Jesus' Coming Back

Muslims in Indonesia End Church’s Meetings in Home

Al-Azhom mosque in Banten Province, Indonesia. (JahlilMA, Creative Commons)

Al-Azhom mosque in Banten Province, Indonesia. (JahlilMA, Creative Commons)

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslim residents objecting to house-church worship in western Indonesia on Sunday (March 17) compelled the pastor to discontinue using her home for services, sources said.

On the western tip of Java Island, dozens of Muslim residents gathered outside the house after worship ended in Saga Bunar, Balaraja Sub-District, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province, police said.

Authorities said police arrived and dispersed the crowed, but video on X (formerly Twitter) shows police officers present among other people in a room while the pastor, identified only as Kinerinda, reads an agreement reached with local residents.

“Starting from today, there will be no more religious services or worship services in the house I live in,” Pastor Kinerinda says on the video, adding that she made the statement “without any coercion from any party,” a standard phrase in such agreements in Indonesia to prohibit members of minority faiths from later appealing in court.

Balaraja Police Chief Badri Hasan said the crowd gathered around the house after the service objecting to its use as a place of worship, according to detiknews.com.

“According to residents, this is because there has been no approval or permission to build a place of worship,” Hasan said, according to the news outlet. “Residents have protested. As far as I know, this is the first time.”

Saying the homeowner had used her home for worship services for a year, Badri said police referred the conflict to the “relevant stakeholders” – presumably the local city and religious leaders – to resolve the issue.

Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, said holding worship at a house is explicitly permitted in Indonesia’s Join Ministerial Decree of 2006, which requires a permit only for a venue constructed as a permanent worship site.

“The problem is that those who are intolerant always think that when Christians gather to worship, it is something that violates the rules – that worshiping together must be in a house of worship or church,” Naipospos told Morning Star News.

Private worship is legal in Indonesia, but many people consider the “private sphere” as only the five daily prayers in Islam, he said.

Indonesia ranked 42nd on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. 

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.  

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

###

© 2024 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org 

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact editor@morningstarnews.org; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 728 A Kodiak St., Eielson AFB, AK 99702, USA.

The post Muslims in Indonesia End Church’s Meetings in Home appeared first on Morningstar News.

Become a Christian News Network Supporter…

Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God’s word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Christian News Network

Comments are closed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More