India (MNN) – Anti-conversion laws are coming to the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. A newly proposed law would make so-called “forced conversions” illegal and demand that anyone who seeks to convert notify officials at least 60 days in advance.
It’s a move lamented by Christians around the world. Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs Canada says: “The thing that is so troubling about this is hat India is supposed to have some freedom of religion and conscience, but when you’ve got a radical government – the radical Hindu party the BJP – their desire is to see India become a fully Hindu country. If you’re Indian, you’re Hindu.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t the start of a trend; it’s a pattern that other states have already set. “Rajasthan is following the lead of the previous 11 states that have gone this direction, and it’s just going to be causing more and more problems with fines, imprisonment, and really what it is is intimidation.”
Both suggested policies could put undue pressure on the local Church. Conversion is rarely something a person expects, and demanding 60 days notice before someone makes a life-changing decision is a nearly impossible task. Arguably, that’s the point.
Then there’s the ban on forced conversions. Local magistrates would be the ones to decide whether a conversion is “forced.” Some officials have already suggested that charitable aid could be seen as a bribe. In other words, if an organization helps someone with their practical needs, the government could label any resulting conversion as a “forced conversion.”
That’s a huge problem for groups like Voice of the Martyrs Canada, which makes practical compassion a cornerstone of their work. “When you go into these situations and you give them food, you give them clothing, and you encourage them, they’re going to see the love of God, and the desire is that we would then share the Gospel with them,” Musselman says.
“Now, I don’t believe in proselytizing people if there’s any kind of coercion involved – that’s just not the way that Jesus ministered. But we believe in evangelism. We are compelled to share the Gospel.”
All of this puts an intimidating obstacle in the face of the Indian Church, especially young believers. “Somebody comes to know the Lord through the kindness of believers and now they’re facing persecution as a result of that,” Musselman says. “I know many pastors and leaders in India. They’re not being intimidated by this, but it’s the newer believers, those that are young in their faith, especially if they’ve come from Hindu backgrounds.”
And yet despite the anxiety and persecution, God’s presence in India continues to grow. “God is working. Many are coming to know the Lord,” Musselman says. “I think the big prayer here would be that the church would not pull back, that they would continue to share the message of God, the message of God’s love through his son Jesus, that they would do it with humility, but they would also do it with boldness.
“We need to be bold. We need to go forward and do what we’re to do, but we’re also to show humility and kindness, and that would be my prayer for our brothers and sisters in India.”
Learn more about the work of Voice of the Martyrs Canada here.
Header photo courtesy of Unsplash.
