When we got off the plane in Delhi, it seemed my expectations were accurate. Even when we stayed a few days in Dehradun, it was similar. Our first night in town a small child with skin problems and some deformities was literally hanging on Summer’s skirt as she was walking until the locals we were with told the child to let go…I was close to tears.
When we finally arrived at our destination in northern India, I had a bit of a culture shock I suppose. It was cold. We were in the Himalayas. We were in a tourist town. It was cleaner than I had expected. Add all of these things up and it doesn’t mean an easier life for the people in India. There is a very prominent caste system in which the coolies are hardest working and yet the least paid & least respected.
People somewhat have freedom of choice in which religion they choose, but if they choose Christianity, they are rejected by their family, they are rejected by their village. With their “freedom”, they are also subjected to Hindu extremist groups persecution. They don’t know if their neighbours or friends will report them or are involved in such groups and therefore need to be careful about who knows information about them. Most people who are believers there, are believers because they have seen some sort of miraculous healing in their life or in the life of a family member. We heard story upon story about people being prayed for and being healed of things like cancer, of severe headaches, of different diseases and sicknesses. When people see the power of God, they clear their house of all of their idols & “gods” and burn them…everything that they knew and relied on is burned because they had an encounter with the one, true God who actually hears them and actually answers prayers, unlike the pieces of wood that they used to pray to.
While we were there, we heard from a village 80km away that a man who was preaching the gospel was taken by a Hindu extremist group. Because of this, we had to change our schedule of what villages we could visit and we could not work with certain organizations or enter certain hospitals, because the locals we were with had told us that it would draw too much attention to have foreigners there.
I was thinking about the freedom we have in North America. We often take that for granted. We have the freedom of choice and often choose to be complacent about life. It’s so different after sitting in the homes of those who put their lives at risk just by believing that Jesus is Lord.
So India was a lot different than I had expected…but still eye opening and still life changing. Pray for those who face persecution in India.
“This is what the Lord says–Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let them proclaim it. Let them declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come–yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? People like that will be put to shame; skilled workers are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame.
The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in human form, human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let is grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” Such people feed on ashes, a deluded heart misleads them; they cannot save themselves, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
“Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
(Living in the clouds) (Team Lunchbox at Taj Mahal)
