Established Church for What?

By: Dr. Adian Husaini

Case sealing house belonging to the church Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) in Ciketing Bekasi, West Java, last long tails. Church HKBP not accept the government's decision and perform a variety of demonstrative action, which eventually led to the incidents of clashes with Muslim congregation HKBP Bekasi. Some people then picked up and exaggerating the case to the international world, thus giving a negative image of Indonesia.

Bad image that seems to be established is that as though the world's largest Muslim country is one that no civilized nation that does not respect religious freedom, as it were, the Christians in Indonesia is really the oppressed. A number of Christian activists in Indonesia is diligent to use the momentum of cases of conflict about the founding of the church, became a valuable commodity to form a negative image of the Indonesian people, especially Muslims.

In the end, came the pressure from various countries or groups outside the country, Indonesia provides space for greater religious freedom for Christian minorities. On February 12, 2010, Jakarta Christian Communication Forum (FKKJ) released data, which according to them, in the year 2007 there are 100 churches are harassed or forced to close. In 2008, there were 40 different churches who get trouble. In 2009 until January 2010, there were 19 pieces of disturbed or burned churches in Bekasi, Depok, Parung, Purwakarta, Cianjur, Tangerang, Jakarta, Waterford and District Sibuhuan Padang Lawas (North Sumatra).

According to these FFKJ data, during the reign of President Sukarno (1945 - 1966) there were only 2 pieces of the burned church. In the era of President Suharto (1966 - 1998) there are 456 churches destroyed or burned. In the period 1965-1974, FKKJ said, "only" 46 churches destroyed or burned. Meanwhile, from 1975 or the period after the enactment of the Joint Decree (SKB), two in 1969 to the present Minister of the resignation of Suharto in 1998, church figures that were damaged or burned as many as 410 pieces.

So, according to records FKKJ until early 2010, there has been almost about 1200 pieces of the church was damaged and closed. "So we find the church vandalism figures for post-Suharto reform period as many as 740 pieces," writes FKKJ press release signed by Theophilus Bela and Gustav Dupe.

Perhaps many who astonished at the size of the destruction of churches in Indonesia figures. Very fantastic. Unfortunately, the FKKJ did not present a comprehensive analysis of the data. Is it true that the church was vandalized? Why does it happen? Muslims can only create the data, how many thousands of mosques and small mosques are destroyed and evicted by developers Christian! Also, there should be analysis, why are so many churches were destroyed, but the growth of churches in Indonesia are also very fantastic?

A comprehensive analysis is necessary if we want to solve the problem fundamentally, not just use cases for a particular purpose. Moreover, in a press release FKKJ was also mentioned, as if the culprit of all is the existence of two ministerial decree of 1969 which regulates the establishment of houses of worship. Christian Party. In particular evangelical group, did not want to open, that the actual establishment of the Church is not just a mere matter of places of worship, but related to their mission to Christianize Indonesia. Openness and dialogue are very important, because the position and function for the Christian Church is different from the position and function of the mosque for Muslims.

The Muslims built a mosque as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad SAW. The rules about mosque very clear in scripture of Muslims and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. For Muslims, the mosque used pray five times a day. Muslims praying at the mosque can also be anywhere, as long as a cult rather than a mosque. While the Christians could not worship at the Church of whatever sect, because different ritual procedures. Such differences should be understood, in order to look for a comprehensive solution.
Mission Church

What exactly is the mission and purpose of a church founded?
In 1964, the Batak Christian leaders, Dr. Walter Bonar Sidjabat, published a book entitled Call It We in Indonesia Adults (London: Board of Christian Publishers, 1964). Through this book, Dr. Sidjabat true mission confirmed the presence of Christians and their churches throughout Indonesia.In the preface of his book, he writes:

"We are called to pledge our faith in populated areas curly-haired, undulating and straight, in the midst of brown-skinned people, dark brown, olive and so on. In order to harvest this call our churches scattered throughout the archipelago for the people who "Unity in Diversity", which consists of adherents of various religions and ideologies can know and follow Jesus Christ. "

Following the Batak Christian leaders thought this could be understood that the presence of a church for the Christian is not just a question of "freedom of worship" or "religious freedom". Many Muslims and Christians themselves may also not understand the existence of a church. Whereas, according to the Christians, the establishment of a church is not just the establishment of a place of worship, but also part of a work of Christian mission; for the surrounding community "to know and follow Jesus Christ."

It says in the book: "On the Church lies the task of evangelism. Evangelism is dynamic. Dynamically Church will be responsible evangelism inside, to people who have become members of the body of Christ ("ecclesia") and exit, to the people who are waiting, ignore, reject or do not care about Jesus as their Savior . '(p. 41).

Meanwhile, for the Muslims who are aware will become Muslim, the question of Christian mission, not a trivial problem. People who change religion, out of the religion of Islam, in the view of Islam is called the apostate and infidel. Charitable deeds they are not accepted by God. (Surah 2:217, 24:39). Al-Quran also confirms, that Allah is very angry when told she had children. (Sura 19:88-91). And those who claim that God is one of three persons, that person is called an infidel (Sura 5:72-75).

In carrying out their mission in the Islamic world, true Christians will be aware of challenges that come from Muslims. For, indeed, Islam is the only religion of his Bible (the Koran) gives a fundamental correction to the basics of Christian theology. (QS verse 4:157, done). That's why, in his book, Dr. Sidjabat in particular, outlines the historical development of Islam in Indonesia, which judged a serious challenge to the development of Christian missions in Indonesia. Sidjabat called The Christians in Indonesia are not retroactive step in carrying out their mission.
In fact, if you need to do confrontation. So, check out important messages to the Indonesian Christian Sidjabat following:

"Gentlemen, the facts of which I have been describing this has shown the existence of a very great challenge to the Christian community. It is certain that I can formulate the sheet is only a fraction of the reality of Islam in Indonesia. In this connection I want to show the Christian community that today numbers waiting for the gospel of Jesus Christ far more than the number encountered by the Apostles in the first century AD tarich. And should be posited that the amount was not just "number" number only, but the humans who live, who want to know its value and a thirst for knowledge about the direction his life, where Indonesian Muslims are also classified.

In Indonesia, the things that I mentioned it can be clearly seen and comprehended. According to the human considerations, the population of Indonesia still continues longer be a resident of the mostly Muslim, although many have turned to religion or other streams, such as: Buddhism, Communism, which flows out of Islamic mysticism, atheism, etc. . Message of the gospel in Indonesia, if so, will continue to face the "challenge" of Islam in the country this cluster ...

Altogether this indicates that the meeting of the Gospel with Muslims in the field involves a wider already "begun". I say "beginning", not to forget about evangelism to Muslims since the seventh century, but because if we look carefully, the "confrontation" Gospel and the religions in this world in the field involves broad, and in terms of this with Islam, then "started" in depth today. And for those who believe on the authority of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Roch, each confrontation like this will always be looked at as an invitation to participate in mobilizing body and soul meet the task to the glory of God. "
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Reading thought the Batak Christian figures like this, Indonesian Muslims would understand, that from the beginning of the mission is executed, the Church has been preparing himself for a confrontation, especially with Muslims. Indeed, that confrontation should be done by mobilizing body and soul for the glory of God.
In the context of this kind, perhaps we can understand, why the Christians always reject any regulations governing the procedures for the establishment of houses of worship and the spread of religion, although that regulation also ensnare Muslims in Muslim minority areas.

In this context we also understand the militancy of the attitude of the church HKBP Ciketing Bekasi. Also, we understand, why the Christians Indonesia - from various sects and religions - such as united in addressing the case HKBP Ciketing and tried to drag the case to the issue of "religious freedom" and "pluralism". Although churches continue to grow like mushrooms in the rainy season, always imaged, the Christians are a people oppressed and have no religious freedom in this largest Muslim country.

Indeed, the difficult we understand are people who claim Islam but religion - consciously or not - has put itself into a "spokesman" Batak Christian Church, in exchange for honorary title "People of Pluralist" and the like.

In fact, the ambition to Christianize Indonesia Christian circles has never ended, the ambitions of a group of evangelical Christians who set a target of 2020 as the "harvest." A book titled Transforming Indonesia: Thought and Process Changes Related to the Unity of the Body of Christ (New York: Metanoia, 2003), describes the ambitions and hopes of the Christian missionaries in Indonesia. Confirmed in the book:

"Indonesia is a field that is yellowing, the big harvest! Yes, Indonesia is ready to experience a great transformation. This is not an empty desire, but a statement of faith by the promise of God's word. It's also not a dream in broad daylight, but an expression of belief in God's love and power. By examining the word of God, we will come to the conclusion that Indonesia has a precondition that is suitable for a large harvest which he had planned. "

This is the determination of the Christian missionaries to Christianize Indonesia.
All their efforts to mobilize resources. The churches continue to be built everywhere to smooth out their mission. The churches and movements continue to move to achieve mission goals, which affirmed on the back cover of this book: "that all churches in Indonesia to be united so that Indonesia can undergo transformation and won for Christ."

Faced with the invasion of missionaries, Muslims should not need to be discouraged. It is time for Muslims to wait and not be defensive. Perhaps it was his time, Islamic organizations dai-dai scored a tough, smart, brave, polite, and friendly, to bring the Christian pastor and his characters, that they're holding the wrong belief (misguided / ADH-dhalliin). Invite them to worship Allah alone, do not acknowledge God with others, and acknowledges the prophetic Muhammad SAW. Do states have a child of God.

If they refuse, say, we are Muslims, we respect their beliefs, even if we can not justify it. Therefore, the task of people of Muhammad peace be upon him only to convey the truth, not force. In the next, will prove to be, who is right and who is wrong. As Muslims, we believe, that we are right! (www.rainbowdiplomacy.com)