Japanese Christians – You Are Lucky To Know One

I was educated by the BBC today. I had no idea that Japan persecuted Christians in the 17th century. Heck, I didn’t even know they had any that long ago. Especially since today only 1% of Japanese people are Christian.

Well, turns out 187 Christians were killed for their faith in the 17th century Japan. They got rid of the few European missionaries that had come and tried to eradicate Christianity altogether.  Believers who didn’t renounce their faith were killed. Christians have been persecuted and killed throughout history and throughout the globe. It is shocking that in today’s world more people are dying for their faith than ever before.

It is very interesting that in today’s South Korea, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, there is a vibrant Christian community. For some reason not many Japanese have been embraced Christianity.

Read more here.

India’s Christians Persecuted

Today I watched people being dragged out of churches. Men, women and children were beaten with sticks. Even grown men were whimpering on the homevideo and us, the audience, sat up uncomfortably, because it wasn’t a 15s clip on CNN. We watched this raw footage for 15 minutes, where shaky cameras were held above people’s heads and what you see feels as real as your breakfast cereal.

Some amazing things are happening in India today. The ancient caste system is crumpling as Dalits (the lowest caste, actually beneath any caste system) are being educated and many of them are hearing for the first time that they are equal human beings to the rest of us. Hundreds if not thousands of churches have sprung up among the Dalits as many choose to leave the Hinduism behind that is reason for their oppression.

Hindu extremists are not happy about this and have started to persecute the Christians. Some have been killed, many have been burned and beaten. This is one of those atrocities that doesn’t get much media coverage, which doesn’t make it any less real.

For more information check out the All India Christian Council and Dalit Freedom Network.