Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: India (02/12/09)
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TITLE: A country in need | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ruth DESBOROUGH
02/19/09 -
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My interest in India began in childhood. In Sunday School I heard about missionary work in India and thought I could to be a missionary there when I grew up. However, the Lord had a different plan for me and the desire to go to India faded.
But my interest in India has continued, with concern for its rejection of the Christian gospel.
The other day I saw a news item which reminded me that the need for the Gospel message is still very much alive.
The news item told of an Indian girl who had been forced to marry a dog! I quote:
“The unnamed girl, from the village of Munda Dhanda in the state of Eastern Jharkhand, has been married to the stray dog in a move to ward off evil spirits.
“The marriage ceremony was performed to the beating of drums from villagers, who believed it would help to drive the spirit away. The dog was presented to the bride clad in a headscarf.
“The bride’s family believed her life was in danger from a bad spirit, which was possessing her, and the only way to rid her of its curse was by marrying her to the dog”.
Questions began to pass through my mind.
The dog was a stray, so would it have to be tied up to prevent it straying again?
If it is the girl’s husband, will it have to be with her day and night?
What of the girl? She is now married — but to a dog!
Did she have any choice in the matter? Does she go to school?
How does this evil spirit affect her? Has being married to this dog helped her?
The news item did mention that she will be free to marry a man when she is older, without having to divorce her canine husband. (What will become of the poor dog then?).
This all seems very bizarre, and we probably will never know how this story ends. But one thing is sure and it is that superstition and witchcraft are still very active in India. Cattle are still considered sacred animals and are given preference over the poor, many of whom are destitute and literally live on the streets in the big cities.
Hinduism dominates as a religion, with Islam next. Compared to the size of the country the Christian witness is minute and there is increasing opposition from these two religions.
I have an Indian friend, who ls a Christian. In January he wrote: “Here its very bad; firstly economy crackdown, secondly terror attacks. I think you have heard the news that terrorists attacked in Bombay last month and it was very bad. 150 people were killed. Please pray for our country and for their Salvation.” He has also written requesting prayers for persecuted Christians.
Today, in spite of over two hundred years of missionary work thousands of Indians have not heard the gospel and are open to evil spirits with superstitious ways of dealing with them.
Oh, if only someone could have told the girl’s parents about Jesus and His saving power. When a lunatic boy was brought to Jesus, He commanded the evil spirit to come out of him, and he was healed.
A man with an unclean spirit confronted Jesus one day by the sea of Galilee. He was a man out of control, but Jesus had the power to deal with him. He told the spirit to come out of the man and he was delivered.
Later His disciples were given this power. When Philip visited Samaria and preached, miracles took place — people were healed and unclean spirits were cast out.
If Jesus had been known in this village in India, this little girl could have been rescued and her whole family brought to Christ.
The message of God’s salvation is being preached in India today, and men and women are being saved. But many believers risk their lives to take this message to their countrymen. Some are in prison, with their families in danger. Sadly some have been killed.
The battle is fierce as satan seeks to keep India in darkness. The task is tremendous but the victory is His. We need to pray the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth labourers into His harvest field. I know I must put India back on my prayer list. Perhaps when you’ve read this you will too!
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