Celebrating the Independence Day – A Biblical Response


 


Today we are celebrating 72nd Independence Day. Our India got independence from the British Raj on 15th August 1947. It came after a long struggle and a countless Indians sacrificed their lives. We should remember and thank God for such people who struggled and sacrificed their lives for the freedom. 

I am proud that I was born and brought up in India. My country has different climates, languages, religions, ethnic groups and cultures, yet we are unites as one nation. I am skeptic that while we are celebrating 15th August as independence day, do we all understand that what does it mean to be independence? Why did our forefathers struggle and lay down their life for freedom? Is it not the injustice which was prevailing phenomena in our society during those days? Indians were treated as slaves and being killed by British government, whoever raised the voice against the injustice done by British government.

Our forefathers dreamed of ‘Nav Bharat’ (New India), where injustice shall be wiped out from its every form. They drafted the book called the Constitution of India and assured to every citizen of India for having their fundamental privileges and responsibilities to build a great India. They had done their part and departed. We are privileged to inherit this independence freely. But we are not free from our responsibilities to build our nation.

Let It Break Our Heart

After 71 years of independence, our thousands of villages are deprived from its basic needs of living like clean drinkable water, access of road, facilities of medical, quality education, housing, sanitation, care of senior citizens, facility of electricity, etc. Our public places like hospitals, schools, railway stations, bus stands are not clean, although our government makes budget every year for it. Poverty is still the biggest socio-economic issue, although our nominal GDP ranks world’s 6th largest economy.([1]) According to the Report of UN India, 22% people of India are living below poverty line, which means one in every five persons in India is poor.([2]) According to the report of UN India, each year nearly 200,000 children die due to severe diarrhea.([3])   Around 40% women are living with AIDS. Most of these women have received this deadly disease due to rape or from their husbands, who are unfaithful to their wives. Each year more than 220,000 people die due to tuberculosis.([4]) Each year more than 3 Lacs crimes against women are reported, but most of cases culprits are released without any punishment and these culprits revenge in the form of rape, sexual harassment and throwing acid. There is inequality in our society on the ground of caste, gender and region.

There are so many and various issues in our country like unemployment, corruption, misuse of power, child labor, unethical acts in business and medical practice, increasing the numbers of criminals in politics, honour killings, etc.  Does it not bother you? Does it not break your hearts? Is this kind of Nav Bharat, our forefathers dreamed? I am sure that it is not at all. They dreamed to build ‘Nav Bharat’ (New India), where every citizen could enjoy the abundance of life without any discrimination. Today when we look at surrounding us, it seems that the dream of ‘Nav Bharat’ has lost somewhere. Everyone is running for his own interest. Our leaders look for the interest of their party more than the interest of the country. Their initiatives and policies are instigated looking at the vote bank.

Is there hope to revive the concept of ‘Nav Bharat’, our forefathers saw? Can it be real in our time? How can we strive together to fulfill the dream of our forefathers?

A Biblical Response

At the time of Jesus Christ on the earth, there were various social, religious and economic issues prevailing in the Jewish community. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived in such society where religion had become the mean of oppression, of gaining money or power.  Women were considered slaves and mistreated. When religious elites of his time questioned the authority of Christ, He responded to them saying, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Jews denied the truth that they are enslaved of anyone, although they were enslaved under Roman Empire. Each year they paid the taxes for Caesar. But Jesus told them that spiritual slavery more dangerous than any political or physical slavery. Further He added, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (vs. 36)  Jesus declared that He is the Truth (John 14:6).

Presently, our country is still struggling to get freedom from poverty, superstition belief system, discriminations on the ground of caste, region, gender and creed, illiteracy, drug addiction, religious intolerance, etc. Our government and NGOs have been working to bring the true freedom in our land, yet the situations remains same and even have increased. It seems that all our efforts have failed to bring it. Therefore I convinced that the root of our problem prevailing in the society is not politically, economically and socially, but spiritually. How much we strive genuinely to work out the solution of our problem, we are incapable to reach the permanent solution. Our social service and advocacy are just like a painkillers, have never brought permanent cure. The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the true freedom to all who believe. Therefore Let us dare to preach the Gospel wherever we get the opportunity and stretch out our hands to help the people who are in the need.

There is no true freedom, if the Gospel is not preached and believed! No true freedom will take place without knowing Christ and make HIM known to the world.

Let’s pray for India!

(It is shared in the prayer meeting in Phulbari Sewa Mandali on 15th August, 2018 in which believers prayed for India)  

[1] Wikipedia, Economy of India, Retrieved on 15th August, 2018
[2] United Nations in India, Sustainable Development Goals # 1: No Poverty, Retrieved on 15th August, 2018
[3] United Nations in India, Sustainable Development Goals # 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Retrieved on 15th August, 2018
[4] United Nations in India, Sustainable Development Goals # 3: Good Health and Well Being, Retrieved on 15th August, 2018




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