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As American Christians, we can often lose sight of what God is doing not just directly around us, but also on the other side of the world. However, God is faithfully moving through His people to reach unreached people groups around the globe. We sometimes don’t think of countries like India having a vibrant community of Christ followers, and yet, the Church in India continues to grow and share Christ with their neighbors, despite on-going threats and persecution.
How Many Christians Are There in India?
Although there are over 25 million Christians in India (which is more than in majority-Christian countries such as Uganda and Greece), Christians only make up 2.4% of the entire population, since India is the most populated country in the world, sitting at 1.4 billion people. South India is home to about half of these Christians. Many Indian Christians identify as Catholic, but there is actually a wide variety of denominations across India including Baptist and Church of South India.
What Are The Challenges Christians Face in India?
While India technically has religious tolerance, there are currently groups of Hindu extremists that are pursuing an India that is entirely Hindu. Hindus constitute about 80% of the Indian population, but there are many minority religious groups, including Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist. Many Indians say they are fine with other religions but want to keep their lives and religious practices separate. However, that is not the case for this association of extremist groups is called the Sangh Parivar. Their goal is to strip Christians and Muslims of their full citizenship rights, and some are even going as far as to call for expelling them from the country.
A particular cell of this group, called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) (which in English means the National Volunteer Organization), has been especially vocal about its call to a completely Hindu India. Additionally, the RSS has become increasingly influential over politics and actual government policies. This Hindu Nationalist ideology is seeping into the government’s (and general Hindu population’s) attitude and treatment of religious minorities such as Christians and Muslims.
Due to this attitude towards Christians, false accusations are often made against pastors and churches, claiming that they “forced or coerced” others to convert to Christianity, which is illegal to do in India under a set of laws known as anti-conversion laws. Political leaders and others seek to gain prestige and influence amongst devout Hindus by accusing Christians of breaching these laws. When Christian leaders evangelize and disciple their neighbors in a completely loving and lawful way, their words or actions are twisted in attempt to stop them from sharing the Gospel and inviting other Indians to give their lives to Christ.
The Dalits (also known as “untouchables,” or lowest in the caste system), are among the poorest and most discriminated against groups in India. Dalits are born into this caste and there is no opportunity to leave it or marry out of it. Therefore, Dalit Christians are doubly persecuted, as any access to education and employment that is available for Dalits from the government, is not extended to Muslim or Christian Dalits.
What the Church in India Looks Like Today:
Despite persecution and fear of alleged crimes, the Church in India is growing. Indian Christians have answered Christ’s call to His people to persevere in times of trial and tribulation. Praise the Lord that these pastors and Christ-followers are spreading His name in the face of resistance.
How Set Free is Helping Christians in India:
We at Set Free believe in supporting in-country partners in their Kingdom work. We support a team of pastors, doctors, and drill crews to drill water wells, provide clean drinking water, host medical clinics, rescue and support children from slavery, and plant churches and teach the Good News of Jesus! We have a network of over 11,000 pastors that our team trains and supports! Additionally, thousands of churches have been planted across India over the last two decades by our partners.
Learn more: Complete Guide to Slavery in India
What Can I Do To Help Christians in India?
Personally, I am immensely inspired by the incredible faith and perseverance of my Indian brothers and sisters. My freshmen year roommate is a believer from India, who came to the U.S. for college, and I was constantly encouraged by her confident and vibrant faith, even while knowing that her father (a pastor/missionary), was constantly warry of the threat posed by extremist groups and their anti-Christian policies.
As an American Christian, it is eye opening, and sometimes startling, to realize what is happening to the Church on the other side of the world. It often feels very foreign and far away.
So, what can you and I do to stand with our brothers and sister in Christ?
- Pray! Pray for strength, courage, and perseverance for the Church in India. Pray also for peace, reconciliation, and religious freedom to prevail.
- Be Educated. Stay up to date with the current persecution happening in India. There are many good resources out there to help you understand religious persecution, how it's happening, and how dangerous it is for Christians in difference countries.
- Consider Giving. Prayerfully consider giving to the work God is doing through Set Free. When you support the ministry, you're supporting Indian Christians and the work they are doing to spread the Gospel to the unreached corners of the world.
