Bhutan: Spiritual Warfare

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -Hamlet Act 1, Scene 5

Most Americans today are skeptics. We've surrounded ourselves with science and tell ourselves that everything has a reasonable, logical explanation. And if we are presented with something that doesn't seem to have a rational explanation, then it must be a superstitious hoax or the person is lying. We don't give much credence to spiritual things. You'll even find that many Christians struggle with belief in the spiritual realm. Sure, they'll admit that the miracles in the Bible happened, but mention anything miraculous in the present day and they wonder if its really true. People raising from the dead, being transported from one location to another instantly, communication through dreams, facing off against demons and curses...well, that's just a little to much for them to believe in happening in the here and now. It just doesn't fit with their reality of how the world works.

But what if you lived in a different reality? What if the spiritual world was so blended with the natural world that you couldn't separate one from the other? What if your daily reality was blessings and curses, demons and gods, shamans and sacrifices, trances and levitations, miracles and predicting the future? What if your people still worshiped the deity in the sky and practiced sky burial by offering their dead bodies as sacrifices to be eaten by vultures that are over four feet tall? What if your people believed that by scaling a certain cliff they could have all of their sins up to that point in their life erased? What if you had to wait two years to celebrate an event because you had to wait for the appropriate astrological day? How would your philosophy of what is possible or not possible in this present modern day life change if that was your reality?

Spiritual warfare is very real, and the Christians in Bhutan are living in it right now. Making up less than 1% of the population, the Christians there are outnumbered as they face the shamans and monks and demonic forces that are at work among the people. But they serve the risen Savior and we know that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. When Christ is living in us, there is no power on this earth or beyond that can defeat us. But as Ephesians chapter 6 tells us, part of the armor of God is prayer, and we should always keep on praying for all the saints. This month as we pray for the Christians in Bhutan, let us ask God for boldness and power and protection for our brothers and sisters. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move with power and purpose as he changes the hearts of people who live in a reality so far different than anything we could ever imagine.

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Bhutan

General Info: Bhutan is a land locked nation about one half the size of Indiana with a population of about 691,141 people. Known as the last ‘Shangri-La’, it is a land of stunning beauty which bans plastic bags and does not have street lights because they are thought to be unseemly and traffic cops are used instead. The concept of ‘Gross National Happiness’ is this country’s focus. It holds a strategic position between China and India and controls several key Himalayan mountain passes. In fact, the violent storms that come down from the Himalayas are the source of the country’s name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Government: In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed a treaty stating Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, the country became a unified kingdom with its first hereditary king in 1907. A treaty was also signed saying the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. The government is currently in transition to a constitutional monarchy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne on December 14, 2006, and his son immediately succeeded him. However, the nearly two-year delay between the former King's abdication and his son's coronation on November 6, 2008, was to ensure an astrologically fortunate coronation date and to give the new king, who had limited experience, deeper administrative expertise under the guidance of this father. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the current Chief of State.

Economy: Bhutan’s economy is one of the smallest and least developed in the world. It is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains are prevalent, making the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan’s budget expenditures. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor due to a shortage of skilled laborers in Bhutan. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth. New hydropower projects will be the driving force behind Bhutan's ability to create employment and sustain growth in the coming years.


Religion

Lamaistic/Tibetan Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Tibetan Buddhism has been the dominate religion in Bhutan since it was first introduced in AD 746. As legend tells, the king of Bunthang had a conflict with another king in the south of Bhutan. Because of this conflict, the king of Bunthang was possessed by a demon and the great master Guru Rimpoche exorcised the demon by capturing it and converting it to Buddhism. The two kings were also converted to Buddhism and peace was restored to the country. Today, Tibetan Buddhism is a complex mix of Buddhism, shamanism, and animism. The spirit world is taken very seriously with a host of spirits, ghosts, demons, and deities. Astrology means everything to the people and everything revolves around choosing the right day. Shamans specialize in trances, exorcisms, curses, and controlling the weather. There are also witches who are believed to harm others with magical powers. Most Tibetan Buddhists are less concerned about discovering the ultimate truths of the universe than solving the problems in their everyday lives. Tibetan Buddhism is perhaps most well known for the Dalai Lama, who in Bhutan is seen as the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Christian activity in Bhutan was tightly restricted until 1965 when the country became more open and receptive to Christian activity. When the country no longer remained closed, Indian Christians entered the country as development workers and brought the gospel. Also Bhutanese students began traveling abroad to study and some returned home as Christians. However, by the 1990s, restrictions were placed on missionaries because Christianity was making noticeable headway in the country. The growth of Christianity is seen as a threat to ’social harmony’ and many debates relating to this fact have occurred in the National Assembly. Christians have faced problems such as ostracism from their families, educational and job advancement difficulties and isolated job placement. Young men are required to make an oath of allegiance to Buddha when they are fifteen and it is considered a great honor to a family to send their sons to a monastery. In September 2002, 40 Christians were arrested and tortured for their faith. In another incident, the government identified and deported 500 Christian families by going to the public schools and asking the Christian children to raise their hands. Bhutan’s new 2008 constitution recognizes religious freedom, but some Christians continue to face pressure because of their faith. Christians make up less than one percent of the population, while the large majority of Bhutanese people are Buddhist. Although Christians are generally free to worship privately in their homes, some Christian communities worship in secret to avoid problems from authorities. The government requires a license for the construction of religious buildings, and some feel that licenses are often withheld from religious minorities. Evangelism is also forbidden in the country.
Information compiled from CIA World Fact book ‘Bhutan‘, VOM Canada www.persecution.net Bhutan, “Peoples of the Buddhist World”;

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Dragon Kingdom (Click to start the video, then click the link that says "Watch on Youtube")


Gross National Happiness (Click to start the video, then click the link that says "Watch on Youtube")

Bhutan: The Journey Within


The Journey Within Part II


The Journey Within III