I’ve always had a great interest in history. History teaches us lessons about what to do as well as what not to do. Seeing how God has worked in the past helps us recognize His work today. When I started going to India I began learning about their history. Most Christians in India have little insight into the history of the gospel in their country. Learning about the history of the church in India helps to train the pastors. I use part of a session to let them know how God has worked in their country and what they can learn from that.
The story of the church in India starts with the church in Antioch, whose history is covered in my book and blog on What God Expects of Churches. The story of the church in Antioch doesn’t end with the book of Acts. It continues on to serve Jesus for many years.
THE REST OF THE STORY. The Church of Antioch went on to make a powerful impact for Christ. Some very prominent church leaders came from Antioch. Several church councils to make important decisions about doctrine were held there. Within 300 years three 1 out of 4 people in Antioch became Christians. The church in the west (Europe and the USA) was started by Paul’s missionary journeys sponsored by the Antioch church. The church in the east (Asia, India, etc.) was supported and helped by the Antioch church as well, although it struggled and didn’t take hold as the church in the west did. It did support the struggling church in India until the church in Antioch was destroyed by Moslem invaders. Let’s look at the history of the church in India.
The story of the church in India starts with the arrival of Jewish merchants who came to gather merchandise for Solomon’s ships when they landed at Cochin (now Kochi and Kerala on the southwest coast of India), about 563 BC (almost 600 years before Jesus was born. A hundred years later when Israel (the northern 10 tribes) were taken into captivity in Assyria, Jews scattered everywhere. Some came to Mizoram, Manipur (between Bangladesh & Myanmar). Their descendants still live there but have become headhunters and animists. Five hundred years later the southern 2 tribes, called Judah, were taken into captivity in Babylon. The Jews living in the south scattered and some came to the Punjab to become traders and merchants.
The reason this is important to know is because Thomas came to India to evangelize these Jews. Jews had told His disciples to scatter everywhere to spread the Gospel, so Thomas first came to the Punjab and witnessed to the Jews living in northwest India, near Pakistan and China). He left for a while but returned to south India, to Kerala, in 53 AD, to minister to the Jews living there. Later he made a third trip to India, back to Mylapore (south of Chennai), and started some churches there. On December 21, 7 AD, he was martyred there for his faith. The churches she started were small and weak, but they continued to survive.
For the next 1,500 years the church in Antioch oversaw the Indian church. They provided leadership, direction, finances and even people to attend the churches when needed. There were few local converts. The church centered around Malabar and Mylapore from 400 to 900 AD.
The church struggled. There was a lot of persecution from the local Hindu leaders. The Muslims (Mughals) moved into south India in the 16th century after conquering north and central India and destroying the church in Punjab. They had already removed all Christianity from Asia Minor, including the church in Antioch, so there was no longer any help from there. They tried to destroy the churches left in south India.by 1400 AD the only churches left in Maabar were small and weak, attended mainly by traders who were stationed there. Thomas’ churches in Kerala were all but gone. Some believers from Malabar moved down to reestablish Thomas’ church community.
In the 1500’s Roman Catholic priests arrived with Portuguese traders and established Catholic churches for the traders from Portugal who lived there. Some low caste Indians became Roman Catholic, probably for protection against their enemies. The Indian middle and high class despised Christianity because it represented western culture. The Catholic church centered around Malabar. Many Thomas Christians became Catholic for the protection as well. Catholicism was able to get many more converts than Thomas’ churches had because they allowed the Indians to keep their Hindu beliefs and practices after they became ‘Christian.’ The Thomas Christians had demanded a clean and total break from all pagan religions.
In the 1700’s, after the Reformation and the growth of Protestant churches in Europe, Protestant missionaries started coming to India with Protestant traders and started churches in southern India. The churches were mostly attended by Europeans and Indian employees who worked for them. Church leaders came from Europe as well.
William Carey came to Calcutta from England in 1793. He believed strongly in the authority of Scripture and translated the Bible into 40 different languages. He printed Bibles and other books. Meanwhile Anglicans came from England and took over leadership of the Thomas churches that had survived. Some Indians started attending the Christian churches. Unfortunately, it seems many came mainly for food and protection. The church in India was a European church with European leaders and practices.
About 150 years ago a terrible famine hit Andhra Pradesh for 3 years in a row (1876-1878). Christian mission groups in Europe and the USA provided free food for the starving people and thousands became Christians. Most were from the poor caste. The upper casts turned away and would not associate with the poor. The church in AP grew greatly during this time, but it was still led by foreigners and fashioned after the church in Europe or America. Much good humanitarian work took place, too. Schools, medical work, orphanages, leprosy work and Bible translation helped the people greatly. Missionaries tried to make the Indian churches independent and not dependent on foreign leadership and money, but there wasn’t much success. Many churches did, and still do, depend on foreign money to stay alive.
Today India needs healthy, growing churches. They need to disciple strong believers, not just attract poor people with food and clothing. The church needs to reach all the people groups and castes of India. It needs to raise up its own church leaders who will establish strong Indian independent churches. It needs healthy churches like the church at Antioch. India needs churches that will: 1. Faithfully share the gospel, 2. Reflect God’s grace, 3. Teach & disciple believers, 4. Help others in need, 5. Have Godly leaders and 6. Worship and pray together. It needs leaders like you to move the church ahead in India. There are many in need, and only Jesus is the answer. Are you one of these godly leaders?
Matthew 6:18 “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it!”
Is your church a healthy church?
What are some of the spiritually healthy parts of your church and ministry?
Where does your church need to become healthier in its fellowship and ministry?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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