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Attacks against Christians, especially in India, had been on the rise...
But it was only when the Steins' burnin' alive happened that people's eyes were opened to the stark reality...
Christians are being persecuted.
Not just for their faith and belief...
but also for the "undeniably shameful" act of being a Christ follower.
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I have been slapped in public for havin' ommitted the offence of the century of being a Christian...
I have been humiliated enough to take off the cross I was wearin' ...
I may have been satirised+laughed at+ poked fun at+ embarrassed by my acquaintances...
But does this in any which way give me the right to murder, kill, castrate, rape, lynch anyone...???
Not accordin' to the Indian law, but that doesnt seem to deter the people in Orissa.
There are thousands in Orissa right now who are being subjected to unspeakable atrocities in the name of "cleansin'-the-evil-out-of-the-land".
But I cant help but get just a teeny weeny bit sceptical about the fact that does being a Christian in today's tym worth the hardship at all?
Is India still sufferin' from a Colonial hangova?
Does the term 'Right to Freedom of Religion' in the Indian Fundamental Rights not mean anything at all?
Have we, the people, of the largest democracy forgotten our School Pledge of Integrity?
India is my country.
All Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.
I shall always try to be worthy of it.
I shall always give my parents, teachers and all elders respect and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people I pledge my devotion.
In their well-being and prosperity, lies my happiness.
Another couplet which was recited in my school's mornin' assembly was...
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt, true faith in You.
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled, as to console,
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is despair, let me bring Your hope
Where there is darkness, Lord Your shining light.
Where there is sadness, ever joy !
Where has this Love gone now???
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
~Mark 5.10-12
