Posted on 11/12/2005 3:21:12 PM PST by MSCASEY
JMM Urgent Prayer] November 12, 2005 Dear Friend in Christ,
I am asking you today to pray for an extremely critical situation. More than 60 new believers in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh are being threatened with death if they do not convert back to Hinduism! It is not enough that they escaped the spiritual bondage that has oppressed their people for centuries, but now radical Hindus have threatened to burn alive any Christians who do not return to their former slavery.
Here is what happened: On November 4, a pastor was attacked and severely beaten by a group of militants who threatened his life. Now the same group says they will conduct a puja (ritual) on November 20 to forcefully convert the Christians in his church to Hinduism--and burn alive any who do not renounce their new faith.
The pastor has filed a complaint with local police, but the area is dominated by a large temple to the Hindu god Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims come to the temple, so Hinduism is important to the local economy. It is not clear if the police will take any action to protect the Christians.
What is most important now is that we pray for this situation. I urge you to pray for the protection of the men, women and children in that place who have committed their lives to Christ. Pray that God will surround them with His angels and turn back any violence. Please also pray for their attackers, that their hearts will be softened and that God will work a miracle in their lives.
Imagine what a powerful force for good they could become if they surrendered their lives to the Living God instead of gods that do not hear them!
Please share this request with your church and your friends. This is a spiritual battle, and only through prayer and fasting will the enemy be defeated in this stronghold.
I thank you for being a part of what God is doing in Asia. Thank you, most of all, for standing with us and with our brothers and sisters in Himachal Pradesh during this challenging time.
Yours for the lost of Asia,
Pastor.Johnson Mathews
Maybe the same God of the Muslims that is overjoyed at pain and suffering but not the God that I worship.
Ms. Casey's Daughter
"And the point is that it did happen! When you attempt to say that all the persecution is being made up this is one horrible satanic thing that did happen there."
My point is the perpetrators have already been brought to justice.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/23staines.htm
http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/15oris1.htm
http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13258207&vsv=39
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=31609
One single incident does not make it a "Persecution". Even Indians have been killed in US for their appearance and skin colour more recently than the murder of Graham stains? Would you call that "persecution"?
Ms. Casey's Daughter
Ms. Casey's Daughter
Context means a lot sometimes.. God doesn't smile at pain and suffering. He suffers with us. (And once again, there's only one God:-))
Ms. Casey's Daughter
Carpet-bomb 'em with cows.
Yes , I have told and attempted to explain to my pastor that the Christians in India I admire so very much! And it is because they must deal with hate like you have and they do and still love the Lord!
Ms. Casey's Daughter
Gee. You're a regular f**king laugh riot, aren't you.
I think you should stop freaking yourself out over a silly email.
This sounds like a completely separate confirmation. This person did not say they just read the e-mail I received. Earlier you said this was not even happening. Do one of the faces you worship also say lying is alright?
Ms. Casey's Daughter
"And it is because they must deal with hate like you have and they do and still love the Lord! "
Sorry I dont hate Christians.
"If this has happened and there is sufficient DNA to prove it then they should suffer the legal consequence."
They have already been given death sentences. Old news.
"Scary isn't it you must feel that your place in the caste is going to go down."
I dont know what to make of your posts. They are just downright silly. Thats all I can say.
"Earlier you said this was not even happening. Do one of the faces you worship also say lying is alright?"
You are low on intelligence and quick with the accusations. I never said they are not happening. They are happening in Pakistan, Nankana and Sangla hills.
Tell me do you have problems going through the links that I have sent? Do you fear you will be defiled by the satan if you take a look at those links?
Then if this is what you believe I am certain you must believe that He will suffer if people are burned alive. And what do you believe that God feels about the ones that would do something like that? And they also caused God to suffer pain of the cruel act?
Ms. Casey's daughter
Just kind of jumping in here a bit, hope you don't mind. There is a lot of religion bashing going on, and as conservatives we would do well to respect that others have the right to worship and belief as they see fit, even if we have a different path. Even Thomas Jefferson felt that every member of every religion deserved the freedom to worship and belief.
If you learned more about Hinduism, you might be surprised to find that the most basic beliefs are not any different from what Jesus Christ taught. Having studied both the Bible and the Vedic scriptures, it is clear that love for God and love for others is the essence of both.
This is what Thomas Jefferson had to say about religious freedom and respect for other religions:
"Reading, reflection and time have convinced me that the interests
of society require the observation of those moral precepts ... in
which all religions agree."
"...an amendment was proposed, by inserting the words "Jesus Christ," so that it should read, "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion"; the insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan, the Hindoo, and Infidel of every denomination."
--Thomas Jefferson
The second quote is in connection with the Virginia constitution, if I'm not mistaken. So it's very clear that Jefferson respected all religions, and considered freedom of religion the foundation of our country.
The same needs to be done for those who kill others also, as should hard time be given to those threatening to kill others. This should be so whether it is Indians threatening to kill Christians or Muslims threatening to kill Indians. Or if Christians take the same action and threaten to Indians unless they convert then the same should be done.
Ms. Casey's Daughter
I ask that you please go back in and read my e-mail that started this thread. Your help is needed.
Thank you!
Ms. Casey's daughter
I am not so quick as you to judge others, though. I leave it to the one who knows and I know justice will be served by that one.
Whether you like it or not there is a universal and very just God. His universal and just law is this: what you do you will experience. Nobody escapes.
And as far as lying goes, ignorance is no excuse. Take that beam out of your own eye, first.
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