India arrests nine pastors
On Monday, officials in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh arrested nine pastors on false charges of conversion activities.
A local pastor was hosting a wedding reception for his daughter and son-in-law when police raided his home, confiscated Bibles, and made the arrests. Authorities arrested the newly married couple as well, claiming the reception was a conversion program.
A Christian leader in the area told International Christian Concern what it’s like for them under the state’s anti-conversion law. He said, “More than 200 churches were shut down in the last few months, and 52 pastors and Christians are reeling in the prisons across the state of Uttar Pradesh.”
Catholics on the decline in Central America
M&R Consultants, a research company, has done the first survey of religious affiliation in Central America.
The study paints a picture of the rise of Evangelicalism and the fall of Roman Catholicism there.
Central American populations identified as 37% Evangelical, 32% Catholic, and 29% unaffiliated. Over 60% of Central Americans grew up Catholic, but nearly 30% have left Catholicism. Evangelicals were three times more likely than Catholics to participate in church activities on a regular basis.
Singapore decriminalized sodomy
Singapore’s parliament decriminalized sodomy on Tuesday.
However, lawmakers also amended their constitution to prevent courts from legalizing faux homosexual marriage.
The move comes as other countries in Asia like Taiwan, Thailand, and India have been giving legal ground to people living sexually perverted lifestyles.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said, “We will try and maintain a balance … to uphold a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values, but with space for homosexuals to live their lives and contribute to society.”
James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
