economy. Empowerment of Dalits and backward castes through Christian education has challenged the elitists’ hold on power. Christians’ work among the majority poor, oppressed and downcast will change society. As long as Christian education served elite urbanites, “forced conversions” weren’t an issue. But to block Christian mission, the extremist forces’ propaganda machine raises false accusations.

Hindu women leaders and groups’ defense of the Christian minority and their institutions is not surprising since many women know that Christian teaching of human equality was key to their emancipation.

Most Hindus outside the Hindutva fold know that Gospel preaching’s potential reformation of society threatens the empire. The issue is not “forced conversion” or imposing foreign culture as the Hindutva claim. The issue is the impact of Jesus’ thought and values on the larger society. This has gone hand-in-hand with evangelization in modern India.

Indian Christians may not be large in number, but they can influence positive social change. Attacks on Christians will not stop until the church agrees to compromise on its mission. The Hindutva movement has recruited a few Christian leaders to persuade, threaten and divide the church. One such denominational leader compromises on the uniqueness of Christ. Another a member of the Minority Commission parrots the Hindutva brigade and says evangelization must stop.

The church has been here before. Christians still must reach out in justice, mercy and compassion. Persecution must only strengthen our resolve. Christians are called to demonstrate Christ’s love and message.

True, the Hindutva Empire is financially more powerful than India’s missions or church and controls much of the government, finances and media. At least 10 million cadres at their bidding have put fear into the hearts of Dalits, minorities and backward castes. Now it wants to instill fear in the church.

The Hindutva empire is well rooted in the U.S. and seeks to exploit its financial base. The VHP, responsible for violence in India, seeks UN accreditation as an NGO involved in cultural and social work. Hindutva sympathizers collect Western money to further the cause.

India’s church must be driven by Jesus’ love, compassion, justice and his supernatural power to the downtrodden, weak and oppressed, leaving the rest in God’s hands. The church in the West must wake up, pray and act on behalf of the persecuted church in India.

August 17, 2001