"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." - Matthew 5:11
A couple of months ago, I had been to my native state of Gujarat, where I became - sort of - a Christian persecuted. I gave some gospel tracts to Hindus. Their response wasn't bad on my face. But when I came back to my hometown, I learned that there was a small verbal fight over the issue. I had given one tract to my relative's maid. First she asked for our pastor's phone number saying she wanted prayer. The next day though, her husband came and fought with my relatives. In fact, another relative of mine took my evangelism negatively and said that they could inform the police and get me arrested for trying to convert people's religion! A brother-in-Christ later advised me that on every tract, you should print words like "We are not trying to convert your religion. Jesus did not come to (start or) establish a religion. Whether to believe in this message or not is your decision."
Of course, Jesus says in the Bible that people would hate his followers. But what I found surprising was that this actually happens here in India even though we are a secular country. We aren't theocratic - Hindu like Nepal or Islamic like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia etc.
A missionary pastor later advised me to abstain from handing out gospel tracts in that state as people there think differently than people in my hometown. Missionary pastors really have it tough and often risk death when, ironically, they are really trying to set people free from the clutches of sin, sickness, death etc.
It would be interesting to learn if you have ever been a Christian persecuted for preaching the gospel (even soft persecution - like just handing out tracts or praying for people...). Share your experiences in the comments here. God bless you!
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
