Faith
Bishop Calls Indian Church Back to First Love
Faith Facts
- Bishop P.K. Samantaroy urged believers at AICOCIM in New Delhi to renew their commitment to Christ and embrace the mission field outside the church’s walls.
- He called for a return to Biblical foundations, highlighting the need for strong discipleship and bold evangelism modeled by figures like Sadhu Sundar Singh and William Carey.
- Samantaroy warned against empty rituals and commodification of faith, calling every Christian to actively share the Gospel and love all neighbors as children of God.
Bishop P.K. Samantaroy addressed Christian delegates in New Delhi, expressing gratitude to God for the Church’s growth, yet lamenting missed opportunities to transform society for Christ. Reflecting on Pentecost, he urged the Church to move beyond comfort, spreading the Good News to all people as true witnesses in love and humility.
“The church does not exist for itself,” he said. “We do not come to the church to remain in the church but to go out. That is the very basic purpose of being a Christian.”
He warned against shallow foundations, noting that without deep discipleship and faith formation from childhood, believers may falter in trials. Bishop Samantaroy called for lives that daily reflect God’s glory and reconciliation, emphasizing genuine relationships with fellow citizens and persistent love in action.
Looking to Christian forerunners, he pointed to Sadhu Sundar Singh’s sacrificial choice of the Gospel over earthly riches and William Carey’s lifelong dedication to serving and uplifting India through education and Scripture translation.
“If you find a pearl, you sell everything else to make it your own,” he said, quoting the gospel to reveal true spiritual treasure found in Christ and His mission.
Bishop Samantaroy cautioned that the Church in India risks losing its “first love” by replacing true faith with commercialized rituals and superficial comforts.
“My heart pains when I see this,” he said. “We are still feeding people with milk, not with solid food.”
He insisted every Christian be an evangelist, ending delegation of Gospel witness, explaining that each congregation’s faithfulness depends on its missional action and sacrificial love.
“Love knows no bounds,” he said.
Let us remain steadfast in faith, push back against worldly compromises, and boldly share Christ’s love with our neighbors, seeking revival in our own hearts and in our nation.
Faith Facts
- The Lausanne Movement’s LIGHT research division is exploring how artificial intelligence affects the work of fulfilling the Great Commission.
- The LIGHT Briefing calls the Church to ensure AI is used with discernment, prioritizing Christ-centered mission and authentic human relationships.
- Researchers emphasize biblical values by offering an ethical framework that keeps technology aligned with justice, truth, mercy, and love.
Christian leaders are seeking wisdom as artificial intelligence transforms communication, outreach, and discipleship. The Lausanne Movement urges the Church to govern new technologies by faith and grounding in Scripture.
The church is encouraged to reject both fear and misplaced optimism, choosing instead to prayerfully consider how AI can support—never replace—God’s call to spread the Gospel.
“AI is neither savior nor threat in itself. Rather, its value depends on how it is discerned, governed, and deployed by God’s people.”
Believers are challenged to model transparency, fairness, and accountability while recognizing that digital tools can never replace Spirit-led, personal gospel witness.
“The gospel remains unchanged. Biblical commands transcend technological innovation and demand faithful proclamation, regardless of medium.”
It remains vital that evangelism expresses Christ’s love through genuine presence, as only human ambassadors can fulfill the Great Commission’s relational call.
“While AI may augment, it must always serve, not supplant, the spirit-filled human herald in proclaiming the good news and fulfilling the Great Commission.”
The church must move forward with courage and prayer, trusting God’s mission will not falter in the digital age.
Faith Facts
- The World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed deep concern about violence and unrest following Tanzania’s recent election.
- Key opposition leaders faced arrest and exclusion from the election, raising questions about fairness and transparency.
- The WCC called for an investigation into the violence and urged protection of human rights and accountability.
Christian leaders emphasized the sanctity of human life, highlighting that every life is a gift from God and must be honored, even amid political turmoil. They denounced the use of lethal force against citizens standing for peaceful assembly and free expression.
Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC General Secretary, declared,
“Reports of widespread protests, excessive use of force by security agencies, and numerous civilian casualties are deeply distressing and call for urgent moral reflection and accountability.”
He further stated,
“The sanctity of human life — a gift from God — must be protected at all times, and no political process should ever justify the shedding of innocent blood.”
The WCC stands in solidarity with the people of Tanzania, supporting faith-driven calls for peace, dialogue, and justice, and affirming the vital contributions of Christian organizations in seeking reconciliation.
Faithful believers are called to uphold Christian values by praying for Tanzania and advocating for truth, accountability, and protection of freedoms guaranteed by God.
Faith Facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Kim Davis’s petition, leaving the 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage in place.
- Kim Davis was previously jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her Christian convictions.
- Liberty Counsel continues to support Davis, emphasizing the need to protect religious liberty for public officials.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges keeps the national legalization of same-sex marriage unchanged. The decision also leaves in place a ruling requiring Kim Davis to pay substantial legal fees related to her stand for biblical marriage.
“This cannot be right because government officials do not shed their constitutional rights upon election,” stated Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel Chairman.
Believers must remain vigilant, standing for religious freedom and biblical principles in the public square. Our faith calls us to uphold God’s design for marriage while advocating for the rights of Christians to live out their convictions.
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