Pray for Sri Lanka

The nation of Sri Lanka is facing a very critical situation. This may be the most painful travail of the nation since Independence. The world community is watching the unfolding drama, confused how to bring about peace to this nation.

There are political debates, social debates and economic debates raging in the context of war, violence and destruction in this beautiful nation. The Church is also swayed by media reports and propaganda of both warring parties and has not developed right stand in the situation. The Church has to see not from a politician perspective or economist perspective or human rights activist perspective or social perspective but Prophetic perspective – how God sees and acts in this situation.

25 years of unrest

Now for 25 years, Sri Lanka witnessed violence that killed thousands, maimed many more, displaced, tortured. In addition, a whole generation grew up in horror and lost golden time of their life without education, health facilities, economic deprivation and despair. The nation that could have been fast developing nation like other Asian Tigers - Korea or Taiwan is an under-developed economy.

God's Sovereign Rule

God is sovereign ruler of the whole world. He orders kingdoms to be established and to be overthrown. As a righteous judge, he dispenses justice even through the evil system, many times using wicked people. Though selfishness of humanity over came all sense of justice, righteousness, right relationships and brought misery; however God worked in wonderful ways.

Amidst chaos, confusion from human perspective God unfolded His Kingdom agenda.

Diaspora coming to Christ

The hatred, war, riots, killings, made many to flee Sri Lanka into several nations around the world including India. And many nations they went were "Christian" nations like – Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Netherlands…etc. The so-called Christian nations have Christian fundamental values, but have deviated into secularism, humanism and others in the recent past. As Bible teaches, these nations welcomed the 'refugees' and helped them to take root again.

The Tamil refugees were overwhelmed by the hospitality extended especially by local churches, Christian social welfare agencies and mission organizations. Radio broadcast like "Back to the Bible" Tamil programmes were received well by these people. This resulted in many Diaspora Sri Lankan Tamils experiencing the love of Lord Jesus Christ, transforming power of the gospel and new purpose for life. It is estimated that between 10 to 20 per cent of all Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora around the globe have come to Christ. This was almost impossible for these Tamils to come to Christ had they lived in Sri Lanka. Lord shook the earth once again to enable these Tamils to become sensitive to heed the gospel.

A similar report is being heard from among Sinhala Diaspora also. Many churches among them in UK, Canada and other places have emerged.

God averted theocratic nations

It is an open secret that Buddhist right extreme elements were vociferous proponents of war. They encouraged the rivalry of language against language, people against people and even religion against religion. The ultimate goal was a theocratic Buddhist nation either through coercion and threat or allowing the opponents to flee the nation. The natural response would have been Hindu nation on the other side. That would have resulted in two theocratic nations in the island – Buddhist Sinhala nation and Tamil Hindu nation.

In that case, the Christian and Muslim minorities would have been marginalized or would have remained as second-class citizens or flee from there. Nevertheless, God in his own mercy did not allow such thing to happen in that nation. Today, Sri Lanka is a secular nation, where the gospel is penetrating the nation.

God averted caste oppression

Caste oppression is a fact in Hindu society. There is Hindu theological basis for caste hierarchy and oppression has social sanction. The Tamil population in Sri Lanka was/is riddled with casteism and practices that violates human dignity. Tamils living in East, when they travel to North are not treated as equals. They are offered water in coconut shells instead of glasses, because of the primitive social practice of untouchability. A Hindu theocratic nation would have been a bane for a majority of Tamils who belong to the lower rung of caste hierarchy. God loves justice and not oppression as God has created all human being in his own image.

Church in Sri Lanka as a model

God enabled me to travel to Sri Lanka more than ten times in the last few years and speak in Diaspora Tamil Churches in Auckland (New Zealand) and Toronto (Canada). In Sri Lanka, I have taught in seminars, youth conferences, Sunday worships…etc. The group I ministered was always both Sinhalese and Tamils. Some of the leaders had their spouses from other community. Sinhala-Tamil couples are common even today. The gospel has broken all human walls of enmity and brought reconciliation a practicable reality. There are few churches that are divided in basis of race and language, but most churches have over come the animosity and hatred and live in love and peace. The very presence of church in Sri Lanka with two communities living in love and harmony is a challenge to politicians and human rights activists who ridicule the church as their hobby and undying habit.

Pray for peace

The Global Church has responsibility to pray for peace in this nation. Sri Lanka should emerge as unified secular nation; with democratic values; equality for all citizens irrespective of caste or language or race or economic class or religion; education and health for all; free press; freedom of religion and worship; social peace; righteous polity and economic prosperity. Pray for Christian leaders in this nation to speak up with one voice as prophets, standing for truth. Christians should be in the forefront of building the nation once again as peace returns. May God bless Sri Lanka.