Easter light in saffron eclipse

Christians all round the world would get up to celebrate another Easter today. They believe that Jesus rose from the dead today. For them, His resurrection is the anchor and cornerstone of faith. As Jesus stood victorious over death, He shall ultimately come back to judge the world. For the Christian community, this morning ought to be a source of hope that no matter how thick the darkness of the night, the first ray of the sun is able to break it.

Things are indeed gloomy for Christians around the world. I am writing these lines two days after terrorists stormed into a Kenyan university and shot 147 Christian students. Islamic state in Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS) has conquered chunk of Middle East and they now control land larger than England in pursuit of the Caliphate. Executions and martyrdom have now become daily words and worse insignificant words.

In India after the new government came to power, it is estimated that around 600 attacks happened over minorities in the first 100 days of office. Churches were torched and vandalized first in the countryside. As days passed Jabalpur, Mumbai and even New Delhi the capital, saw unprecedented attacks on churches. Pastors were beaten up in Hyderabad in a convention. 72 year old nun was gang raped in Bengal. At bureaucratic level, government is pushing hard to get the anti-conversion bill that they hope will be the last nail in the coffin for any evangelistic activity in the country. Leaders are questioning the integrity of Mother Teresa, the saint of Kolkata. The republic day advertisements on the celebration of the Preamble of India omitted the word ‘secular’. Though the government remarked that it was only a mistake in the print, some leaders came out vehemently that India was always a Hindu rastra and will always be. Even the president of US had to express his concern over the plight of Christians who form 0.2% of population.

Things do not seem good to the followers of Jesus in India. And as they celebrate Easter they need a savior more than ever. As one leader from the saffron party noted, will they be able to turn everybody to Hinduism by 2025? Will all Christians have a ‘ghar vapasi’ by then?

History teaches us that this is not the first time Christianity is under threat. In its 2000 years of existence, on umpteen occasions,it was thought that believers would not see another Easter. None would have thought that this Jewish teacher from rural Palestine would outlive the Roman Empire which crucified Him. Caesars came and left.  In a dramatic turn around, the would-be king of the Byzantine Empire got converted by a dream.  The religion that was mocked and threatened suddenly became the state’s religion. Holy wars again threatened Christians in medieval ages. In 20^th century, Hitler decided to exterminate all Jews and Christians. He committed suicide. Lenin and Stalin violently discouraged Christianity and strived to indoctrinate communism. But they failed. The more Christians were cornered, the more resilient they became. The darker their state, the stronger was their faith. From the concentration camp of Auspitz came Dietrich Bonheoffer who taught a new perspective of pain and suffering. Around the bloody revolutions in Europe was John Wesley who literally saved England from another bloody uprising. Now as ISIS are threatening their survival again, there are reports of ‘Protozoan fly disease’ that is eating into the flesh of these militants and many as a result are leaving.

But the past strongly echoes that God seems to be listening to them. Whenever persecution and trouble reached an intolerable state, God answered.

The Christians now have to do what they always do best- reconcile themselves to God. It has to happen at a personal level before it happens at a corporate level.  Every believer has to kneel and ask God to have mercy on their lives. They need to first pray that their lives would be acceptable to Him before they pray about persecution and trouble. Individuals in the church need to look into them confess sins and then look out around the world.

 When the church, as the next step, comes together and rend their hearts before their God, there will be an answer from heaven. Preachers and members alike need to make efforts to push for revival in their circles. Families need to pray more often. Fellowships need to meet regularly. Fasting prayers can be on a war footing. And confessions have to be more regular. No church can think that they are immune from danger. No denomination must stay indifferent to their brothers’ suffering. Because when an organ suffers, the entire body grieves.  

As one looks back in time, it was not that Christians lobbied politically to win freedom. It was their spiritual battle that revived them. In a democratic country Christians need to express our displeasure and seek help from authorities and governments. But woe to them if they think that ultimate liberation comes from the state. It never did. It never will.

The God Christians worship separated seas, won battles, brought down city walls by chorus singing, saved men from mouths of nefarious carnivores, fed 5000 with a person’s meal  and above all rose from the dead. When His people, pray in His name, seeking mercy and salvation, He is ready to intervene.

Eclipses are temporary. They are ephemeral play of colors that seem to threaten the eternal and celestial light. But the sun will come out in all its glory and shine. Believers in momentary shadows are destined to be disappointed.