Is India the new Greece?

“Indians are Asian.”

This was the answer I was given from and Indian friend who had invited me to and Asian Businessmen’s Association meeting where I was surprised to find only one person from China (my immediate response to “Asia”)… the rest were from India.

I was immediately reminded of how Paul, in the book of acts was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”  (Acts 16:6)

But Paul was not forbidden to enter other areas, of which one was Greece, where the people worshipped many gods.  Upon Mar’s Hill in Athens Paul appealed to the people and their recognition of the possibility of an “unknown god.” (Acts 17)

In a country that is nearly 80% Hindu and where Islam exceeds Christianity you can help but wonder… in a country where they worship many gods… a country of spiritually and mysticism… would they perhaps have an altar to the unknown god as they did in Greece when the Apostle Paul entered?

The question it drove in me was…

Is India the new Greece?

I don’t ask from a financial or governmental perspective… but rather from a spiritual perspective.  If all of India were won to Christ there would be more Christians in India than the Americas combined.

In a culture where a place of importance and respect is given to the elders (parents, grandparents, general “grey heads”), where rich tradition and history abounds, where buildings stand that outdate most countries… in a place where they continue to advance technologically but, unlike other regions that do the same, they remain “spiritual” and not altogether given over to intellect alone…

And…

A place where poverty runs rampant… where children die of hunger every day… where disease abounds and the diseased are outcasts…

Doesn’t it beg the questions…

What about Jesus?  What about the gospel?

 

In a time when most people who hear “India” think “outsourcing” why can’t we, as the Body of Christ think  “Good Soil.” 

You know the kind… where the seed of the Gospel takes root.

I wonder, could the business phenomena of outsourcing to India be a God-ordained beckon for Christians to “Come over… and help us” as the Macedonian did in Paul’s dream? (Acts 16:9)  It wouldn’t be beyond Him to use the love of money to lure the world to where His heart is.

 

There are days when something “different” is placed on my heart by the Spirit.  Whether it be a person… people… or situation.

And today it is India.

I will be committing time in prayer today that the spirit of religion and false worship be broken off of India… that the strongholds the enemy has over generations be torn down (are we not called and equipped by God through His Spirit to the pulling down of strongholds? 2 Cor. 10:4)… that the Gospel be spread and that countless souls be won to Christ.

 

You may not be able to travel to India in the flesh… but you can (and I can) change India through prayer… if even just for the life of one.

Please join me and take a moment to pray for India, to pray for a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ that turns that country into a place of hope.

 In Jesus’ Name.

 

SDG