Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: February 28, 2020
India (MNN) — President Trump visited India this week and did not publicly address religious freedom, the issue that is tearing apart New Delhi.
Trump speaks during his visit. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs says, “Behind the scenes what is going on is Prime Minister Modi’s philosophy and his governing philosophy is Hindu nationalism. [All] Indians should be Hindus. If you’re Not a Hindu, you should become one or you should leave India. And so thousands of Muslims, in this case, have protested while President Trump was there. They thought ‘Maybe we could get some attention from the rest of the world.’”
What happened instead was Hindu Nationalists fought back, and violence erupted in New Delhi, killing over 30 people and injuring 200. Read more here.
A recent citizenship law targets Muslims especially, but Nettleton says the Indian government’s attitude affects Christians and other minority faith groups as well.
Silence about religious freedom
Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not publicly speak about religious freedom. Nettleton says, “We don’t know obviously what happened behind the scenes. We don’t know what happened in the planning process. But those things were not said in a public forum where India’s people could hear or where we, as Americans could hear what the President is saying about religious freedom.”
Trump in India. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
Of course, addressing the issue publicly would have brought out strong reactions from Hindu nationalists in opposition to the president. But Nettleton says, “But there would have been a reaction from religious minorities in India to say ‘Thank you for hearing our voices. Thank you for speaking out on our behalf.’ And that ‘thank you’ would come from, among others, our Christian brothers and sisters in India.”
Nettleton says one stated purpose for President Trump’s visit to India was trade and protecting commercial relationships.
Nettleton encourages Christians to pray for their brothers and sisters in India. “They’re going to be there long after President Trump and Mrs. Trump are home. They are still facing persecution. And so, we can pray for them. We can pray for protection. We can pray for their ministry, we can pray that God will encourage them in the midst of persecution.”
Our hope is in Christ, not political leaders
Nettleton also encourages Christians to see religious freedom around the world as a major issue to think about when voting for political leaders.
Stained glass window depicting Jesus as King.(Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
At the same time, even if political leaders fail to protect religious liberty, as they often do, Nettleton says, “We also must understand that it is not government that promises salvation. It is Christ. And if the government turns in a way that we don’t like, or even turns in a way that is hostile to Christianity, we will still be called to be ‘little Christs’ and to follow after Christ.”
Nettleton points out that the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran. “They are 100% opposed to the growth of the church. They have closed down every single church building in the country. And yet the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran. So, God is not dependent on political freedom, or democracy, or earthly governments to make his church grow. He can do that wherever and whenever he wants.”
Pray for our brothers and sisters in India, and always remember that Jesus Christ is king, and he alone is the source of our hope and security.
Performers during Trump’s visit to India. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)