HVK Archives: Christian newsletter adds fuel to row
Christian newsletter adds fuel to row - The Times of India
Yashwant Raj
()
January 21, 1999
Title: Christian newsletter adds fuel to row
Author: Yashwant Raj
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 21, 1999
NEW DELHI: A Christian organisation's newsletter has, by falling
into the "wrong" hands, added fuel to the conversion controversy
for its use of certain words to describe its religious activity
in the country.
Printed by Reverend C. George and Dr Alex P. Abraham, the
newsletter, Operation Agape, has liberally used words such as
"conquer", "enemy territories" and "crusade" while referring to
conversion activity.
About J&K, the bulletin notes, "The Lord helped us to conquer
many new territories." In relation to Punjab, it mentions that
the authorities did not allow a "big crusade" planned by a local
pastor. For Himachal, it says, "This year the Lord helped us to
conquer about seven new unchurched tehsils."
The quarterly newsletter, said the Kottayam-based Rev George,
was not for general circulation and was meant only for a select
few comprising the "prayer groups". The VHP had got hold of it
recently and surreptitiously.
VHP central secretary Mohan Joshi said there could be no better
proof of "their (Christian) intentions" and "methods". He
added, "The conversion activity needs to he probed by
commissions set up in each state."
The VHP argues that the word "conquer" dearly indicates the use
of force and "that they are out to conquer this country through
conversions". The term, 66 enemy territories", referred to
areas outside their influence.
In MP, the bulletin says, a pastor is "facing strong opposition
from the enemies of the gospel". That's battle language, the
VHP said. Wrong, contends the Rev George, one of the two
printers.
He said the words and terms referred to had been misunderstood.
"They have been used purely in the spiritual context" he added,
'land they are quite well understood by the people the bulletin
is meant for."
Elaborating, he said, "In our view, the world is divided into
two kingdoms - one of God and the other of Satan." And, for
people in God's kingdom, the other kingdom - that of Satan - was
enemy territory.
Asked if that other kingdom could mean the other religions, he
said, "No. In fact, even a 'nominal Christian' (not a true
believer) can be an enemy for those who belong to God's kingdom
and believe in Jesus Christ."
And "conquest", Mr George said, stood for merely taking the
teachings and preachings of Christ to areas which had not known
them yet. The bulletin has also used the term "Church planting"
for this activity.
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