The times have changed, and with it the climate in our country. Where once freedom and justice for all ruled, we’re no longer sure about the state of democracy; at least, we can’t say how long we will have it. Already, all over the country, there have been attacks on Christians, churches and Christian institutions. We’re not alone. Muslims have also been targeted, and Dalits too.

In the case of Christians, there were constitutional attacks as far back as sixty-three years ago. At that time, one man addressed the Lok Sabha on December 3, 1955, when there had been talk of imposing regulations on conversions. He said, "There should be no regulations of religious conversions. Such curbs will only lead to other evils...There could be no doubt that in the name of conversion, or religious activity much evil was done. This was not confined however, to the votaries of any one particular religion. Votaries of every religion sometimes over­stepped the limits of decency, not all of them, but some votaries. A private member's bill seeking to regulate religious conversions was rejected by an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha...No one wanted coercion and deception to be practised, but in practice this attempt to prevent them might give rise to other forms of coercion." Recognising that the regulations were aimed at Christian missionaries, he went on to say, "Christianity is as old in India as Christianity itself. Christianity found its roots in India before it went to countries like England, Portugal and Spain. Christianity is as much a religion of Indian soil as any other religion in India." The man who gave that speech in Parliament was none other than Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Yes, the Premier himself led in defence.

In 1978, the first time when the Congress was out of power, Om Prakash Tyagi, a Jan Sangh leader, introduced the “Freedom of Religion Bill” in the Lok Sabha to make conversions (supposedly only those by fraud or coercion) illegal. Similar laws had been passed in some states earlier, but now some wanted to enforce this on an All-India basis. The party in power then was the Janata Party, a coalition of parties that had come together against the Congress after it had imposed an internal Emergency. All over the country, irrespective of denominations and divisions, Christians and churches came together then to fight this issue in prayer. Before the Freedom of Religion Bill could be enacted, the Janata Party lost power. We were not moved then by the threats and troubles we faced because in unity and fellowship we cast ourselves on God.

That is what David did to in order not to be moved by the dire circumstances of his life. He prayed for the Lord God to protect him and affirmed that he trusted the Lord (Ps. 16:1-2), and at the same time also proclaimed that he delighted in the fellowship of the godly (v.3). It was because of faith in God and fellowship with God’s people that David could say that he found himself in a good place, had a good heritage (v.6), and experienced the presence of the Lord (v.8).

Today, we not only need to reaffirm our faith and trust in God Almighty, we also need to rediscover the power of our fellowship—that when Christians gather together, there the Living Christ is present in power (Matt. 18:20). Even when ours is a “fellowship of sharing in His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10), we are encouraged and strengthened, so that we find that we can do all things through Christ who makes us strong (4:13).

If we have this two-source strength of faith and fellowship, even when the very ground we stand on is shaken, we could declare like psalmists of old, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way [move or quake] and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Ps. 46:2).

God Himself is our surety, when the circumstances of our life-situation are all shaken: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail… For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you (Isa. 54: 6, 10). He has promised that “no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord…this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord” (v.17, Amplified Bible).

Even though the temptation is to lie low or to cut back because of adverse circumstances and severe opposition, the Word of the Lord to us is, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called” (vv.2-5). This is a call to act on the promises God has made to us.

It is true that the above passage historically addressed Israel in exile. If it is only about Israel, then we ought to dump the Old Testament. However, all these things in the Old Testament have been written for the benefit, instruction and encouragement of all believers of all ages primarily (1 Cor. 10:6, 11).

The Apostle Paul showed fortitude and determination to fulfil the mission to go to Jerusalem, even after God had revealed to him that chains and prison awaited him there. He did not see it as a word that gave him reason to escape what lay ahead. Instead, he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to go through with the planned missionary journey. The King James Version puts what Paul said this way: “none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Ac 20:24). He could not be budged from his mission because of threatening circumstances. Paul wrote, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Co. 15:58)

Our Lord did emphasize the importance of having an unshakeable and immovable foundation. If our work is built to adjust to the sands of shifting circumstances, they will collapse when lashed by storms. On the other hand, if our work is founded on the rock of faith in Jesus being the only Saviour and Lord, then we shall not be moved by the storms that come (Matt. 7:24-27).

In the end, when everything else is destroyed, all that will remain is the Kingdom of God (Dan. 2:44). That is the project we are on. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’” (Heb. 12:28-29).