Indonesia Christians Facing Muslim Opposition

by Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Devoted Christians in Indonesia say several churches are facing growing opposition in the mainly Muslim nation as local leaders and residents are cracking down on Christian gatherings in at least three regions.

In one of the latest known incidents, the Toraja Christian Church of Lanraki was targeted in the village of Paccerakkang in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province, where it had gathered in a home for two years, sources told Worthy News.

“Due to the growth of this church, the believers applied for an official permit to build a facility that would accommodate their expanding congregation. Initially, the permit process was going well. However, on February 4, a banner was installed in the community declaring that nearby residents were strongly opposed to the construction – along with all other religious-related activities in the area,” said Christian advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).

Despite the opposition, church leaders remain determined to continue meeting with residents to obtain approval for the construction, Christians said.

Separately in Bandung, the capital of Indonesia’s West Java province, a protest was held against Catholic church members on March 5 “opposing the use of a particular building for worship services,” VOMC told Worthy News.

“When the facility was first built, the congregation did not have a church permit – a process that can take months or years to complete. Therefore, the building was designated as a multi-purpose facility that would be used not only for worship but other community activities as well,” VOMC added.

However, the advocacy group explained that “local protestors are now demanding that the building not be used for worship, even though it is owned by the Catholic church and the official permit application is currently in process. ”

ANTI-CHURCH PROTEST

Soon after, a protest reportedly occurred when community leaders discussed an application to construct a church building in Wakatobi in the Indonesian province of South East Sulawesi.

Christians said the March 10 meeting was interrupted by a protest involving residents opposing the building plans.

“Ultimately, the application was rejected for allegedly failing to meet Ministry of Religion regulations,” explained VOMC, which closely followed the case.

“Furthermore, the opposing community leaders asserted that, since the Wakatobi police occasionally provided a place for Christians to hold their worship services, the construction of the church building was unnecessary,” the group stressed.

The cases have highlighted concerns about the registration process for churches in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation.

VOMC recalled that one church in the city of Bogor, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the national capital Jakarta, “took more than 15 years to receive approval from the government. ”

It said it had urged supporters to “Pray that the members of these three churches, and others throughout Indonesia who are likewise experiencing opposition, will officially be permitted to gather together for worship and fellowship.”

CHRISTIAN FAITH

VOMC also hopes that more people come to faith in Christ and that, despite ongoing opposition, local Christians will “share the love and grace of Jesus with those around them.”

That isn’t easy. Especially “Non-traditional Christian communities Baptists and Pentecostals are targeted by communities and radical Islamic groups if they proselytize. Neighbors will often attempt to hinder the building of new churches, and authorities can delay issuing permits,” said advocacy group Open Doors in a recent assessment.

The most “violations against Christians” are experienced in Aceh, the only province governed by Sharia law, Open Doors noticed.

“The building of new churches in Aceh is virtually impossible, and converts from Islam face the strongest pressure there.”

Yet, recent reports suggest that some of these policies have already spread to other regions in Indonesia. Those identifying as Christians comprise more than 10 percent of the country’s 282 million people, according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Church officials told Worthy News that the actual figure may be much higher as “a growing number of Muslims are turning to faith in Christ.”

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